Health Effects of Environmental Chemicals

Abstract

This chapter reviews some of the ways that catastrophic or more incidental local exposures, as well as generalised chronic exposures to environmental pollutants can result in adverse effects on human health. The causes leading to the catastrophic and incidental exposures are associated with human actions, such as poor process management, inadequate maintenance programmes, wrong labelling and handling of toxic materials, and fraudulent practices. The generalised chronic exposure to traditional air pollutants, pesticides and endocrine disrupters is linked to our current standard of living, since they are associated with road traffic, industrial processes, and increased production of foodstuffs. The main pathways of exposure to contaminants are: (i) ingestion of pesticides and other chemical residues in food and water; and (ii) inhalation of pollutants associated with road vehicles and the indoor environment. Growing evidence is now available for specific chemicals acting as endocrine disruptors and possibly affecting human reproductive health, fertility, behaviour, growth and development. Currently, new concerns are also arising over exposures to novel nanomaterials. Increased understanding of total exposure, individual susceptibility, and source apportionment will help understand the link between chemicals exposure and related health effects, and will facilitate the adoption of appropriate control measures.