SURVEY OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Gopirajan J. Rasamy MS0911031471

NAME A. Outdoor Air Pollutants 1. Carbon Monoxide

Characteristics

Common Source Of Exposure

Symptoms of Exposure

Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless Automobile exhaust, poorly ventilated charcoal, kerosene or gas stoves, foundries, coke ovens, refineries, smoking tobacco products.

Acute: Slight headache, shortness of breath Chronic: Headache, nausea, irritability, increased respiration, chest pain, impaired judgment and fainting. Affects eyes and the skin, upper respiratory system, penetrate lungs.

2. Sulfur Oxides

2 types, Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfur Trioxide

Automobile exhaust, petroleum refineries, paper manufacturing and chemical industries, power plants, copper smelting.

3. Ozone

Colorless, major air pollutant Interaction between organic in heavily industrialized areas compounds, in presence of sunlight, most ingredients from Automobile exhaust. Five forms are found in nature Burning of fuels in furnaces and internal combustion engines, detonation of explosives, welding and tobacco smoke.

Eyes, nose, lung irritation, coughing and breathing problems, chest pain and pneumonia

4. Nitrogen Oxides

Coughing, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fluid build-up in the lung, irregular heartbeat, eye irritation, fever, chills, fluid in the lungs Silicosis, pneumoconiosis and cancer

5. Particulates

Size important in determining Automobile emissions, smokestacks, effect and the composition blowing dust

NAME A. Heavy Metals 1. Arsenic

Characteristics

Common Source Of Exposure Potable pot, wine and seafood. Through ingestion and inhalation

Symptoms of Exposure Fever, anorexia, liver enlargement, poisoning of the nervous system, liver damage, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, , leukemia, dermatitis, keratosis and death. Acute: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, irritation of nose and throat, coughing, dizziness. Chronic: COPD, emphysema, kidney disease, cardiovascular system and skeleton In children: Encephalopathy resulting in lethargy, vomiting, irritability, loss of appetite, dizziness. In adults: High BP, adverse reproductive effects. Neurotoxic effects in adults, toxicity to fetus in mothers exposed, kidneys, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, tremor and personality disturbances, permanent CNS damage.

Trivalent or pentavalent form

2. Cadmium

Gather and concentrate in plants, Shellfish, tobacco, breast milk. contaminated irrigations and found Contaminated beverages or food. in fertilizers

3. Lead

Most widespread toxic metal on earth. Rx through Chelation therapy.

Batteries, plastic, china, ceramic glass, paint products. Primary route is ingestion.

4. Mercury

Third most toxic substance in the world. Exist in number of forms. Rx through Chelation therapy.

Used to produce vapor lamps, fluorescent tubes, thermometers, electrical products.

NAME A. Pesticides 1. Insecticides

Characteristics

Common Source Of Exposure

Symptoms of Exposure

Organochlorides,

Dermal absorption, inhalation, ingestion

Peripheral nervous system, decrease antibody production. Headache, anxiety, chest tightness, seizures, loss of consciousness, arrhythmia, liver dysfunction

Organophosphates Carbamates

2. Herbicides

Chronic and dermal

Liver problems, nerve damages, chloracne. Skin irritation, headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dermatitis. Dermatitis, Pulmonary irritation, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dementia

3. Fungicides

4. Fumigants

5. Rodenticides

NAME

Characteristics

Common Source Of Exposure

Symptoms of Exposure

1. Benzenes

Most prevalent solvent, by product of gasoline.

Inhalation

CNS effect, unconsciousness, death, bone marrow damage, fatigue, anorexia. Chloracne, developmental and fetotoxic effects.

2. Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Plasticizers, adhesives, capacitors, accumulate in fat tissue and milk, fish from contaminated water.

Reference: Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Module Four Lecture Notes