Human health, impact

Environmental exposures to PCBs are significantly lower than those reported in the workplace and are therefore unlikely to cause adverse human health effects in adults. However, it is apparent from the results of several recent studies on children that there was a correlation between in utero exposure to PCBs, eg, cord blood levels, and developmental deficits (65—68) including reduced bkth weight, neonatal behavior anomaUes, and poorer recognition memories. At four years of age, there was stiU a correlation between prenatal PCB exposure levels and short-term memory function (verbal and quantitative). In these studies the children were all exposed to relatively low environmental levels of PCBs. Although these effects may be related to other contaminants, it is clear that this is an area of concern regarding the potential adverse human health impacts of PCBs. 

DfE forms partnerships with industry and other interested parties to develop information on environmental and human health impacts, performance, and cost of cleaner technologies and approaches. 

Most circuit boards are FR-4 boards that meet standards for fire safety by the use of brominated epoxy resins in which the reactive flame-retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) forms part of the polymeric backbone of the resin. Alternative flame-retardant materials are used in only 3-5 per cent of the FR-4 boards, but additional alternative flame-retardant materials are also imder development. Little information exists concerning the potential environmental and human health impacts of the materials which are being developed as alternatives to those used today that are based on brominated epoxy resins. 

The DfE partnership will develop information to improve the understanding of the environmental and human health impacts of new and current materials that can be used to meet the fire safety requirements for circuit boards. Project partners include electronics manufacturers, component and board manufacturers, chemical companies, trade associations, environmental groups, universities and governments. The project will consider environmental and human health impacts that can occur throughout the life cycle of a material, from development and manufacture, through product use and end of life of the material or product. Stakeholders have expressed a particular interest in understanding the combustion products that could be formed during certain end of life scenarios. The list of active partners includes ... 

A Revision of Current Models for Environmental and Human Health Impact and Risk Assessment for Application to Emerging Chemicals... 

Table 2 presents results from three different methods and studies that have performed large-scale inventories on external costs associated with environmental and human health impacts [37, 38, 44, 45]... 

Table 2 External costs for different environmental and human health impacts...

As is seen, this example shows that flame retardants might be good for society (from a socio-economic perspective) even if they cause a number of adverse environmental and human health impacts as long as the value of the avoided mortality impacts is larger. Replacement of flame retardants should only be done (from an economic perspective) if the replacement cost is smaller than the avoided environmental and human health values. 

The negative aspects of chemical additives appear to be getting more and more attention in the public debate. Results linking chemical additives to adverse environmental and human health impacts are being produced. But more results are needed. More economic valuation studies are needed to support analysis as well as impact analysis on parameters such as human fertility, animal reproduction and animal productivity. Of big concern for the authors of this chapter is the need to know more about diffuse exposure from the use of products containing chemical additives. 

The relation between experienced dose and environmental and human response The relation between exposure to an environmental stressor and the environmental or human response Substance causing adverse environmental and/or human health impact... 

The characteristics of the applied models have been described in detail in the chapters Environmental Fate Models [50] and A Revision of Current Models for Environmental and Human Health Impact and Risk Assessment for Application to Emerging Chemicals [49] and only a brief overview is given here. Since each model has its own approach (i.e., QWASI is focused on the aquatic system), the combined results are expected to give a wider view with in-depth analyses for different aspects compared to just one model with its special characteristics. 

Human Health Impacts of Chronic Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution Chronic exposure studies examine the impact of long-term exposure to PM air pollution as well as the cumulative effects of short-term elevated PM levels. These studies... 

I have been asked to discuss the human health impacts of TSCA. Any examination of such "impacts" of the Act should focus on effects that can be measured or estimated. However, in cases where the statutory goals are primarily preventive in nature, measurement or even estimation of health benefits may prove elusive. Although TSCA contains language that appears to require some consideration of the impact of regulation, it is unlikely that Congress intended that precise quantitative evaluation of the effects of TSCA be undertaken. As we shall see, such an evaluation is not feasible. 

Dioxin. Two years ago, EPA promulgated a rule prohibiting Vertac Chemical Corporation from disposing of waste contaminated by dioxin. Other parties intending to dispose of similarly contaminated wastes were required to notify EPA 60 days in advance of their intentions. This order may have prevented some exposure to this highly toxic substance, though the human health impact of this single prohibition cannot be calculated. 

When investigating the processes and policies that could raise the potential acceptance of carbon capture and storage, Shackley et al. (2004) found that more certainty about risks would be helpful. The main concerns about risks connected with carbon capture and storage were possible leakage, ecosystems and environmental impacts, the untested nature of the technology and human health impacts. 

Kamrin MA, Fischer LJ. 1991. Workshop on human health impacts of halogenated biphenyls and related compounds. Environ Health Perspect 91 157-164. 

Kim S, Aga DS (2007) Potential ecological and human health impacts of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from waste water treatment plants. J Toxicol Environ Health B CritRev 10(8) 559-573... 

---