Health death

Chapter 3 Health Effects Specific health effects of a given hazardous compound are reported by type of health (death, systemic, immunologic, reproductive), by route of exposure, and by length of exposure (acute, intermediate, and chronic). In addition, both human and animal studies are reported in this section. 

Table 4-7 shows observed deaths in the three categories compared with age-specific expected numbers based on mortality data on U.S. white males born in 1891. In general, the observed expected ratios are lower than 1, apparently because the preinduction medical examinations excluded men not in good health. Deaths did increase sharply in the mustard-gas roster for 1930-1939. 

When health is equated with freedom, liberty as a political concept vanishes. We understand and accept the person who prefers security over liberty, but we do not understand or accept the person who prefers disease over health, death over life. 

Table 1. Probability categories and consequence categories for Life and health— Deaths . 

Different risk matrices were created for the different consequence types. Figure 2 shows an example for the consequence type Life and health—Deaths. 

Figure 2. Risk matrix for Life and health Deaths within 1 year.

Care must be taken in handling radon, as with other radioactive materials. The main hazard is from inhalation of the element and its solid daughters which are collected on dust in the air. Good ventilation should be provided where radium, thorium, or actinium is stored to prevent build-up of the element. Radon build-up is a health consideration in uranium mines. Recently radon build-up in homes has been a concern. Many deaths from lung cancer are caused by radon exposure. In the U.S. it is recommended that remedial action be taken if the air in homes exceeds 4 pCi/1. 

Health and Safety Factors. Boron trifluoride is primarily a pulmonary irritant. The toxicity of the gas to humans has not been reported (58), but laboratory tests on animals gave results ranging from an increased pneumonitis to death. The TLV is 1 ppm (59,60). Inhalation toxicity studies in rats have shown that exposure to BF at 17 mg/m resulted in renal toxicity, whereas exposure at 6 mg/m did not result in a toxic response (61). Prolonged inhalation produced dental fluorosis (62). High concentrations bum the skin similarly to acids such as HBF and, if the skin is subject to prolonged exposure, the treatment should be the same as for fluoride exposure and hypocalcemia. No chronic effects have been observed in workers exposed to small quantities of the gas at frequent intervals over a period of years. 

Phenol. Phenol monomer is highly toxic and absorption by the skin can cause severe blistering. Large quantities can cause paralysis of the central nervous system and death. Ingestion of minor amounts may damage kidneys, Hver, and pancreas. Inhalation can cause headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and heart failure. The threshold limit value (TLV) for phenol is 5 ppm. The health and environmental risks of phenol and alkylated phenols, such as cresols and butylphenols, have been reviewed (66). 

Health and Safety Factors, Toxicology. Phosphoms trichloride severely bums skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately. Vapors from minor inhalation exposure can cause delayed onset of severe respiratory symptoms after 2—24 h, depending on the degree of exposure. Delayed, massive, or acute pulmonary edema and death can develop as consequences of inhalation exposure. 

Health and Safety Factors. Carbonyl sulfide is dangerously poisonous, more so because it is practically odorless when pure. It is lethal to rats at 2900 ppm. Studies show an LD q (rat, ip) of 22.5 mg/kg. The mechanism of toxic action appears to iavolve breakdowa to hydrogea sulfide (36). It acts principally on the central nervous system with death resulting mainly from respiratory paralysis. Little is known regarding the health effects of subacute or chronic exposure to carbonyl sulfide a 400-p.g/m max level has been suggested until more data are available (37). Carbon oxysulfide has a reported inhalation toxicity in mice LD q (mouse) = 2900 ppm (37). 

Elemental tellurium and the stable teUurides of heavy nonferrous metals are relatively inert and do not represent a significant health hazard (43—47). Other, more reactive teUurides, including soluble and volatile teUurium compounds such as hydrogen teUuride [7783-09-7] teUurium hexafluoride [7783-80-4] and alkyl teUurides, should be handled with caution. Some of these materials can enter the body by absorption through the skin or by inhalation and ingestion of dust or fumes. No serious consequences or deaths have been reported in workers exposed to teUurium and its compounds in industry (48). 

For carckiogen pesticides (70,71), animal testkigs are subject to maximum tolerated doses (M I L)). M I D is the maximum amount of a substance that can be administered to an experimental animal without causkig extreme health consequences, such as death, to occur but while continuing to produce some measurable toxic effects. Current regulatory theory holds that carckiogen effects do not have a threshold and caimot be related to reference doses. 

It must be remembered that all anesthetics and tranquilizers are used by the practitioner following a risk—benefit evaluation. General anesthesia, even being adininistered by an experienced practitioner, can result in death through cardiac or respiratory depression. The veterinarian is acutely aware of these risks and chooses the dmg and method of adininistration considering the patient s health status, the nature of and need for the procedure, and the likelihood of success. 

Health Hazards. AHyl chloride is a toxic, highly flammable compound that is severely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. AHyl chloride is considered to be moderately to highly toxic (LD q = 275-700 mg/kg body weight) via oral exposure. Amounts incidental to industrial handling are unlikely to cause injury. Large amounts, however, can cause injury, even death (24,50). 

Several nonoccupational health problems have been traced to cobalt compounds. Cobalt compounds were used as foam stabilizers in many breweries throughout the world in the mid to late 1960s, and over 100 cases of cardiomyopathy, several followed by death, occurred in heavy beer drinkers (38,39). Those affected consumed as much as 6 L/d of beer (qv) and chronic alcoholism and poor diet may well have contributed to this disease. Some patients treated with cobalt(II) chloride for anemia have developed goiters and polycythemia (40). The impact of cobalt on the thyroid gland and blood has been observed (41). 

The final article, by S. G. Bell and G. A. Codd of the University of Dundee Department of Biological Services, is concerned with detection, analysis, and risk assessment of cyanobacterial toxins. These can be responsible for animal, fish, and bird deaths and for ill-health in humans. The occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms and scums on nutrient-rich waters is a world-wide phenomenon and cases are cited from Australia, the USA, and China, as well as throughout Europe. The causes, indentification and assessment of risk, and establishment of criteria for controlling risk are discussed. 

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