toxic substance in the environment Flashcards
What are POPs?
Persistent
Organic Pollutants.
Organic substances harmful to
organisms and the environment
that persist in the environment for
long periods of time, accumulate in
living organisms through food
chains.
What does EDCs stands for?
Endocrine-disrupting chemical;
How EDCs (Endocrine-disrupting chemicals) act?
may mimic, block,
or interfere with the body’s hormones
Name 3 health effects endocrine-disrupting chemicals can cause?
obesity, diabetes, development problems, Certain cancers (breast, prostate), Neurological and behavioural issues
What are Organochlorinated
pesticides? Give examples of it.
Its pesticides, also called as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Examples: Dichlorodiphenylethanes (DDT)
chlorinated cyclohexanes
What is acute and chronic toxicity of organochlorinated pesticides?
acute: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sweating
Chronic: acts on liver, kidneys, CNS, suspected human carcinogens
What does DDT mean?
Dichloro diphenyl ethanes
What does HCB stand for?
Hexa chlor benzene
What are the largest anthropogenic(created by human activity: industrial processes) sources of (Hexa chlor benzene)
HCB?
organic synthesis
pesticide application
Steel and iron production
What are the impacts on human health of HCB?
Damages CNS, skin, hepatotoxic (toxic to livers) teratogenic (causes developmental abnormalities or birth defects)
What is the toxicity of Polychlorinated dibenzop-dioxins (PCDDs) and
polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs) (they are Planar tricyclic aromatic compounds with 1-8 chlorine atoms)
Adverse effects on immune and hormonal systems, liver and nervous
system
Some teratogenic and carcinogenic
What does anthropogenic activities means?
Industrial processes
What does PCB mean?
Polychlorinated
biphenyls
What is the toxicity of PCB?
Acute poisoning is not very common, chronic is way more dangerous:
reduced birth weight, Immunotoxic, neurotoxic, Liver Toxicity
BFRs meaning
Brominated Flame
Retardants
