ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

AND TOXICOLOGY
Presented by
Dr. Edilberto G. Tripoli
FEU Institute of Technology
Health Hazards


Infectious Diseases
Respiratory diseases
pneumonia
tuberculosis
influenza
whooping cough


Health Hazards


Infectious Diseases - are diseases caused by
the spread of bacteria and pathogens. The
pathogen or any other organism enters the
body and multiplies to survive. Infectious
diseases are contagious and highly
comunicable.
Health Hazards


Major Infectious Diseases in the Philippines
Degree of risk: high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Water contact disease: leptospirosis (2013)
Health Hazards


Respiratory diseases
Pneumonia


Health Hazards


Respiratory diseases
Tuberculosis


Health Hazards


Respiratory diseases
influenza

Health Hazards


Respiratory diseases
whooping cough


Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Irritants
Respiratory fibrotic agents
Asphyxiants
Allergens
Neurotoxins
Mutagens
Teratogens
Carcinogens
Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Irritants refers to a condition in the body when it
is trying to react to a localized injury of tissues

Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Respiratory fibrotic agents
substances that cause inflammation
of the airways after they are inhaled

Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Asphyxiants A condition in which an extreme
decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the
body accompanied by an increase in the
concentration of carbon dioxide leads to loss of
consciousness or death.
Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Allergens any substance (antigen), most
often eaten or inhaled, that is recognized
by the immune system and causes an
allergic reaction
Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Neurotoxins substances that are inducing
adverse effects in the central nervous system,
peripheral nerves or sensory organs

Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Mutagens substances that cause
changes (mutations) in the genetic
material of cells
Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Teratogens substance capable of
interfering with the development of
a fetus, causing birth defects.

Classes of Toxic Chemicals
Carcinogens substances or agents
that cause cancer
Movements of Toxins in the Environment
Solubility
1. Water soluble compounds move rapidly
through the environment and have access
to cells.

2. Fat soluble compounds needs a carrier
to move through the environment, but
once inside the body they penetrate the
tissues easily . They are stored in body
fats and persist for many years
Bioaccumulation
The gradual buildup, over time, of a chemical
in a LIVING ORGANISIM


Why Does This Happen?
Chemicals are taken up faster than they are
used
Or
Chemicals cant be broken down by the
organism for use
Pollutants
Chemical pollutants that are bioaccumulated
come from many sources
Pesticides
Industrial Smoke Stacks
Automobile Emissions
Deliberate Discharge of Compounds into Water
Pesticides Industrial Smoke Stacks





Automobile Emissions Deliberate Discharge of
Compounds into Water
Biomagnification
The buildup of substances by successive trophic levels

Example: A predator will have higher concentrations of a
chemical compared to its prey
DDT

Soil(10ppm)Earthworms(141ppm)Robins(444ppm)

1 unit
2 units
6 units
12 units
24 units
DDT
Dicholoro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
An insecticide used in the 40s, 50s and 60s
entered the environment in run-off from land
Was banned in 1972 after the Bald Eagle
population had a noticeable crash.

DDT
Movements of Toxins in the Environment
Persistence the amount of time a
pesticide remains in the environment,
measured by half-life. Pesticides with
longer half-lives pose a greater threat
to the environment.
Movements of Toxins in the Environment
Chemical Interactions
- Antagonistic interaction one material
interfere with the effects or stimulates the
breakdown of other chemicals

- Additive reaction effects of each
chemical are added to one another

- Synergistic reaction one substance
exacerbates the effect of the other
Measuring Toxicity


Animal Testing - exposing a population of
laboratory animals to measured doses of specific
toxins
Toxicity Ratings
- Moderate toxins takes about 1 g/kg of body
weight to produce lethal dose
- Very toxic requires 10 % of the same amount
- Extremely toxic requires about 1%
- Supertoxic can be lethal in few micrograms
Measuring Toxicity


Acute vs. Chronic Doses and Effects
- Acute effect is caused by a single exposure
and results to an immediate health problem
- Chronic effect is a result of a single large or
repeated smaller dose with long last or
permanent effect