Toxic chemical, definition

Your company receives toluene, a listed toxic chemical, from another facility, reacts the toluene with air to form benzoic acid, and further reacts the benzoic acid with a cadmium catalyst to form terephthallc acid. Cadmium compounds and terephthallc acid are also listed toxic chemicals. Your company processes toluene, and otherwise uses (not processes) the cadmium catalyst (see the definition of "otherwise use" below). Your company manufactures benzoic acid and terephthallc acid. Benzoic acid, however, is not a listed chemical and thus does not trigger reporting requirements. 

Envlroiunental testing Is a critical element In this process since It enables the qualitative and quantitative determination of toxic chemicals In the environment and the definition of environmental pathways which may lead to human exposure This paper briefly reviews the overall process of health risk assessments and the particular role which environmental testing plays Recent efforts to assess environmental health risks In relation to Love Canal Illustrate both the usefulness and the limitations of environmental testing In risk assessment ... 

Liss-Suter D, Villaume JE, Goldstein FJ. 1978. A literature review - problem definition studies on selected toxic chemicals. Volume 8 Environmental aspects of diesel fuels and fog oils SGF no. 1 and SGF no. 2 and smoke screens generated from them. Philadelphia, PA Franklin Institute Research Laboratories. Final report. Contract no. DAMD 17-77-C-7020. ADAO56021. 

Simple dissimilar action (simple independent action, independent joint action. Bliss independence, and effect addition or response addition) is also a noninteractive process where the toxic effect of each chemical in the mixture is not affected by the other chemicals present. However, the modes of action of the constituents in the mixture will always differ and possibly, but not necessarily, the nature and site of action also differs among the constiments. Response addition is referred to when each individual of a population (e.g., a group of experimental animals or humans) has a certain tolerance to each of the chemicals in a mixture and will only exhibit a response to a toxicant if the concentration exceeds the tolerance dose. In such a case, the number of responders within the group wiU be recorded rather than the average effect of a mixture on a group of individuals. By definition, response addition is determined by summing the responses of the animals to each toxic chemical in the mixture. 

Environmental toxicology is defined as the study of the fate and effects of chemicals in the environment. Although this definition would encompass toxic chemicals naturally found in the environment (i.e., animal venom, microbial and plant toxins), environmental toxicology is typically associated with the study of environmental chemicals of anthropogenic origin. Environmental toxicology can be divided into two subcategories ... 

We are working with the Food Quality Control Department of the Ministry of Health to study the contamination of OCPs and PCBs in local fish and chickens. This project is in line with our current effort to assess the health risk arising from consumption of food contaminated with POP chemicals. The health risk assessment of POPs through dietary intakes project involved analyses of OCPs and PCBs in various foodstuff, initially raw materials which will be extended to cooked food. Unfortunately, we do not currently have the capability to analyze PCDD/PCDF in our laboratory but there are two high resolution mass spectrometers in the country that are capable of analyzing PCDD/PCDF. National and international collaborations will definitely improve the country capacity to monitor POPs not only those listed in the Stockholm Convention but other toxic chemicals found in the environment. 

Wash K, Abaidoo KJR, Villaume JE. 1978. A literature review-problem definition studies on selected toxic chemicals. Vol. 2 Occupational health and safety aspects of phosphorus smoke compounds. ADA056019. 

The most striking feature, however, is the way in which toxic chemicals and their precursors are dealt with. Although toxicity is the basic characteristic of chemical weapons, it was considered inadequate as a criterion for definition purposes. This is particularly obvious in relation to the so-called dual-use chemicals , i.e. chemicals that have legitimate applications yet may also be used as chemical weapons, or had been in the past. Examples are chlorine and phosgene, which are basic industrial intermediates used widely in the chemical industry but which had been weaponized and used as chemical weapons in the past. 

Another national implementation issue raised was that a number of States Parties have tended to focus exclusively on specific CWC obligations, and have not developed legislation relevant to the more general requirements of the CWC, such as those in Article I, which embodies the prohibition on chemical weapons. Important in this regard is implementation of the general-purpose definition of chemical weapons, which recognizes that, in addition to the chemicals listed in the CWC Schedules, other toxic chemicals could be used as chemical weapons, either as part... 

The Review Document simply stated The First Review Conference considered the impact of developments in science and technology on the Convention s prohibitions. The definitions contained in Article II, in particular of the terms chemical weapons and chemical weapons production facihty , were found to adequately cover these developments and to provide for the apphcation of the Convention s prohibitions to any toxic chemical, except where such a chemical is intended for purposes not prohibited by the Convention, and as long as the types and quantities involved are consistent with such purposes (Review Document, para. 23). 

The reach of this provision is extensive and is made more so by the so-called general purpose criterion set out in Article II of the CWC. This defines chemical weapons to mean, inter alia, [tjoxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for purposes not prohibited under this Convention as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes . In essence, this definition means that the Article I obligations undertaken by States Parties apply to all toxic chemicals and their precursors. These obligations are not limited to the chemicals that are subject to verification under the CWC. ... 

In addition to covering all toxic chemicals, the legislation must cover all relevant persons. As discussed above, there is room for uncertainty in both the Australian and the French legislation with regard to the persons covered, which is resolved by reference to other legislation. This type of uncertainty could easily be clarified by the addition of a definitional section in the CWC implementing legislation itself. 

Reversible interaction with the biological object results in pharmacodynamic effects which, in certain circumstances, may be undesired and therefore must be classed as toxic. Chemical lesions, with very few exceptions, are classed as definitely toxic. 

The complexity of environmental matrices and the problems due to the spatial-temporal evolution of pollutants and their involvement in biogeochemical cycles calls for the utmost accuracy in data collection, data analysis and environmental control. The first and fundamental requisite to be satisfied in order to give definitive answers to existing environmental problems is the capacity to produce absolutely reliable data, particularly where trace toxic chemical substances are concerned. It is imperative that measured concentrations correspond strictly to the truth. This reminder might appear superfluous, but unfortunately the technical-scientific difficulties involved in the analytical process are often underestimated, as the scientific literature has already amply demonstrated (see for instance refs. 7 through 13). 

The SAB stressed the importance that all new toxic chemicals, no matter what their origin or method of synthesis, are covered by the Convention s definition ofCW, unless they were intended for purposes not prohibited by it, and only as long as their types and quantities would be consistent with these purposes. The SAB underlined the importance of this aspect of the definition ofCW as a safeguard for the validity of the Convention (emphasis added). 

The term chemical warfare agents ideally would comprise all toxic chemicals that have been developed, produced, or used in a military context with the intention of utilizing its toxicity to man, animals or plants as its primary weapons characteristic. This definition excludes a considerable number of toxic chemicals used in a military environment, which serve other purposes a case in point is rocket fuel, which is highly toxic, but whose primary purpose is the propulsion of a missile. On the other hand, this definition goes beyond that used in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) according to the CWC s Article II, para. 2 only those chemicals which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals (emphasis added)1 count as chemical warfare agents. 

In order to define which acts are permitted and which are prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention, a definition of what constitutes a chemical weapon is required. Besides, the drafters of the CWC had to address the question of which toxic chemicals to cover in the new international treaty. 

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