Carcinogens, Mutagens, and Teratogens

More information on different chemical substances, as well as the categorization, kinds of uses, and possible health effects, is available in other chapters of this book and in other published literature. To protect themselves and the living environment, students and workers must be well aware of potential toxicity and the implications of negligence and improper use. The different chapters of this book discuss specihc chemical substances and their uses, toxicity, health effects on animals and humans, and the importance of taking precautions during use. 

Sittig, M. 1991. Handbook of toxic and hazardous chemicals, 3rd ed. Park Ridge, NJ Noyes Publications. 

and Lewis, R. J. 1989. Dangerous properties of industrial materials, 7th ed. New York Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. 

Industrial solvents handbook, 5th ed. New York William Andrew Pnblishing/Noyes. 

Wypych, G. 2001. Handbook of solvents. Claremont, NH Chem Tec Pnhlishing. 

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Toxic air pollutants are pollutants which are hazardous to human health or the environment but which are not specifically regulated by the CAA. These pollutants are typically carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens. The CAAA of 1977 failed to result in substantial reductions in the emissions of these harmful substances. 

Alcohol sulfates and alcohol ether sulfates were examined many years ago for their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. A complete revision of these subjects was carried out by Oba [382]. 

Couch, J.A., W.P. Schoor, W. Davis, and L. Courtney. 1983. Effects of Carcinogens, Mutagens, and Teratogens on Nonhuman Species (Aquatic Animals). U.S. Environ. Protection Agency Rep. 600/9-83-005. 46 pp. 

Risk analyses suggest that many of the chronic toxicants can be injurious to a small portion of the human population consuming waters or foods containing them. Chronic toxicants include a diversity of carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens. 

Human exposure to migrating substances (e.g., di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) may result in reproductive disorders. There is a hazard that vinyl chloride monomers or bisphenol A migrating into food may induce carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic episodes. 

EHC monographs examine the physical and chemical properties and analytical methods sources of environmental and industrial exposure and environmental transport kinetics and meta-bohsm including absorption, distribution, transformation, and elimination short- and long-term effects on animals, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity and finally, an evaluation of risks for human health and the effects on the environment. 

Woo, Y.-T. (1983) Carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity of carbamates, fhiocarbamates and related compounds an overview of structure-activity relationships and environmental concerns. Environ. Carcinog. Ecotoxicol. Rev., Cl (1), 97-133. 

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic metabolites produced by molds. The major food affected with aflatoxins are corn, peanuts, rice, cottonseeds, dried fruit and milk from ingestion (103). The US action standards established by FDA are 20 pg/Kg for foods consumed by humans and 0.5 pg/kg for milk. In the case of animal feed, the levels are from 100 to 300 pg/kg. Therefore, assays capable of detecting at these levels have to be developed, (see Table 1 (104,105)). Detection of aflatoxins entails conjugation of these small molecules with carrier proteins like bovine serum albumin to produce antibodies (20). A number of commercial kits for aflatoxins are available (see sections on kits and immunoaflinity purification). 

The Testing of Chemicals for Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, and Teratogenicity published by the Ministry of National Health and Welfare (Canada)... 

Whereas on Earth, PAHs and related species such as (benzo[a]pyrene) are considered as highly carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic, and therefore resemble unwanted by-product in combustion processes, the situation in quite reversed in hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres of planets and their moons, as well as in the interstellar medium. Here, PAH-like species are thought to contribute to the unidentified infrared emission bands (UIBs) observed between 3 and 15 )o,m. " Itis also estimated that PAHs and related molecules such as their radicals, ionized PAHs, and heteroaromatic PAH make up to 20% of the total cosmic carbon budget. Also, the role of PAHs in astrobiology should be noted. ... 

Roe FJ. Toxicologic evaluation of metronidazole with particular reference to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic potential. Surgery 1983 93(1 Pt 2) 158-64. 

Apart from their acute and chronic toxicity, mycotoxins may possess carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. They may act primarily on the liver (hepatotoxicity), kidney (nephrotoxicity), nervous (neurotoxicity), and immune systems (immunotoxicity or immunosuppression), on the uterus (uterotropism), and on the skin (dermatotoxicity), or they may act as... 

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