Tetrachloroethylene: Dry Cleaning Clothing

From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, “it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs.” These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible

Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemical. Finally, the role of government agencies such as FDA, EPA and OSHA in preventing excessive amount or zero amounts of toxic chemicals from entering the environment will be discussed. The last paragraphs will enumerate the inferred conclusion from my research on Agent Orange, DDT and Benzene.

Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemical. Finally, the role of government agencies such as FDA, EPA and OSHA in preventing excessive amount or zero amounts of toxic chemicals from entering the environment will be discussed. The last paragraphs will enumerate the inferred conclusion from my research on Agent Orange, DDT and Benzene.

Between 2002 and 2005 alone, the amount of chemical substances produced or imported in the United States increased from 42 billion pounds per day to 74 billion pounds per day. The amount of chemicals in commerce in the United States has increased from 62,000 grandfathered chemicals in 1976, to almost 83,000 in 2008, a difference of more than 20,000. Of this 83,000, the EPA has only been able to ban or restrict five chemicals under TSCA: PCBs, dioxin, CFCs, hexavalent chromium, and asbestos. Additionally, the EPA has independently tested only 250 of the 83,000 registered chemicals in commerce in the United States. Richard Denison, a Senior Scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund explained these incredibly low numbers by stating, “TSCA places an impossibly high burden on EPA before it can act to control a chemical.” In fact, under TSCA, “the EPA can’t even require testing to determine whether a risk exists without first showing a risk is likely.” For that reason, a large majority of chemicals used in the United States have never been tested for health and environmental effects. Studies have shown that due to the proliferation of these chemicals into homes, workplaces, and schools, the average American has a detectable concentration of 300 environmental chemicals. Among other issues, many of these chemicals can affect brain and organ function and cause cancer. Consequently, it is clear that

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a solvent used in manufacturing that was regularly discarded in poor poverty-stricken areas of South Tucson during the 1950s. Tucsonans who lived in these areas ended up with higher rates of various cancers as direct a result of this pollution. The EPA established a large Southside area of Tucson on its Superfund cleanup list back in 1983. Cleanup of the contaminated areas cost roughly 35 million. ("Trichloroethylene (TCE) Pollution in Tucson Water", 2016) Cancer is a very large concern when it comes to environmental pollutants. Sadly the residents of South Tucson are very poor compared to the residents up north. Just like the impoverished areas of Harlem NY had most of the sewage cleanup plants erected, it is usually

Women around world, especially pregnant women, are highly exposed to environmental contaminants by eating foods as well. Though, many pregnant women are not aware of high toxin levels present in food they eat and how much their infants are exposed through trans-placental and breast milk transmission from the mother. The article Dozens of Words for Snow, None for Pollution, by Maria Cone, talks about how pregnant women in Artic are at

In this Preliminary Public Health Assessment (Pre-PHA), we evaluated exposure of the Milneburge neighborhood community to contaminants in response to their public health complaint with the City of New Orleans. . The homeowners in the neighborhood started to complain of nausea, headache, and dyspnea when they work in their back yards and reported water runoff and soil erosion from the waste management site. So, they were really concerned about their children health because they used to play in the area. As a result of that, we evaluated some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds found in nature or released from burning of coal, oil, tobacco, and wood. Some of these compounds are toxic to lung, liver, and skin. By such Pre-PHA, We can know if the site is extremely contaminated or not and we can assure residents and give them answers about their concerns.

Air pollution can be undoubtedly harmful to pregnancy. Substances such as carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, emissions from solid biomass, and nitroarenes all contribute to air pollution. Studies done in North Carolina, California, and East India all conclude the same thing; air pollutants do affect the health of babies during pregnancy. The most severe affects from these toxins include cancer, short-and-long-term morbidity, and stillbirth. Still damaging, yet less traumatizing effects include low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm birth. PM2.5 is particulate matter in the air. One study shows it reduces birth weight by 3.1 g (Gray, 2013). Because most of air

In this generation of American society, there is a great emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle from factors such as diet and exercise. Yet today many of the products that Americans use and consume are full of cancer causing agents. In a society where there is a vast amount of research conducted and strict regulations, many daily used products are like a time bomb ready to explode. One-third of all people will develop cancer in our lifetime and one-fourth will die from this disease. Many cancers are due to preventable revelations to industrialized carcinogens and toxins in the food people eat, and household products and cosmetics people use daily.

During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems

In 2002, a case-control study was started in Brittanny, France. The candidates were women who were well into their second trimester (Douglas). Out of this study, they concluded that 79 out of the 580 babies were born with birth defects (Douglas). The mothers were questioned about their home lives and their hobbies, along with their occupation. Twenty-nine percent of the women were found to be exposed to these solvents based on the products they use in their home while twenty-one percent of women were exposed to harmful products through their profession (Douglas). “Women who reported regular exposure to solvents were four times more likely to have a baby with an oral cleft as compared to women who did not report regular exposure. Using job

Most of the benzene’s occupational exposure occurs during solvent exposure, synthesizing other chemical compounds, and working at oil pipelines, tankers, gasoline pumper, auto repairs shops, and oil refineries (ATSDR 2007). In western countries, such as USA, Canada or the European Union, the occupational exposition to benzene are regulated. For

PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins have been in focus recently as there are concerns that the different structures are appearing to mimic the effects of female oestrogenic hormones. (Gray 1996) These chemicals can cause genetic chromosomal problems and major concerns to the reproductive effectiveness of marine animals. Oil spills and the burning of wood and coal can cause poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which has a negative effect on all wildlife causing genetic abnormalities. (EMCBTAP-ENVIS Newsletter 2002).

Eventhough animal studies are not a perfect analog to human health but results or findings from animal studies are currently the best source of information available regarding the health effects of phthalates. In laboratory animals, phthalates and their metabolites produced reproductive and developmental toxicities. She also conclude that major toxic effects of phthalates include testicular effects, reduced anogenital distance in males, embryolethality, fetal malformations and abnormal sexual

In 1984, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) evaluated the safety of methyl, propyl, and butylparabens, stating that they were “safe for use in cosmetic products at levels up to 25%,” which is a generous limit, considering the approximate level for parabens ranges from .01 to 3%. However, there are still claims that parabens do more harm than good. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported in December of 1999 “the chemical preservatives called parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl—displayed estrogenic activity in several tests.” Essentially, they found that parabens have the capability to mimic the body’s own hormones, which can lead to disruptions in the endocrine system, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, and immunotoxicity. Even though parabens occur naturally in low levels in foods, like strawberries, blueberries, onions, carrots, etc, they are metabolized when consumed, making them less estrogenic. Yet, when the