Single Chemical Toxicities

The ECOTOXicology database is a source for locating single chemical toxicity data for aquatic life, terrestrial plants and wildlife. ECOTOX integrates three toxicology effects databases AQUIRE (aquatic life), PHYTOTOX (terrestrial plants), and TERRETOX (terrestrial wildlife). These databases were created by the U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development (ORD), and the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laborator) (NHEERL), Mid-Continent Ecology Division... 

The Ecotox database provides single chemical toxicity information for aquatic and terrestial life. This is a useful tool for evaluating the impact of chemicals on the environment. 

The whole mixture approach generally consists of testing the complex mixture in bioassays (both in the laboratory and in situ), usually applying the same principles as used in the single chemical toxicity tests. By performing whole mixture tests on gradients of pollution or on concentrates or dilutions of (extracts of) the polluted sample, concentration-response relationships can be created. Bioassays... 

The integration of exposure with single chemical toxicity data is expressed as a quotient of the environment exposure concentration (EEC) divided by the toxico-logically effective concentration (TEC) ... 

Hazardous Air Pollutants. Tide 3 of the CAAA of 1990 addresses the release of hazardous air poUutants (HAPs) by requiring both the identification of major stationary sources and area source categories for 189 toxic chemicals and the promulgation of control standards. Major sources of air toxics, also referred to as HAPs, include any stationary source or group of sources emitting 10 or more tons/yr of any single Hsted toxic chemical or 25 tons/yr of a combination of any Hsted toxic. Area sources of HAPs include smaller plants that emit less than the 10 or 20 tons/yr thresholds. The major sources of HAPs are typically industrial faciHties. However, Tide 3 requites the EPA to study potential health affects associated with emissions of HAPs from electric UtiHty boilers (11). 

The e. posure route partly determines the distribution of the chemical in die body. Like tlie chemical benzene, a single chemical may follow multiple routes of e. posure. The liver, like the skin, acts as a filter. The liver is the primary dcto.xification site. To.xicants that arc absorbed into the lungs, skin, mouth, and esophagus may temporarily bypass the liver however, toxicants absorbed tluougli the stomach and intestines follow the blood s direct path to tlie liver. 

When die hazard index exceeds miity, diere may be concern for potential health effects. While any single chemical with an exposure level greater than the toxicity value will cause die hazard index to e.xceed unity, die reader should note diat for multiple chemical exposures, die hazard index can also exceed unity even if no single chemical exposure exceeds its RfD. 

For some toxins it is possible to demonstrate an apparent improvement in functional response at levels of exposure which are below a threshold. This effect, which has been termed hormesis , is most effectively demonstrated in the consistently improved longevity of animals whose caloric intake is restricted rather than allowing them to feed ad lib (Tannenbaum, 1942). Clearly in this instance, the observed effects are the result of exposure to a complex mixture of chemicals whose metabolism determines the total amount of energy available to the organism. But it is also possible to show similar effects when single chemicals such as alcohol (Maclure, 1993), or caffeic acid (Lutz et al., 1997) are administered, as well as for more toxic chemicals such as arsenic (Pisciotto and Graziano, 1980) or even tetrachloro-p-dibenzodioxin (TCDD) ( Huff et al., 1994) when administered at very low doses. It is possible that there are toxins that effect a modest, reversible disruption in homeostasis which results in an over-compensation, and that this is the mechanism of the beneficial effect observed. These effects would not be observed in the animal bioassays since to show them it would be necessary to have at least three dose groups below the NOAEL. In addition, the strain of animal used would have to have a very low incidence of disease to show any effect. 

Phenol is both a man-made chemical and produced naturally. It is found in nature in some foods and in human and animal wastes and decomposing organic material. The largest single use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins. However, it is also used in the production of caprolactam (which is used in the manufacture of nylon 6 and other synthetic fibers) and bisphenol A (which is used in the manufacture of epoxy and other resins). Phenol is also used as a slimicide (a chemical toxic to bacteria and fungi characteristic of aqueous slimes), as a disinfectant, and in medicinal preparations such as over-the-counter treatments for sore throats. Phenol ranks in the top 50 in production volumes for chemicals produced in the United States. Chapters 3 and 4 contain more information. 

For many, familiarity with the TSCA generally stems from its specific reference to polychlorinated biphenyls, which raise a vivid, deadly characterization of the harm caused by them. But the TSCA is not a statute that deals with a single chemical or chemical mixture or product. In fact, under the TSCA, the EPA is authorized to institute testing programs for various chemical substances that may enter the enviromnent. Under the TSCA s broad authorization, data on the production and use of various chemical substances and mixtures may be obtained to protect public health and the environment from the effects of harmful chemicals. In actuality, the TSCA supplements the appropriate sections dealing with toxic substances in other federal stamtes, such as the Clean Water Act (Section 307) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Section 6). 

The in vitro and in vivo test methods available to study combined actions and toxicological and biochemical interactions of chemicals in mixtures are essentially the same as those used for the study of single chemicals in order to examine their potential general toxicity and special effects such as mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity. 

In the GSK approach, each factor was given a score based on available physical property data (for example boiling point), life cycle impact data, or experimentally derived data (such as animal toxicity or ecotoxicity data). Related factors were associated together before the combined data was normalized between 1 (worst) and 10 (best) to give final scores for the headline categories (incineration, ecotoxic-ify, exposure potential, and so on). This approach enabled the envirorunental and health and safety properties of solvents of different types or classes to be easily compared alongside more conventional physical and solvent properties. In an ideal world, a similar approach would be taken with every single chemical to be able to... 

No single chemical structure defines inhalants, because the term itself describes any vapor-producing volatile chemical that abusers sniff, huff, spray, or inhale to achieve intoxication. By nature, inhalants come in many forms—about 1,000 to 1,400 different products, according to different U.S. authorities. Also, some products are a mix of chemicals that, when combined, multiply and heighten the toxic impact. 

Species sensitivity approach If the suspected toxicant(s) has been correctly identified, effluent samples with different LC50, IC25 or IC50s for one species should have the same ratio for a second species with different sensitivity. When two or more species exhibit different sensitivities to the suspected toxicant during single chemical testing, and the same pattern is observed in the whole effluent, this provides supporting evidence that the chemical tested is the cause of effluent toxicity. 

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