Toxic Effects on Humans

Landrigan PJ Mount Sinai School of Medicine of CUNY, New York, NY Lead and organochlorines in New York City study the current urban sources, environmental distribution and toxic effects on human health of lead and persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons—in particular PCBs and DDT National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences... 

Superfund Hazardous Substances Basic Research Program to study the current urban sources, environmental distribution, and toxic effects on human health of lead... 

The number of possible mechanisms by which a chemical can exert a toxic effect on humans and other species is staggering. As shown here, some are well understood, but further elucidation of mechanisms of toxic action is direly needed to propagate the field of safe chemical design. However, this cannot be a reason for molecular designers not to attempt to consider the most likely reactivity of a chemical inside an organism, and to make an effort to minimize rationally either its bioavailability, metabolic activation, or ligand binding interactions with biomolecules. 

Production. Since soluble cadmium compounds have a toxic effect on human beings and the environment, all wastewater originating from the production of cadmium pigments must be treated to remove cadmium. In the EU, the following... 

NOXIOUS CAS. Any natural or by-product gas or vapor that has specific toxic effects on humans or animals (military poison gases are not included in this group). Examples of noxious gases are ammonia, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, fluorine, and vapors evolved by benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and a number of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Oases that act as simple asphyxiants are not classified as noxious. See also Pollution (Air). 

Silver has been classified in the EPA s Group D (not classifiable) because of its potential toxic effects on humans, it is regulated by the U.S. government. 

Early concerns for risks from chemicals started from very obvious toxic effects on humans. Carcinogenic effects were recognised quite early, and later less immediate effects came in, such as hereditary disease and neurological effects. 

Contaminants such as phenol, whose toxic effects on human health are well documented, have been widely used as a model pollutant to elucidate the complex PC reaction mechanisms and to evaluate the performance of... 

Phenol had a direct toxic effect on human colonic epithelial cells in vitro. In this cell model glucuronidation was the preferred conjugation pathway involved in detoxification. 

Registry of Toxic Effects Chemical Substances). Produced by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA. A compilation of toxicity data for substances known to have toxic effects on humans or animals. At June 1992 it contained data on 111,390 chemical substances. 

Colorless, practically odorless, noncorrosive, nonirritat-ing, nonflammable gas. Faint, ether-like odor in high concentrations. d 1.5312. mp — 94". bp +4 1. nj 1.3092. Critical temp 145-7 crit pressure 474 ib/sq in. abs. Practically insol in water. Sol in alcohol, ether. Absorbs Less than 0.0025% water. Has little, if any, anesthetic or toxic effect on humans, but toxic substances may be formed on contact with a flame or hot metal surface. 

With regard to further sources of exposure, the sulfur dioxide concentration at the workplace and accidental exposure must also taken into consideration. The occurrence of toxic effects on humans depends on the sulfur dioxide concentration of the aerosol, the duration of exposure, and the health status of humans. Asthmatic individuals are much more sensitive towards sulfur dioxide than are healthy persons (Table 5.11). 

Table 5. Selected metals and metalloids and their toxic effects on human beings (after Oehlmann and Markert, 1997)...

Practical experience. Information relevant to classification has to be added, such as known inhalative sensitizing effects and known carcinogenic or reproductively toxic effects on humans. 

Ricin has been shown to exert its toxic effect on human neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting DNA polymerase a-activity, whereas DNA polymerase /3-activity is inhibited by red kidney bean lectin. ... 

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