Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Risks & Hazards • Risk is a measure of the likelihood that you will suffer harm from a hazard. • We can suffer from: • Biological hazards: from more than 1,400 pathogens. • Chemical hazards: in air, water, soil, and food. • Physical hazards: fire, earthquake, volcanic eruption… • Cultural hazards: smoking, poor diet, unsafe sex, drugs, unsafe working conditions, and poverty. 7 deadliest infections kill 13.6 million people worldwide every year Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic: AIDS has reduced the life expectancy of sub-Saharan Africa from 62 to 47 years – 40 years in the seven countries most severely affected by AIDS. Projected age structure of Botswana's population in 2020. Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Chemical Hazards & Pollutants • Point Source • Non-Point Source (Area Source) • Mobile Source

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Each are: • Found in nature • Used in industry • By-products mining for other elements • Toxic Heavy Metals: • Mercury • Lead • Cadmium • Nickel • Gold • Platinum • Silver • Bismuth • Arsenic • Selenium* • Vanadium • Chromium • Thallium • *Not classified as a metal • Metals tend to be stored in fatty tissue (sometimes permanently) creating a body burden (content of heavy metals in our bodies) • We all live with metals stored in our tissues Figure 18-2 Interactive Periodic Table

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Toxic Pathway & Biomagnification Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Organic Compounds: • Carbon compounds • Volatile Organic Compounds: (VOC’s) • Carbon compounds that evaporate easily at room temperature. • Found in many household and industrial items: • paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing. • Usually VOC levels are 2 -5% greater indoors than outdoors • Synthetic Organic Compounds: • 100,00 chemicals have been commercially available. • Wide range of adverse environmental effects • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP): • Often contains volatile chlorine • Resistant to environmental degradation • Can be transported long distances by wind, water and sediments • Many POPs are currently or were in the past used as pesticides. Others are used in industrial processes and in the production of a range of goods such as solvents, polyvinyl chloride, and pharmaceuticals. • Long-Term (Chronic) effects • Increased risk of: • Cancer • Liver damage • Kidney damage • Central Nervous System damage • Short-Term (Acute) effects • Eye, nose and throat irritation • Headaches • Nausea / Vomiting • Dizziness • Worsening of asthma symptoms Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Hormonally Active Agent (HAA) • A type of POP that effects the endocrine system Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Radiation • Thermal Pollution Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Thermal Pollution Directions Examine the data in the table below. It shows the concentration of dissolved oxygen available in water at different temperatures. The oxygen available to fish is in units marked ppm or "parts per million." Construct a line graph of the data on the left. A certain species of fish normally live in a pond that never exceeds the temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. this species of fish requires a dissolved oxygen level 9.5 ppm. Industrial development has the potential of increasing the pond's temperature by releasing hot water produced during necessary process. Answer the questions below based on your knowledge of biology and using your graph. (a) According to your graph, at what temperature would the dissolved oxygen level in the pond drop below the required level? (b) What impact would the change in temperature have on the fish. Explain your reasoning in complete sentences. Using complete sentences, suggest two (2) ways of preventing the thermal pollution and still have the industrial development occur. Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Thermal Pollution Construct a line graph of the data on the left. A certain species of fish normally live in a pond that never exceeds the temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. this species of fish requires a dissolved oxygen level 9.5 ppm. Industrial development has the potential of increasing the pond's temperature by releasing hot water produced during necessary process. Answer the questions below based on your knowledge of biology and using your graph. (a) According to your graph, at what temperature would the dissolved oxygen level in the pond drop below the required level? (b) What impact would the change in temperature have on the fish. Explain your reasoning in complete sentences. Using complete sentences, suggest two (2) ways of preventing the thermal pollution and still have the industrial development occur. Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Radiation • Thermal Pollution • Dust, soot asbestos fibers released into the air • From: dust storms, volcanic eruption, combustion • Particulates • Asbestos • Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) • Noise Pollution • Cultural Figure 18-2 Smoking Epidemic Stages

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Dose response curve. Low concentrations may be harmful to life. As the concentration increases, it may be beneficial to life. Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Dose response curves. TD-50: Toxic Dose The dose that is toxic to 50% of the population ED-50: Effective Dose The dose that causes an effect in 50% of the population LD-50: Lethal Dose The dose at which 50% of the population dies Figure 18-2

Ch.15 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Figure 18-2

Ch.16 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Natural Hazards: Potential for property damage & a threat to human well being Natural Disasters: Significant loss of life & property over a short time & in a specific location Catastrophe: Massive disaster requiring significant time and money for recovery Figure 18-2

Ch.16 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Natural Hazards Fundamentals: Natural Hazards… … are predictable …provide service functions … severity is linked to the biological and physical environment … can be linked to other hazards … risk can be estimated … negative effects can be minimized … are creating more damage and loss of life than in the past Figure 18-2

Ch.16 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology … are predictable Figure 18-2

Ch.16 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology … severity is linked to the biological and physical environment … can be linked to other hazards Figure 18-2

Ch.16 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology … are creating more damage and loss of life than in the past Due to: Poor land-use planning & exponential human population growth Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Solid Waste Management: EQ’s (ch.30): What are the advantages and disadvantages of: Recycling? Composting? Onsite disposal? Incineration? Open dumps? How do the physical and hydrologic conditions at a site effect its suitability as a sanitary landfill? What are the multiple barriers used in landfills and how are they monitored? Why is the disposal of hazardous chemicals one of our most pressing environmental issues? How are chemical wastes managed? What problems are related to ocean dumping and why are they likely to persist for some time? Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Integrated Waste Management: current dominant concept of waste management meant to manage municipal (MSW) and industrial solid wastes we produce and reduce or prevent their production. Can reduce solid waste making it to a landfill by 50% Includes: Composting Using organic waste as fertilizer R-R-R Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Incineration Burning combustible waste at high temperatures Sanitry Landfill Concentrating, and covering solid waste in a confined area Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Composting Using organic waste as fertilizer Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Incineration: “Waste to Energy” • Releases: • Dioxins (a POP) • Heavy Metals • Particulates • Inorganic Acidic Gases (HCl, SOx, NOx) • But… • Vastly reduces waste volume (75%-95%) and creates energy Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Landfills • Sanitary landfills: solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam. • Open dumps: are fields or holes in the ground where garbage is deposited and sometimes covered with soil. Mostly used in developing countries. Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Landfills Geomembrane • Sanitary landfills: solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam. Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • 8 Ways pollutants from sanitary landfill may enter the environment • Methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and NOX • Noxious liquid that percolates from the surface or through the waste via groundwater movement • Heavy Metals Figure 18-2

Trade-Offs Noise and traffic Sanitary Landfills Dust Advantages Disadvantages Noise and traffic No open burning Dust Little odor Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organic compounds Low groundwater pollution if sited properly Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected Can be built quickly Low operating costs Groundwater contamination Can handle large amounts of waste Slow decomposition of wastes Filled land can be used for other purposes Discourages recycling, reuse, and waste reduction Figure 18-2 Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater No shortage of landfill space in many areas

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology • Hazardous Materials:material that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes. • The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic). Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Hazardous Waste Legislation: Two major federal laws regulate the management and disposal of hazardous waste in the U.S.: • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste. • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) • Commonly known as Superfund program. • The Superfund law was designed to have polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites. • Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come from the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw materials and oil. Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Hazardous Waste Storage: • Deep-well disposal: liquid hazardous wastes are pumped into dry porous rock far beneath aquifers. • Surface impoundments: ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored. • Long-Term Retrievable Storage: Some highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored them in areas that can be inspected and retrieved. • Secure Landfills: Sometimes hazardous waste are put into drums and buried in carefully designed and monitored sites. Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology Ocean Dumping: Marine debris on the coast of Hawaii Figure 18-2

Ch.30 Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology “There is no away” Figure 18-2

Unit 6 –Health, Risk, Toxicology