Health effects attributable

R. W. Gotchy, Health Effects Attributed to Coal andNuclearFuel Cycle Alternatives, Report NUREG-0332, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,... 

In the United States, the largest concentration of atmospheric vanadium occurs over Eastern seaboard cities where residual fuels of high vanadium content from Venezuela are burned ia utility boilers. Coal ash ia the atmosphere also coataias vanadium (36). Ambient air samples from New York and Boston contain as much as 600—1300 ng V/m, whereas air samples from Los Angeles and Honolulu contained 1—12 ng V/m. Adverse pubHc health effects attributable to vanadium ia the ambieat air have aot beea deteroiiaed. lacreased emphasis by iadustry oa controlling all plant emissions may have resulted ia more internal reclamation and recycle of vanadium catalysts. An apparent drop ia consumption of vanadium chemicals ia the United States since 1974 may be attributed, in part, to such reclamation activities. 

Health effects attributed to sulfur oxides are likely due to exposure to sulfur dioxide, sulfate aerosols, and sulfur dioxide adsorbed onto particulate matter. Alone, sulfur dioxide will dissolve in the watery fluids of the upper respiratory system and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Sulfur dioxide reacts with other substances in the atmosphere to form sulfate aerosols. Since most sulfate aerosols are part of PMj 5, they may have an important role in the health impacts associated with fine particulates. However, sulfate aerosols can be transported long distances through the atmosphere before deposition actually occurs. Average sulfate aerosol concentrations are about 40% of average fine particulate levels in regions where fuels with high sulfur content are commonly used. Sulfur dioxide adsorbed on particles can be carried deep into the pulmonary system. Therefore, reducing concentrations of particulate matter may also reduce the health impacts of sulfur dioxide. Acid aerosols affect respiratory and sensory functions. 

In workers exposed to airborne levels up to 7.6mg/m blood levels of organic fluoride were higher than background but there were no adverse health effects attributable to the exposure. ... 

It has little, if any, adverse effect on the lung, and there are no reports of organic disease or toxic effect. The health effects attributed to wood, cotton, flax, jute, and hemp are not attributable to their cellulose content but rather to the presence of other substances. 

What are these charges against marijuana Deleterious health effects attributed to marijuana include ... 

The National Coimcil for Radiation Protection (NCRP) has identified a negligible individual risk level (NIRL) as a level of annual excess risk of health effects attributable to irradiation below which further effort to reduce radiation to the individual is unwarranted. The NCRP emphasized that this level should not be confused with an acceptable risk level, a level of significance or a standard. The NCRP recommended a level around half the natural background radiation level the final recommended NIRL level is 1 mrem this level is now called negligible individual dose (NID) level (Harley, 2001, 2008). 

Butanal has low acute toxicity. Exposure to a large dose may have a temporary narcotic effect. Exposure to low concentrations of butanal vapors produces irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. The compound has an unpleasant odor. Impurities (butyric acid) may be present that make the smell even more objectionable. Health effects attributed to chronic exposure to low doses of butanal vapors have not been described. Dermatitis may be expected after prolonged and repeated exposures to solutions containing butanal. 

In 1991, the National Academy of Sciences studied the health effects attributable to toxic waste sites and concluded, [W]e find that the health of some members of the public is in danger, but We are currently unable to answer the question of the overall impact on public health of hazardous wastes. The Academy pointed out that Millions of tons of hazardous materials are slowly migrating into groundwater in areas where they could pose problems in the future, even though current risks could be negligible. The Academy concluded, ...the committee does find sufficient evidence that hazardous wastes have produced health effects in some populations. We are concerned that populations may be at risk that have not been adequately identified, because of the inadequate program of site identification and assessment. ... 

The primary adverse health effect attributed to neon exposures is simple asphyxiation due to the displacement of oxygen necessary for life. No animal or in vitro studies were found in scientific literature, but it is known that humans and other animals requiring oxygen can die by asphyxiation, if exposed to high concentrations of neon. 

As discussed in the previous problem set, the four major steps in a health risk assessment are hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. A health risk assessment initially involves the identification of human health effects attributed to exposure to a chemical, usually on a continuous basis. A dose-response assessment determines how different levels of exposure to a hazard or pollutant affect the likelihood or severity of the health effects. An exposure assessment determines the extent of human exposure. These are combined to provide a risk characterization value. 

Hippuric acid was identified as a major metabolite associated with black tea consumption. " The compound l,3-dihydroxyphenyl-2-0-sulfate (sulfate conjugate of pyrogallol) was also identified as a black tea metabolite in humans. " Very low levels of theaflavins in plasma and urine were reported in humans after consumption of black tea. It was reported that the ingestion of either green tea or black tea results in a major increase in the excretion of hippuric acid into urine. The authors concluded that green tea and black tea consumption result in similar amounts of microbial degradation products that are absorbed by the body. They speculated that these microbial metabolites, not the native tea flavonoids, may be responsible for at least some of the health effects attributed to tea consumption. ... 

Although these are the major polyphenolics in berries, it may or may not be these particular components that are responsible for some of the health effects attributed to berries. In our present scientific environment, it is common to take the reductionist point of view, where researchers study single compounds as new therapeutic agents, but in reality, it may be that the end resnlt is based on hundreds of distinct molecules. Although this idea presents a hnge challenge scientifically, it may not be as far-fetched today as it once seemed. In the following section, we will discuss some of the literature that indicates possible involvement of at least the anthocyanins and pro-anthocyanidins in prevention of cancers. 

Benefits. The Economic Analysis describes the estimated benefits of the rulemaking in qualitative and quantitative terms. Benefits result from the prevention of adverse health effects attributable to lead exposure. These health effects include impaired cognitive function in children and several illnesses in children and adults. EPA estimated the benefits of avoided incidence of IQ loss due to reduced lead exposure to children under the age of 6. There are not sufficient data at this time to develop dose-response functions for other health effects in children or for pregnant women. The benefits of avoided exposure to adults were not quantified due to uncertainties about the exposure of adults to lead in dust from renovation, repair, and painting activities in these facilities. 

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