Synthetic chemicals public concern

Separate from the acute toxicity endpoints described above, one must be concerned about the long-term effects of exposure to chemicals. Chronic toxicity is particularly insidious because effects may not be felt by the individual(s) for years (or even decades) before serious effects such as cancer become apparent, which may by then be too late to treat. Cancer can result from many sources, cigarette smoking and genetic disorders being notable examples, but the public is also very concerned about cancer and other serious health effects which may result from exposure to synthetic chemicals. Repeated or continuous exposure to low levels of chemicals over an extended period ( chronic exposure ) is of primary concern and therefore a focus of the EPA under the TSCA. 

Lastly, a series of scientific experiments and their subsequent publication suggests that the range and possibilities for malign use of biology and chemistry have greatly increased. Among the experiments of concern are the unintentional potentiation of poxviruses as a by-product of attempts to develop a mouse contraceptive, and the production of synthetic polio virus from basic chemical compounds.3... 

Another summary with special reference to the chemical structure of opium derivatives and allied synthetic substances and their pharmacodynamic action is supplement No. 138 to the Public Health Reports of the U.S. Public Health Service entitled Studies on Drug Addiction and pubUshed in 1938 (2). Synthetic analgesics have been considered subsequently in many review s. Extensively consulted in the preparation of this article were the reviews by Fellows and Ullyot (3), Lee (4), Wikler (5), Isbell and Fraser (6), Beckett (7), Schaumann (8), and Schoen (9). This review will mainly be concerned with analgesia, addiction, and fate, of morphine and related analgesics. 

---