Emerging Chemicals and Human Health


Book Description

This book mainly focuses on advances made over the past 10 years regarding the exposure, metabolism, transformation, toxicity, molecular mechanism and biomarkers for emerging chemicals in humans. A hot topic in the field of environmental health, the term “emerging chemicals” refers to a class of compounds that are frequently encountered and potentially harmful to the natural environment and human health. They are also the preferred target substances for future environmental control measures. The list of emerging chemicals includes pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDC), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and nanomaterials. However, the environmental and health hazard characteristics of many emerging chemicals remain unclear. The aim of this book is to stimulate further research in new directions by providing novel and provocative insights into the exposure assessment of and potential mechanisms regarding emerging chemicals in humans. It also offers a state-of-the-art report on recent discoveries concerning emerging chemicals and where the field is headed.




Health and the Environment in the Southeastern United States


Book Description

The purpose of this regional workshop in the Southeast was to broaden the environmental health perspective from its typical focus on environmental toxicology to a view that included the impact of the natural, built, and social environments on human health. Early in the planning, Roundtable members realized that the process of engaging speakers and developing an agenda for the workshop would be nearly as instructive as the workshop itself. In their efforts to encourage a wide scope of participation, Roundtable members sought input from individuals from a broad range of diverse fields-urban planners, transportation engineers, landscape architects, developers, clergy, local elected officials, heads of industry, and others. This workshop summary captures the discussions that occurred during the two-day meeting. During this workshop, four main themes were explored: (1) environmental and individual health are intrinsically intertwined; (2) traditional methods of ensuring environmental health protection, such as regulations, should be balanced by more cooperative approaches to problem solving; (3) environmental health efforts should be holistic and interdisciplinary; and (4) technological advances, along with coordinated action across educational, business, social, and political spheres, offer great hope for protecting environmental health. This workshop report is an informational document that provides a summary of the regional meeting.




Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals


Book Description

Biomonitoring—a method for measuring amounts of toxic chemicals in human tissues—is a valuable tool for studying potentially harmful environmental chemicals. Biomonitoring data have been used to confirm exposures to chemicals and validate public health policies. For example, population biomonitoring data showing high blood lead concentrations resulted in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory reduction of lead in gasoline; biomonitoring data confirmed a resultant drop in blood lead concentrations. Despite recent advances, the science needed to understand the implications of the biomonitoring data for human health is still in its nascent stages. Use of the data also raises communication and ethical challenges. In response to a congressional request, EPA asked the National Research Council to address those challenges in an independent study. Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals provides a framework for improving the use of biomonitoring data including developing and using biomarkers (measures of exposure), research to improve the interpretation of data, ways to communicate findings to the public, and a review of ethical issues.




Modelling the Fate of Chemicals in the Environment and the Human Body


Book Description

This volume focuses on modelling the fate of chemicals in the environment and the human body to arrive at an integrated exposure assessment. It covers five broad topics, namely: future challenges in exposure assessment; the evolution of human health and environmental risk assessment; standard documentation for exposure models; modelling different environmental components (i.e. surface waters, atmosphere, soil, groundwater, plants, aquatic organisms and mammals); and the fate of contaminants in humans. This work draws on the authors’ and editors’ extensive experience and a range of different research activities, including case studies, that have led to the development of MERLIN-Expo, a standardised software package for simulating the fate of chemicals in the main environmental systems and in the human body in an integrated manner. It will be of considerable interest to researchers and students, risk managers, and policy- and decision-makers whose work involves environmental protection and human health.




Environmental Chemicals, the Human Microbiome, and Health Risk


Book Description

A great number of diverse microorganisms inhabit the human body and are collectively referred to as the human microbiome. Until recently, the role of the human microbiome in maintaining human health was not fully appreciated. Today, however, research is beginning to elucidate associations between perturbations in the human microbiome and human disease and the factors that might be responsible for the perturbations. Studies have indicated that the human microbiome could be affected by environmental chemicals or could modulate exposure to environmental chemicals. Environmental Chemicals, the Human Microbiome, and Health Risk presents a research strategy to improve our understanding of the interactions between environmental chemicals and the human microbiome and the implications of those interactions for human health risk. This report identifies barriers to such research and opportunities for collaboration, highlights key aspects of the human microbiome and its relation to health, describes potential interactions between environmental chemicals and the human microbiome, reviews the risk-assessment framework and reasons for incorporating chemicalâ€"microbiome interactions.




Hazardous Gases


Book Description

Hazardous Gases: Risk Assessment on Environment and Human Health examines all relevant routes of exposure, inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion, and control measures of specifics hazardous gases resulting from workplace exposure from industrial processes, traffic fumes, and the degradation of waste materials and how they impacts the health and environment of workers. The book examines the risk assessment and effect of poisonous gases on the environment human health. It also covers necessary emergency guidelines, safety measures, physiological impact, hazard control measures, handling and storage of hazardous gases. Each chapter is formatted to include an introduction, historical background, physicochemical properties, physiological role discussing mechanisms of toxicity, its effect on human health as well as environment, followed by case studies and recent research on toxic gases. Hazardous Gases: Risk Assessment on Environment and Human Health is a helpful resource for academics and researchers in toxicology, occupational health and safety, and environmental sciences as well as those in the field who work to assess and mitigate the impact of toxic gases on the work environment and the health of the workforce. Emphasizes the environmental monitoring in the workplace of hazardous materials Includes all relevant storage and handling information required for detailing all personnel on the hazards and risks from the substances with which they work Offers practical examples and case studies related to toxic gases and their impact on health







Calculated Risks


Book Description

Safeguarding economic prosperity, whilst protecting human health and the environment, is at the forefront of scientific and public interest. This book provides a practical and balanced view on toxicology, control, risk assessment and risk management, addressing the interplay between science and public health policy. This revised edition provides a detailed analysis on chemical and by-product exposure, how they enter the body and the suitability of imposed safety limits. Chapters on dose, with particular emphasis on children and vulnerable subpopulations, reproductive and developmental toxicants and toxicity testing are included. With updated and comprehensive coverage of international developments of risk management and safety, this will have broad appeal to researchers and professionals involved in chemical safety and regulation as well as the general reader interested in environmental pollution and public health.




Health Impacts of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Chemicals


Book Description

This book provides concise and cutting-edge studies on threats resulting from exposure to environmental chemicals that can affect human health and development, with a particular emphasis on the DOHaD concept. The book is divided into five main parts, the first of which includes an introduction to the impacts of developmental exposure to environmental chemicals and historical perspectives, while the second focuses on how environmental chemicals can affect human organs, including neurodevelopment, immune functions, etc. In turn, the third part addresses the characteristics of specific chemicals and their effects on human health and development, while the fourth part provides a basis for future studies by highlighting the latest innovations in toxicology, remaining challenges, and promising strategies in children’s environmental health research, as well as ideas on how to bridge the gap between research evidence and practical policymaking. The fifth and last part outlines further research directions and related policymaking aspects. Health Impacts of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Chemicals will appeal to young and veteran researchers, students, and physicians (especially gynecologists and pediatricians) who are seeking comprehensive information on how children’s health can be affected by harmful chemicals and other environmental toxicants.




Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals


Book Description

In fact, with the control and containment of most infectious conditions and diseases of the past millennium having been achieved in most developed countries, and with the resultant increase in life expectancies, much more attention seems to have shifted to degenerative health problems. Many of the degenerative health conditions have been linked to thousands of chemicals regularly encountered in human living and occupational/work environments. It is important, therefore, that human health risk assessments are undertaken on a consistent basis - in order to determine the potential impacts of the target chemicals on public health.