Chemicals, Environment, Health

Chemicals, Environment, Health
Author: Philip Wexler
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 846
Release: 2011-08-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1420084690

The past 40 years have seen a phenomenal growth in globally oriented public and private initiatives related to chemical and environmental issues. The groundbreaking 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm was the event responsible for initiating framework for global environmental policies, including those addressing chemical safety. It gave rise to the first World Environment Day and the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme, leading the way to the acknowledgement that sustainable development is the most logical and viable pathway to preserve and enhance our environment for future generations. Chemicals, Environment, Health: A Global Management Perspective presents an overview of the noteworthy conferences, organizations, and international treaties that focus on chemicals management and policy. It takes into account special challenges faced by developing countries regarding chemicals safety. From the Stockholm Conference to follow-ups in Rio and Johannesburg, it provides concise coverage of a vast swath of information. It highlights pivotal agreements such as the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, the more expansive Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, as well as key regional agreements such as the European Union’s REACH legislation. The book includes invited essays in areas such as emergencies and financing instruments, and offers a clear look at future challenges and opportunities. Written by a team of authors from all continents, with backgrounds in international organizations, national governments, academia, industry, and NGOs, the book reflects a wide experience from a multitude of perspectives. A valuable guidebook to global chemicals management cooperation, this book reviews and analyzes multi-lateral efforts established to address the potential risks of chemicals on the world stage.

Identifying and Reducing Environmental Health Risks of Chemicals in Our Society

Identifying and Reducing Environmental Health Risks of Chemicals in Our Society
Author: Robert Pool
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 9780309301152

"On November 7-8, 2013, the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine held a workshop to discuss approaches related to identifying and reducing potential environmental public health risks to new and existing industrial chemicals present in society. Industrial chemicals include chemicals used in industrial processes or commercial products, not including those found in food, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals. Identifying and Reducing Environmental Health Risks of Chemicals in Our Society is a summary and synthesis of the presentations and discussions that took place during the two days of the workshop. The workshop examined successes and areas for improvement within current regulatory programs for assessing industrial chemical safety, frameworks for chemical prioritization to inform targeted testing and risk management strategies, concepts of sustainability and green chemistry that support the design and use of safer alternatives, and efforts to reduce the risk of chemicals in our society."--Publisher's description.

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

Modelling the Fate of Chemicals in the Environment and the Human Body
Author: Philippe Ciffroy
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 262
Release: 2018-08-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783319866383

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.

Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Resources

Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Resources
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 172
Release: 1997-02-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309175011

The environment is increasingly recognized as having a powerful effect on human and ecological health, as well as on specific types of human morbidity, mortality, and disability. While the public relies heavily on federal and state regulatory agencies for protection from exposures to hazardous substances, it often looks to health professionals for information about routes of exposure and the nature and extent of associated adverse health consequences. However, most health professionals acquire only a minimal knowledge of toxicology during their education and training. In 1967 the National Library of Medicine (NLM) created an information resource, known today as the Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP). In 1995 the NLM asked the Institute of Medicine to examine the accessiblity and utility of the TEHIP databases for the work of health professionals. This resulting volume contains chapters on TEHIP and other toxicology and environmental health databases, on understanding the toxicology and environmental health information needs of health professionals, on increasing awareness of information resources through training and outreach, on accessing and navigating the TEHIP databases, and on program issues and future directions.

Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals

Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2006-11-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309102723

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.

U.S. Health in International Perspective

U.S. Health in International Perspective
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 421
Release: 2013-04-12
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309264146

The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals

Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals
Author: K. Asante-Duah
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9401004811

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.

Environmental Pollutant Exposures and Public Health

Environmental Pollutant Exposures and Public Health
Author: R M Harrison
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2020-10-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1839160446

Both genes and environment have profound effects upon our health. While some environmental factors such as polluted air are high in the public consciousness, there are many other pathways for people’s exposure to toxic chemicals, such as through food, water and contaminated land. It is not only chemicals that can affect health; environmental radioactivity, pathogenic organisms and our changing climate also have implications for public health, and all contribute to the global burden of disease, leading to both disability and deaths of millions of people annually across the world. An understanding of the pathways of environmental exposure, and its effects upon health is key to developing regulations and behaviours that reduce or prevent exposure, and the consequent impacts upon health. Covering topics from dietary exposure to chemicals through to the health effects of climate change, this book brings together contributors from around the world to highlight the latest science on the impacts of environmental pollutant exposure upon public health.

Harmful Natural Chemicals And Radiation In The Environment: Stories, History And What You Need To Know

Harmful Natural Chemicals And Radiation In The Environment: Stories, History And What You Need To Know
Author: Raymond Poon
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2012-12-19
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9814412953

This unique volume provides in layman's terms, without sacrificing scientific facts, the health hazards and potential dangers of naturally occurring substances that are around us everyday. The comprehensive coverage includes compounds (e.g. arsenic, lead), gases (e.g. hydrogen sulphide, ozone) and all forms of natural radiations (e.g. heat, radon). Readers will find this book both informative and entertaining because facts and important data are introduced and interpreted in the form of history, stories and scientific summaries. Each chapter concludes with a practical guide that readers will find useful.Harmful Naturally Occurring Substance and Radiation, which is fully referenced with up-to-date articles, may be used as a textbook for undergraduates and as an introductory textbook for post-graduates in biochemistry, environmental science, toxicology, medical science, and health care. People interested in personal and public health and earth issues will find this book a thought-provoking and revealing read. The book may also be a source of information for policy makers, public health officials, city planners and environmental engineers.

Forever Chemicals

Forever Chemicals
Author: David M. Kempisty
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2021-07-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1000405451

Forever Chemicals: Environmental, Economic, and Social Equity Concerns with PFAS in the Environment provides the reader with an understanding of the complex and interwoven issues associated with per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in our environment. The chapters provide in-depth perspective into various issues, including health, regulation, detection, clean-up strategies and technologies, and more. Taken together or as the reader’s interests lead them, the variety of topics covered in the book present a balanced perspective on this complex topic. It will address the current state of PFAS and where indicators are pointing for future developments. The book is also a deeper investigation of the regulatory challenges, analytical hurdles, and toxicological progress to date for the suite of PFAS chemicals. Features Explains the trends that will affect future policy and regulatory decisions Looks holistically at 4000+ PFAS chemicals Includes PFAS risk assessments at contaminated sites and biomonitoring insights Provides in-depth discussions on remediation technologies Illustrates quality and diversified content Provides a balanced perspective on this complex topic