Toxins and Their Effects

Heavy Metals

• Arsenic

  • Source/Uses: Naturally occurring in soil; released through industrial activity, past use in pesticides & wood preservatives

  • Health Effects: Chronic exposure leads to skin disorders, increased cancer risk, diabetes, high blood pressure; endocrine disruptor

• Cadmium

  • Source/Uses: Found in batteries, pigments, metal coatings, plastics, and cigarette smoke

  • Health Effects: Acute exposure damages lungs; chronic exposure causes kidney disease, fragile bones; carcinogen and endocrine disruptor

• Lead

  • Source/Uses: Used in batteries, metal mixtures, automotive radiators, past use in gasoline and paint

  • Health Effects: Chronic exposure impairs learning; high levels can damage kidneys, blood, nervous system; no safe blood level identified, endocrine disruptor

• Mercury

  • Source/Uses: Released from coal-burning, volcanoes, past use in dental fillings

  • Health Effects: Causes neurological disturbances, memory problems, skin rashes, kidney abnormalities; endocrine disruptor

Organochlorine Compounds

• Aldrin and Dieldrin

  • Source/Uses: Insecticide, banned in 1987

  • Health Effects: Endocrine disruptor, carcinogen (breast cancer risk)

• Atrazine

  • Source/Uses: Herbicide

  • Health Effects: Listed as endocrine disruptor; safety controversial

• Benzene

  • Source/Uses: Common chemical in the U.S., present in cigarette smoke

  • Health Effects: Acute high doses can lead to unconsciousness/death; chronic exposure reduces blood cell formation, carcinogen

Plastics and Chemical Compounds

• Bisphenol A (BPA)

  • Source/Uses: Used in polycarbonate plastics for various products

  • Health Effects: Endocrine disruptor affecting reproductive systems in animals

• DDT

  • Source/Uses: Insecticide, banned in the U.S. in 1972, still used elsewhere

  • Health Effects: Liver problems, potential carcinogen, known to affect wildlife (thinning eagle eggs)

• Dioxin

  • Source/Uses: By-product of burning trash, chemical processing

  • Health Effects: Causes liver problems, skin conditions (chloracne), endocrine disruptor

• Formaldehyde

  • Source/Uses: Used in furniture, flooring, clothing

  • Health Effects: Carcinogen; causes eye irritation and respiratory problems

• Phthalates

  • Source/Uses: Chemical group for making plastics flexible, found in many consumer products

  • Health Effects: Possible endocrine disruptor; effects on reproductive system in animals, need more research

• Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)

  • Source/Uses: Banned in 1977; used in various industrial applications

  • Health Effects: Endocrine disruptor, carcinogen; affects immune, reproductive, and nervous systems

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

  • Source/Uses: Formed during high-temperature cooking or burning of organic materials

  • Health Effects: Carcinogen