Priority Pollutants and Their Health Effects

priority Pollutants and Their Health EffectsINTRODUCTIONThe Priority Pollutants are a set of chemical pollutants EPA regulates, and for which EPA has published analytical test methods. the Priority Pollutant list published at 40 CFR 423, Appendix A,An estimated 25% of death and disease globally, is tie in to environmental hazards. The WHO, EPA have listed the persistent pollutants, which are included in this article along with the major and few baby health hazards of the vivid categories of pollutants. 1,2The UK environmental guard act (EPA) 1990, defilement of the environment means pollution of the environment due to the release (into any environmental medium) from any process of substance which are receptive of causing harm to man or any other living organism supported by the environment. The escape of any substance capable of causing harm to man or any other living organism supported by the environment. 3The priority pollutants atomic number 50 be classified on the foot of-c hemical and physical naturesource of the pollutantenvironmental pathway usedtarget organism affectedgross effect on the Earth 3The environmental Pollution Agency have short listed the priority pollutants.4In addition to this comprehensive listAsbestos, Barium, HCB, Cadmium, Tin and Petroleum Hydrocarbons are also included under(a) the broad title of PRIORITY POLLUTANTS. 5Priority pollutants can be divided into 3 categories-MetalsPesticidesVolatile and non volatile organics 4DETECTION OF PRIORITY POLLUTANT (METALS)Atomic Absorption spectroscopy, a very sensitive method used to analyse the priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Due to a few limitations in this methods the ability of dibenzyldithiocarbamate (DBDC) to form complexes with the priority is used, this is then followed by liquid chromatography, on a C18 column and using 64% methanol, 12%acetonitrile,5%tetrahydrofuran and19% Ph 5 acatate buff as the mobile phase, which is quantified u sing ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry. (10 out of the 13 priority pollutants are detected using this method.) 6Health hazards of heavy metalsThe major and everyday health hazard due to metals is their direct influence as a carcinogen.7,8Health hazards due to ArsenicThe primary concerns are carcinogenicity and mutagenicity.Chronic exposure can result in poisoning of the nauseous system, liver damage, and peripheral vascular disease, leading to gangrene of the lower limbs. This condition is commonly known as glowering foot disease.Chronic exposure to As is also associated with leukaemia, kidney and bladder cancers, dermatitis, hyper pigmentation, and arsenical keratosis.Arsenic acts as a non-genotoxic carcinogen. However, it affects DNA methylation and repair.Vomiting, diarrheaPeripheral nervous system problems fall intelligenceBeathing problems 7,8,9CadmiumThe organs affected the most are-Kidney impaired renal functions, change magnitude excretion of low-molecular weigh t proteins in the urine.Increased risk of Lung cancer.Bone disorders Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis and spontaneous bone fracture. passion Of The Lungs And Gastrointestinal TractCancer Of The Prostrate 8,9LEADImpaired Neurological Development (memory and learning difficulties, behavioral problems, reduced IQ)High blood pressureKidney FailureMiscarriageDecreased sperm countSupression Of Haematological System 9MERCURYGastro-Intestinal Disorders (digestive problems)Respiratory Tract IrritationRenal FailureNeurotoxicityBlindness and deafnessLack of co-ordinationMental retardation9PesticidesPesticides enter the food chain through water. This includes the derivatives of chlorinated hydrocarbons, herbicides and insecticides used on the soil. The mentioned categories of pesticides are very loathly and persistent in the environment, and have become ubiquitous over the years. The regularly used pesticides are mentioned.5,13DDT(Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane)AldrinandDieldrin,ChlordaneHCBor h exachlorobenzeneHeptachlorLindaneMethoxychlor 4HEALTH HAZARDS DUE TO PERSISTANT PESTIDICES AND INSECTICIDESPesticides are designed to kill and because their flair of action is not specific to one species, they often kill or harm organisms other than pests, including humans. The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. pursuit are the health hazards caused due to Organophosphates, DDT, Lindane, Carbamate and Pyrethroids. 5The major health hazards of pesticides are-Neurological Health EffectsCarcinogenicHormone DisruptionImpaired Reproductive DevelopmentsDecreased Sperm Count And Motility 10NEUROLOGICAL HEALTH EFFECTSMemory LossLoss Of CoordinationReduced Speed Of Response To StimuliReduced Visual capabilityAltered Or Uncontrollable MoodReduced Motor Skills.Convulsions And Seizures 10,11OTHER POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTSAsthmaAllergies ( skin allergies that are toxic)Hypersensitivity to light, sound and get togetherNauseaFatigue 10,11Acuteorganophosphateandcarbamat eexposure causes signs and symptoms of excess acetylcholine, such as increased salivation and perspiration, narrowing of the pupils, nausea, diarrhea, decrease in blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Some organophosphates also have a delayed neurological reaction characterized by muscle weakness in the legs and arms. 11SEMI VOLATILE AND VOLATILE ORGANICSThis group of Pollutants is wide ranging and consists of -Chlorinated Alkanes (Carbon Tetrachloride)Chlorinated Ethenes (Polyvinyl Chloride Or Pvc)Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Naphtalene, scorch Tar),Pesticides, Herbicides And Fumigants (Ddt, Endrin, Aldrin, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Toxaphene And Silvex),Mono-Dichlorobenzenes (Solvents),Benzenes (Benzene, Toluene)Phenols And Chlorophenols And Trihalomethanes (Chloroform, Bromoform). 5HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO ORGANICSVinyl chloride is associated with cancer.PAH, induces cancer lung being the main target, 10Phenols and chlorophenols lead to alterations in hepatic enzyme acti vities, gross increased liver weight and histopathological (hypertrophy, vacuolization, hyperplasia, fibrosis, gangrene and degeneration) effects is found following acute, intermediate and chronic oral exposure to PCP, Hepatocyte degeneration and centrilobular hypertrophy, Significant alterations in thyroid hormone levels have been observed, decrease fertility, and growth, signs of chloracne and minor disturbance of lipid metabolism., neurodevelopmental effects in infants. 3,whatever is the rest of the part 10Trihalomethanes can lead to colon cancer. 14CONCLUSIONKnowing about pollutants and their health hazards is not the end of it. enquiry has to be done on ways to curb this disaster and irreversible damage that has lured on our environment. Effort has to be made to find ways to getup this pollution and PRIORITIZE Our Mother Nature and Human Health rather than POLLUTANTSREFERENCES.The health and environment linkages initiative, world health organization, UNEP, http//www.who.int, accessed on 02-05-2015.EPA, http//www.water.epa.gov, accessed on 3-05-2015.Gareth Evans and Judith Furlong (2003), Environmental bioengineering Theory And Applications, John Wiley And Sons Ltd.USEPA Priority Pollutants, http//www.accutest.com, accessed on 3-05-2015.Fishery harbor manual on the prevention of pollution, http//www.fao.org, accessed on 3-05-2015.James H. Shofsthal and James K. 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