Food chain potential impacts

Thus, structure-activity relationships developed to estimate levels in biological media based on the partitioning properties of a chemical may not provide accurate information for isophorone. Furthermore, only one bioaccumulation study was available. In this study, which indicated a low potential for bioaccumulation, fish were exposed to isophorone in water rather than in food. From these data, it appears that food chain bioaccumulation may be occurring, and a clearer understanding of the potential for this would aid in determining how levels in the environment affect the food chain and potentially impact on human exposure levels. 

The toxicity, bioaccumulative potential, and ecological impact of organohalogenated substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated d iben zo -pa ra - diox i n s (PCDDs), or polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) have been extensively reviewed.95 98 All are referred to as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that is, chemical substances that remain in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose a risk to human health and the environment. The international community is calling for action to reduce and then eliminate the production or formation of these substances and to monitor their emission. In this case, the detectability obtainable by analytical methods should be very low, since the limits established for these residues are in the ng per liter range. 

Serious onsite injuries (Temporary disabling worker injuries), n Property damage 1 to 20 times base level. Moderate environmental impact (Cleanup or remediation in less than one week and no lasting impact on food chain, terrestrial life or aquatic life). Loss of production from 1 to 20 times base level. Minor offsite impact (Public nuisance - noise, smoke, odor, traffic). Potential adverse public reaction. 

The sorption- and remobilization potentials of the different PFC may be essential for the assessment of the acute and long-term exposure of ground and drinking water to PFC. PFC are readily water soluble [15], but they also adsorb onto, or accumulate in, solid matrices such as soil, sediments, plants and animals [16]. As PFC can migrate from soil to plants [17, 18] the behavior of PFC in soil has also impact on their occurrence in field crop and the food chain. Food and especially drinking water are considered as the major sources of PFC found in the human body [19-22]. 

The impact of lead ou the environment per se is not of prime importance and it is its entry to the food chain and potential for human exposure that is the primary determinant of emission and contamination standards. 

POPs have been observed to persist in the environment and spread out over long distances. POPs can accumulate in human and animal tissue and become part of the human food chain. POPs have potential significant impacts on human health and the environment. Persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment attach to plastic debris, which then are consumed by marine animals, many of which are in the human food chain. The plastic pellets and fragments can transport toxic substances in the marine environment to animals and ultimately to humans (Rios et al. 2(X)7). 

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