Health & Environment pt 2

why are Americans detached from the environmental and human health impacts of manufacturing

products environment footprint handled by foreigners

culture of consumerism

industrial source for most synthetic organic chemicals in the US

cleaners: dry cleaning, degreasing, electronic components,

chemicals for plastics

products of synthetic organic chemicals

window frames, toothpaste, shampoo, computers, desks, phones, care tires, sports equipment

use of solvents

cleaners, degreasing metals, electronic components chemicals for plastics, chemical, printing/publishing

non-chlorinated solvent examples

benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene 

• collectively known as BTEX

• simple hydrocarbons

• carbon atoms in a ring 

chlorinated solvent examples

trichloroethylene TCE, tetrachloroethylene, 

• carbon atoms arranged in a chain

what industries use solvents (largest BTEX releases)

chemical, printing/publishing, petroleum industries

solvents are common contaminants of what environmental media 

groundwater, drinking water, many only moderate solubility yet cleanup is difficult

how are people exposed to solvents

groundwater contamination

cleaning materials, petroleum industries, printing/publishing, textiles

which organ system do most solvents affect

central nervous system

• acute high-level exposure: dizziness, coordination loss, confusion, unconsciousness

• chronic lower-level exposure: memory loss, intellectual impairment, liver and kidney damage

symptoms of acute high-level exposures

dizziness, coordination loss, confusion, unconsciousness

long term exposure to solvents causes what

kidney and liver damage

what solvents are considered carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic

benzene tied to leukemia (group 1) 

TCE, PCE: probably carcinogenic (2A)

ethylbenzene: possibly carcinogenic (2B)

what are phthalate plasticizers and their use

make plastics more flexible

use of bisphenol A (BPA)

used to stiffen or harden the product: also used in linings of food/drink cans providing stability and guarding against contamination

common products contain phthalates

PCP, food packaging, intravenous bags,

PVC plastic: used to make credit cards, flooring, pipes, upholstery

what biological system do phthalates and bisphenol A affect

endocrine system, (reproductive too)

• mimics a hormone

• block hormone’s effect

• influence hormone production

what’s an environmental hormone

endocrine disrupting chemical, entered by air food water or skin, mimics natural hormones, blocking their effects or altering hormone levels

• disrupts growth, reproduction, development, metabolism

what’s a xenoestrogen compound

foreign chemical mimicking estrogen

• binds to estrogen receptors and disrupts normal functions

• comes from phthalates, PCBs, BPAs

what’s an additional human health effect/outcome of phthalates and BPA

emerging link of obesity

obesogen / obesogenic definition

chemical that causes weight gain

difficulty of determining the extent of phthalate harm

short half lives, combined in mixtures, diverse exposure pathways, many chemicals in phthalate family

what’s the aim of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

ban all 6 phthalates from children’s products

persistent toxic substances are primarily persistent in what environmental media

animals, soil, water, wind

how persistent toxic substances interact within the ecosystem and food chain

they can bioaccumulate in animal tissues and biomagnify through the food chain

examples of halogens

chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine

• highly reactive

• often seen as halogenated compounds

what chemical is called “biological taboo” in chemical industry and WHY

what group of persistent chemicals were used mainly to insulate electrical devices

what persistent chemicals are considered a byproduct of chemical processes (not intentionally manufactured)

Dioxins and furans

TCE is probably carcinogenic (group 2A) why

it decays to vinyl chloride which ties to liver cancer

which chemicals are primarily used as flame retardants for fabric and furniture

PBDEs polybrominated diphenyl ethers

name of chemicals used for nonstick coatings

what is chloracne

painful disfiguring skin condition; can last months to years

what chemicals are associated with chloracne

PCBs, dioxins, furans

how are most people exposed to PCB and dioxins

eating fish meat, and dairy products as they become magnified in animal tissue

• old electrical equipment-being near industrial spots or near a equipment that fails 

epidemiological data shows what health effects of exposure to PCBs, TCDD and other dioxins and furans

they are persistent: last longggg time

they’re lipophilic:

which compounds are named according to the number of bromine substitutions of hydrogen atoms

PBDEs polybrominated diphenyl ethers 

• lipophilic

• widespread in environment

in which environmental media do PBDEs accumulate

fabrics, plastics, foam products like mattresses and couches

what are the most likely health effects of PBDEs exposure

hormone disruption

• brain development

what toxic substance is the most persistent substance of all

PFCs

which chemicals have been used for coating on carpets and fabrics, and packaging materials for fast food

PFCs perfluorinated compounds

what chemical and brand names, known for repelling water, stains, or sticky food,

PFCs

Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Gore-Tex, Teflon

what happens to PFOS/PFOA in the environment: biodegradation/ecological effects

PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) are highly persistent in the environment due to the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that resist typical environmental degradation processes. They do not readily biodegrade and tend to accumulate in soils, sediments, and aquatic systems

what’s the major route and secondary route of exposure to PFCs

coatings for fabrics and carpets, packaging for fast food

dietary sources of PFCs

teflon, meat, fish,

non-dietary sources of PFCs

carpet, fabric, food packaging

health effects associated with PFCs (PFOS/PFOA)

High cholesterol

Decreased vaccine response

Pregnancy-induced hypertension

Thyroid disorders

Testicular and kidney cancer

Group 2B Classification: possibly carcinogenic

primary cause of stratospheric ozone depletion is due to what family of chemicals

• where are they commonly found

chlorine accumulate 

what does ozone hole mean

region where ozone concentrations are considerably lower

stratospheric depletion allowing increased exposure of UV-A and UV-B

health impacts of ozone depletion

increased risk of cataracts and skin cancer

semivolatile compounds

can move from plastic into air/liquid even though they’re not highly water soluble

DEHP make up what products

food packaging, personal care products, intravenous bags

• in PVC plastic: credit cards, shower curtains, dryer sheets, flooring, upholstery

how does the Montreal Protocol 1989 on substances that deplete the ozone layer aim to minimize ozone depletion

bans use of ozone depleting substances

how did the US respond to the Montreal Protocol

ratified it

dioxin carcinogenic status

group 1: definitely carcinogenic

why is TCE dangerous

it’s a 2A carcinogen

decays into vinyl chloride (group 1 carcinogen)

Camp Lejeune contamination

military base contaminated drinking water from 1950-85

• TCE, PCE, vinyl chloride, etc.

phthalate plasticizers and bisphenol A characteristics

semivolatile: can move from plastic into air or liquid

• NOT water soluable

somewhat lipophilic: absorbed in fish

lab animal effects of phthalates and bisphenol A

• in-utero developmental issues

• obesity: Obesogen hypothesis

• excreted doesn’t stay in body

Obesogen hypothesis

endocrine-disrupting chemicals may biologically alter fat cells or alter regulatory signaling of hormones associated with appetite

• Obesogen: chemical that causes weight gain

additional persistent toxic substances

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS)

dioxins

furans

PCB: polychlorinated biphenyls characteristics

high molecular weight, man-made compounds

chemically stable, nonflammable: used for insulating fluids in electrical equipment

• enter environment as industrial waste and accidental releases occur as PCB equipment fails/burns

dioxins and furans characteristics

byproducts of PCB

lipophilic and persistent

PCBs, dioxins, furans

no longer in production

detectable in everyone from eating fish, meat, dairy (biomagnification)

PCBs, dioxins, furans health effects

neurologic development, cancer mortality

wide range of effects in animals

are dioxins toxic

they’re a group 1 carcinogen

what causes chloracne

acute PCB, dioxin, and furan exposure

Why might lead (Pb) be considered more of a problem for children? 

young children have greater incidental ingestion exposure to soil and dust than adults due to hand mouth behavior

absorb higher percentage of lead than adults

Where did/does lead come from, making it widespread in the environment? 

lead pipe corrosion, faucets and plumbing fixtures too

What is the most well-known health effect of lead to humans?  

cognitive impact because it’s a neurotoxin

• memory, intelligence test

• reading ability in children

• behavioral issues

• adhd

lead carcinogen classification

2B probable human carcinogen

Where does lead accumulate in the body?  

bones teeth

where does lead bind in the body

calcium: bone, teeth, synapses between neurons

What is the most common biomarker used to assess children’s lead exposure? 

blood lead levels (also baby teeth and bone)

According to the CDC, what blood lead level is considered elevated in children?  

Neurotoxicity of lead is considered to have no threshold

• Action levels for lead have been lowered over time

How does lead exposure affect IQ?

decreases cognitive abilities

What is meant when one says that the burden of lead exposure is not evenly distributed across US society?  How is the burden distributed?  

disproportionate impact on marginalized communities (disenfranchised ppl)

• more likely to live in older housing, lack resources to abate hazards, less information

How is the Flint Water Crisis related to lead exposure?  Where did lead come from?  

Flint water treatment plant failed to treat Flint River water with corrosion inhibitors. Government failed to act on indicators of serious problems

In the US, where do most adult exposures to inorganic lead occur?  

lead smelting, demolition, stain class crafting, hunting/fishing

Which organ system is affected by methylmercury? 

How does methylmercury come about in the environment

Hg turns to methylmercury by bacteria and taken up by algae

In the food chain/ecosystem where are the highest concentrations of methylmercury found? 

fish

How are humans primarily exposed to methylmercury?  What is the predominant route?

fish as it concentrates and biomagnifies in fish muscle

What are some health effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury? 

cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, motor impairment, deaf, blind

What environmental disaster is associated with Minamata Bay, Japan? 

Hg was turned into methylmercury and released into a waste stream into Minamata Bay. Due to heavy fish diet, many children exposed

Describe how the burden of methylmercury exposure may highlight disparities and issues in environmental justice? 

Some communities depend on fishing, Native Americans, Asian populations

why is mercury easily distributed in the environment

liquid at room temp, easily vaporizes into air current, rain, snow

Although found naturally in the Earth’s crust, arsenic is often found in what environmental media?

groundwater

What are some ways that arsenic is released into the ambient environment?  From what industries?

metal smelters, coal burning, tannery waste, pesticide ingredient, hazardous waste

Which metal(s) was/were used as a preservative in pressure-treated wood?  

Arsenic

What are the health effects of arsenic?  

neurotoxins, neurodegenerative disorders, arsenical keratosis

what carcinogenic class is Arsenic

group 1

• cancers include: liver, skin, kidney, bladder, prostatene

what carcinogenic group are Cadmium and Beryllium in

1

lung cancer

what carcinogenic group is hexavalent chromium in

1

lung cancer

Although found naturally in the Earth’s crust, cadmium is often found in what environmental media?

air pollution

• due to mining and smelting, often eaten

What industries emit cadmium as waste? 

mining / smelting

What are the health effects of cadmium? 

COPD, chronic kidney disease

What metal causes skeletal changes that cause extreme bone pain? 

Cadmium

Beryllium health effects

lung tissue damage, impaired breathing