Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology
ENV/410
November 3, 2014
Environmental Toxicology
Every day, each and every individual is exposed to some form of toxicity. This could be in the form of toxic substances, toxic chemicals, or even toxic pollutants in the atmosphere. There are many materials within communities that could prove toxic and hazardous. Many of these substances pose great health concerns. Toxic chemical exposure in the United States can prove burdensome; especially in low-income communities. Most communities are exposed to toxicity through consumer products, pollution from industrial plants, as well as chemical plants. Not only is chemical contamination real, but it is also common. Contaminants in the environment can significantly and negatively impact the environment as well as humanity. The subject of this paper is to identify environmental effects of contaminants, to explain toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics, and to explain the primary routes and pathways of exposure for contaminants. The author will also discuss the principal mechanisms in moving contaminants across the cell membrane and the phases of biotransformation.
Environmental Effects of Contaminants
On the planet today, there are a variety of chemicals that can negatively affect or contaminate the water, land, air, and even human health. This is because, throughout the years, humanity has introduced a significant amount of chemical substances into the environment. These chemical substances in the environment can cause serious harm. According to Planet Agenda (2014), “Chemicals enter air as emissions and water as effluent. Industrial and motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides cause acid rain, which poisons fish and other aquatic organisms”. Harmful contaminants in the environment also affect the soil, making it incapable of supporting plants. Carbon dioxide is a pollutant that leads to more than the usual amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This eventually results in
ENV/410
November 3, 2014
Environmental Toxicology
Every day, each and every individual is exposed to some form of toxicity. This could be in the form of toxic substances, toxic chemicals, or even toxic pollutants in the atmosphere. There are many materials within communities that could prove toxic and hazardous. Many of these substances pose great health concerns. Toxic chemical exposure in the United States can prove burdensome; especially in low-income communities. Most communities are exposed to toxicity through consumer products, pollution from industrial plants, as well as chemical plants. Not only is chemical contamination real, but it is also common. Contaminants in the environment can significantly and negatively impact the environment as well as humanity. The subject of this paper is to identify environmental effects of contaminants, to explain toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics, and to explain the primary routes and pathways of exposure for contaminants. The author will also discuss the principal mechanisms in moving contaminants across the cell membrane and the phases of biotransformation.
Environmental Effects of Contaminants
On the planet today, there are a variety of chemicals that can negatively affect or contaminate the water, land, air, and even human health. This is because, throughout the years, humanity has introduced a significant amount of chemical substances into the environment. These chemical substances in the environment can cause serious harm. According to Planet Agenda (2014), “Chemicals enter air as emissions and water as effluent. Industrial and motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides cause acid rain, which poisons fish and other aquatic organisms”. Harmful contaminants in the environment also affect the soil, making it incapable of supporting plants. Carbon dioxide is a pollutant that leads to more than the usual amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This eventually results in
References: Harmful chemicals in our environment. (2014). Planet Agenda. Retrieved from http://www.planetagenda.com/chemicals.htm Monosson, E. (2012). Biotransformation. Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150674/ Philip, R. B. (2013). Ecosystems and human health: Toxicology and environmental hazards (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group. Toxicology Tutor II-Toxicokinetics. (2014). National Library of Medicine: National Institute of Health. Retrieved from http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/toxtutor/Tox2/index.html