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Ecological and Health Implications of Heavy Metals Contamination in the Environment and Their Bioremediation Approaches
Published in Ram Naresh Bharagava, Sandhya Mishra, Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale, Rijuta Ganesh Saratale, Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira, Bioremediation, 2022
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an organic form of mercury and is neurotoxic in nature. Methylmercury accumulates in food chain and reaches higher concentration by biomagnification. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified methylmercury as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2B). Methylmercury’s toxicity was highlighted in the 1950s in Minamata (Japan) when wastes from the chemical factory were discharged into the local bay (Yokoyama 2018). Mercury can cause mental retardation, urological defects, hearing loss, developmental defects, blindness, dysarthria and even death. Mercury causes fetotoxicity by low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth. Mercury can easily cross the placental barrier and inhibit the development of foetal brain, resulting in psychomotor retardation and cerebral palsy. Children are more sensitive to MeHg, and exposure during pregnancy period can lead to delay in development, low IQ (intelligence quotient) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) (WHO 2011).
Lead Toxicity
Published in Debasis Bagchi, Manashi Bagchi, Metal Toxicology Handbook, 2020
Rokeya Pervin, Md. Akil Hossain, Dipti Debnath, Mohiuddin Ahmed Bhuiyan
Lead exposure adversely affects the reproductive systems of both men and women in a number of ways [17]. Most of the adverse effects have been seen in lead-exposed workers [30]. Abnormal spermatogenesis (reduced number and motility), reduced libido, infertility, chromosomal damage, changes in serum testosterone, and abnormal prostatic function are the most common adverse effects seen in men [17]. When the lead level in blood in a male person exceeds 40 μg/dL, sperm number is reduced and other changes in the sperm volume are occurred [4]. Lead exposure-associated harmful effects in the reproductive system of females are more severe than in males. Blood lead levels in mother and infant are typically similar since lead present in the mother’s blood passes into the fetus through the placenta as well as via breast milk. Moreover, women are more vulnerable to infertility, pre-eclampsia, premature membrane rupture, miscarriage, premature delivery, and pregnancy hypertension [69]. Likewise, it has also been reported that lead has a direct impact on the developmental stages of the fetus [70]. Reduced head circumference, low birth weight, and low birth length have been seen due to lead exposure. The evidence associated with the probable teratogenic effect of lead is not well-documented [71].
Environmental Protection
Published in Lawrence S. Chan, William C. Tang, Engineering-Medicine, 2019
For adults, the usual symptoms are the followings (MAYO 2018): Neurological: difficulties in memory and concentration, headache, mood disorders.Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain.Male Reproductive: reduced and abnormal sperm production.Female Reproductive: miscarriage, stillbirth.Cardiovascular: high blood pressure.Musculoskeletal: joint and muscle pain.
Killing and Impairing Fetuses
Published in The New Bioethics, 2022
Consider the following thought experiment1: Imagine a pregnant person discover that the fetus occupying their body has some abnormality that will cause it to be miscarried within the week. Once discovered, nothing can be done to stop the miscarriage from occurring. Given this miscarriage is certain to occur, would it be immoral for the pregnant woman, upon becoming aware of the situation, to begin consuming alcohol, even if the alcohol in her bloodstream would have an adverse effect on the fetus until it dies in a week? No, it would not be immoral for the pregnant person to consume alcohol even if doing so adversely affected the fetus because the fact that the fetus will die in a week means there will not be any future child to suffer the harms of FAS.
Miscarriage Can Kill … But it Usually Does Not: Evaluating Inconsistency Arguments
Published in The New Bioethics, 2021
‘Miscarriage’ causes problems for CoDAs because of its referential ambiguity. Perhaps surprisingly, given how straightforward the concept might seem at first glance, it just is not clear what someone means when they say ‘miscarriage.’ Even professional publications cannot agree on the term’s meanings. Consider the following definitions: Definition A:Early pregnancy loss is defined as a nonviable, intrauterine pregnancy with either an empty gestational sac or a gestational sac containing an embryo or fetus without fetal heart activity within the first 12 weeks of gestation. In the first trimester, the terms miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, and early pregnancy loss are used interchangeably. (ACOG 2018, p. e197)Definition B:‘Spontaneous abortion is noninduced embryonic or fetal death or passage of products of conception before 20 weeks gestation’ (Dulay 2020).Definition C:Miscarriage is variously defined as: the expulsion or extraction of a fetus (embryo) weighing less than 500 g equivalent to approximately 22 weeks’ gestation (World Health Organization, 1977); or termination before fetal ‘viability’ is achieved; or termination prior to 24 completed weeks of gestation (UK legal definition). (Stabile, Chard, and Grudzinskas 2000, p. 15)Definition D:‘Miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before the fetus reaches viability’ (RCOG 2011).