Documents environmental pollution 174 results

"Recently, White (2007) analysed the international inequalities in ecological footprints per capita (EF hereafter) based on a two-factor decomposition of an index from the Atkinson family (Atkinson, 1970). Specifically, this paper evaluated the separate role of environment intensity (EF/GDP) and average income as explanatory factors for these global inequalities. However, in addition to other comments on their appeal, this decomposition suffers from the serious limitation of the omission of the role exerted by probable factorial correlation (York et al., 2005). This paper proposes, by way of an alternative, a decomposition of a conceptually similar index like Theil's (1967) which, in effect, permits clear decomposition in terms of the role of both factors plus an inter-factor correlation, in line with Duro and Padilla (2006). This decomposition might, in turn, be extended to group inequality components (Shorrocks, 1980), an analysis that cannot be conducted in the case of the Atkinson indices. The proposed methodology is implemented empirically with the aim of analysing the international inequalities in EF per capita for the 1980–2007 period and, amongst other results, we find that, indeed, the interactive component explains, to a significant extent, the apparent pattern of stability observed in overall international inequalities."

This paper reviews articles published during 1970-1997 from 48 epidemiologic studies on occupational and environmental risk factors of ovarian cancer. Current evidence is characterized by poorly focused data for occupational and environmental agents, vulnerability to biases, and an almost complete lack of quantitative exposure-response data. The moderate amount of data on nurses, teachers, professionals, dry cleaning employees, women in agriculture, pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists, waitresses, and cooks show very little, if any, evidence of excess risk. Hairdressers, beauticians, and women employed in the printing industry may be at increased risk, but the data are insufficient for strong conclusions. Some case-referent studies suggest a modest-to-moderate excess in association with genital talc application. Few high-quality studies have been carried out, and no chemical agents have been studied extensively, with the exception of exposure to talc. Ovarian cancer may have occupational and environmental etiologies intertwined with cultural, behavioral, and life-style factors and genetic susceptibility, but current knowledge is insufficient to quantify occupational and environmental etiologies reliably. Well-designed analytic epidemiologic studies with sufficient power are needed.

"Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by 1,3-dichloropropene, 1,2-dichloropropane and mixtures of these chemicals. Since the two compounds and mixtures have been widely used in agriculture as pre-plant fumigants applied by soil injection, the report gives particular attention to studies investigating behaviour in soil, risks of leaching and groundwater contamination, uptake by food crops, residues detected in drinking-water and food, and risks to agricultural workers and the general population. Over 300 studies, including proprietary toxicological data from the manufacturers, were critically assessed.
The report concludes that, when used at the recommended rate, 1,3-dichloropropene is unlikely to attain levels of environmental significance. Risks to the general population were judged negligible. Concerning occupational hazards, the report cites evidence, largely from case reports of poisoning, underscoring the need to follow appropriate safety precautions.
The report concludes that 1,2-dichloropropane poses a negligible risk to the general population. When used at the recommended rate, the compound is unlikely to attain levels of environmental significance. For workers, the compound is judged unlikely to pose a hazard, provided good work practices, hygienic measures, and safety precautions are followed.
Data on mixtures of dichloropropenes and dichloropropane are evaluated in the final monograph. This technical mixture previously enjoyed wide use as a soil nematocide before planting. Citing evidence of a significant potential for 1,2-dichloropropane derived from this mixture to leach from soil and contaminate well water and groundwater, the report recommends that mixtures of dichloropropenes and dichloropropane should not be used as a soil fumigant. "

"Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by benomyl, a fungicide registered for use in 50 countries on over 70 crops, including cereals, cotton, soybeans, tobacco, mushrooms, grapes, bananas and other fruits. One of the most widely used members of the benzimidazole family of fungicides, benomyl is effective, at low usage rates, against more than 190 different fungal diseases. Because benomyl is rapidly converted to carbendazim in the environment and is extensively metabolized to carbendazim by experimental animals, data from studies of carbendazim, which is a fungicide in its own right, are also considered when evaluating the hazards of benomyl.
Concerning hazards to environmental organisms, the report cites data from laboratory and field studies indicating that benomyl, applied at recommended rates, has little effect on soil microbial activity, but some adverse effects on groups of fungi. Benomyl is toxic to earthworms in laboratory experiments at realistic exposure concentrations and as a result of recommended usage in the field; earthworm populations may take more than two years to recover. Although high toxicity to aquatic organisms has been demonstrated in laboratory tests, the report concludes that this effect is unlikely to be seen in the field, due to the low bioavailability of sediment-bound residues.
For the general population, the main source of potential exposure is noted to be through the ingestion of food crops containing residues of benomyl and carbendazim. Though benomyl has been shown to cause contact dermatitis and dermal sensitization in some farm workers, the report found no evidence that either of these compounds can cause systemic toxic effects in occupationally exposed subjects or the general population. The report cites findings from animal studies suggesting that both compounds pose a very low risk for acute poisoning in humans."

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by methyl parathion, a highly toxic organophosphorus ester insecticide. Close to 600 studies were critically assessed. Introduced as a commercial chemical in 1949, methyl parathion is used as a contact insecticide and acaricide for the protection of cotton, soybeans, cereals, tobacco, peanuts, vegetables, citrus fruits, and other crops. The compound is applied as a foliar spray by aircraft or ground equipment.

Because methyl parathion is a non-selective pesticide that kills beneficial species as well as pests, a section devoted to effects on environmental organisms concentrates on several studies documenting high toxicity for honey bees. These studies also show that incidents of bee kills were more severe with this insecticide than with others, underscoring the need to time spraying operations with extreme care. The report concludes that methyl parathion should never be sprayed under windy conditions, and that overspraying of water bodies must be avoided.

The most extensive section evaluates studies of toxic effects observed in experimental animals and in vitro test systems. The report found no evidence of carcinogenicity associated with long-term exposure, and no evidence that this insecticide acts as a primary eye or skin irritant. The final section evaluates effects on humans, drawing on a number of case reports of accidental and sometimes fatal poisoning. The report concludes that the only confirmed effects on humans are the signs and symptoms characteristic of systemic poisoning by cholinesterase-inhibiting organophosphorus compounds. No cases of organophosphorus-induced, delayed peripheral neuropathy have been reported. Concerning risks to workers, the report concludes that, with good work practices, hygienic measures, and safety precautions, methyl parathion is unlikely to present a hazard for occupationally exposed workers.

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by trichlorfon, a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide which acts as a "slow release" source of dichlorvos in the mammalian body. Marketed since the 1950s, trichlorfon is used to protect field and fruit crops, to control forest insects, and to control internal and external parasites in domestic and farm animals. Trichlorfon, formulated as metrifonate, has also been used for the pharmacological treatment of Schistosoma haematobium in millions of patients. The compound is under investigation as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

A review of environmental levels and human exposure concentrates on the significance of residues detected in crops, the milk of treated cows, and other food items as possible sources of exposure for the general public. Noting that detected levels are far below the established acceptable daily intake, the report concludes that trichlorfon does not constitute a health hazard for the general population. Concerning effects on environmental organisms, the report cites evidence that trichlorfon is moderately toxic for fish and birds, and moderately to highly toxic for aquatic arthropods, supporting the conclusion that this insecticide should never be sprayed over water bodies or streams.

The remaining sections evaluate data from toxicity studies in laboratory animals and in vitro test systems, from several hundred case reports of accidental or intentional human poisoning, and from studies of schistosomiasis patients treated with metrifonate. Though poisoning may have serious effects, including delayed neurotoxicity, the report concludes that, when good work practices and safety precautions are followed, trichlorfon is unlikely to present a hazard for occupationally exposed workers. The report further notes that, in the millions of schistosomiasis patients treated with metrifo-nate, reported side effects have been mild and rare.

Evaluates the vast body of evidence demonstrating serious threats to human and environmental health posed by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These chemicals, which are now ubiquitous in the environment, have been used commercially since 1930 as dielectric and heat-exchange fluids and in a variety of other applications. Over 1,300 studies were critically assessed. The book also contains a brief review of the limited data on polychlorinated terphenyls.

A section devoted to the environmental behaviour of PCBs assesses the mechanisms by which these highly persistent chemicals, previously introduced into the environment, are gradually being redistributed towards increased contamination of the marine environment. For the general population, the most important sources of exposure are identified as food items and, for babies, breast-milk. The well-documented signs of poisoning in occupationally-exposed workers are also reviewed. A section on the metabolic fate of PCBs cites evidence of accumulation in the liver and the adipose tissues of various organs, placental transport, fetal accumulation, and distribution to milk.

The most extensive section, which runs some 100 pages, evaluates findings from experimental studies of toxicity. Findings suggest that PCBs are immunosuppressive and act as tumour promoters. An assessment of effects on humans draws upon studies of two large outbreaks of poisoning from contaminated food, and of occupational exposures. Concerning risks to the environment, the report cites reproductive failure in sea mammals as the most important hazard, further concluding that the predicted redistribution of residues towards the marine environment will pose an increasing hazard for sea mammals in the future. A review of the hazards of polychlorinated terphenyls concludes the report.

"This review summarizes data on the occurrence, the trends, and the life-style, environmental, occupational and genetic determinants of pancreatic cancer. Epidemiologic evidence implicates tobacco smoking as one cause. The evidence regarding alcohol consumption is inconsistent. Although both positive and inconclusive findings are encountered, the bulk of the evidence on coffee consumption is negative. Fat intake is linked with obesity and diabetes mellitus, which are risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Fruit and vegetable consumption appears to be protective. No occupational or environmental agent has been confirmed to increase the risk, but epidemiologic evidence is inconsistent, Little is known about the role of genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes in pancreas carcinogenesis. Pancreatic cancer shows high rates of mutations of Ki-ras and losses or mutations of tumor suppressor genes (p53, p16INK4A, and SMAD4/DPC-4). Ki-ras mutations have been associated with life-style factors in relation to pancreatic cancer, but the evidence is still scant and inconsistent."