Organisms health hazard assessment

Two strategies can be followed to assess the health hazard of organic chemicals occurring as contaminants in an abiotic or a biotic matrix. In the chemical-oriented approach, compounds of known toxicity are monitored and a toxicological examination of identified organics of unknown toxicity is performed. 

OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment OSHA Occnpational Safety and Health Administration Osteogenic sarcoma Cancer associated with bone structures Oxidation Chemical addition of oxygen to break down pollutants or organic waste, for example, destruction of chemical substances such as cyanides, phenols, and organic sulfur compounds in sewage by bacterial and chemical means Oxidative stress Process whereby the metabolic balance of a cell is disrupted by exposure to environmental substances, resulting in accumulation of free radicals, which can damage the cell... 

Our current state of knowledge is insufficient to fully assess potential health hazards associated with the use of nano-objects and relate health effects to then-chemical, structural and morphological properties. The main danger of nanoobjects is that they are capable of easily penetrating the blood stream and internal organs via inhalation, ingestion and through the skin. Further systematic research of structure-properties of nano-objects is required. 

Special process and product specifications have been set forth for companies in the chemical industry. Additionally, specific limits must be observed for pollutant or VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions. Specific maximum allowable concentrations at workplaces must not be exceeded. Both the transport of chemicals and the recycling or disposal of chemical wastes are subject to particular requirements. Periodic hazard assessments - which in Germany, for example, are mandatory according to the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung, BetrSichV) - are a must requirement in the chemical industry. To achieve a Continuous Improvement Process, product and process requirements must be identified, evaluated and monitored on a regular basis. 

EU human health risk assessment, completed on May 2005, concluded that TBBPA presents no risk to human health. Therefore TBBPA is not subject to any classification for health. TBBPA is classified in the EU as an R50/53 substance for the environment toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Hazard can be managed by appropriate product stewardship measures. 

The hazard classification should lead directly to labelling of acute health effects, environmental and physical hazards. The labelling approach that involves a risk assessment should only be applied to chronic health hazards, e.g. carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, or target organ systemic toxicity based on repeated exposure. The only chemicals it may be applied to are those in the consumer product setting where consumer exposures are generally limited in quantity and duration ... 

In previous publications. Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD) has addressed the importance of workplace risk reduction by evaluating carefully human health hazard and occupational exposure [2-4]. This chapter addresses the environmental exposure assessment as a complementary information to data on ecotoxicological hazard profiles of colorants. 

A better understanding of the biochemical factors which influence organ-specific toxicity is needed to improve our ability to rationally extrapolate toxicity data from animals to humans and to assist in predicting and assessing the health hazards to humans from chemical exposure. 

D. Thermal-breakdown products. Under fire conditions, many organic substances will break down to other toxic substances. The amounts, kinds, and distribution of breakdown products vary with the fire conditions and are not easily modeled. Information on the likely thermal-decomposition products is included because of their importance in the assessment of health hazards underfire conditions. 

Eisler, R. 2000. Acrolein. Pages 739-766 in Handbook of Chemical Risk Assessment Health Hazards to Humans, Plants, and Animals. Volume 2, Organics. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida. 

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