China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Global mismanagement of food resources
Published in Théodore H MacDonald, Removing the Barriers to Global Health Equity, 2018
Only a few years ago, the idea of using biofuels as a significant counter to excessive reliance on such non-renewables as coal, oil and gas was only a topic of academic speculation. But that is no longer so. John James summed the matter up well in a recent Countercurrents online article:4
Outdoor Emissions
Published in William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel, Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 4, 2017
William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel
The toxicity of particulates depends greatly on their size, with particulates <10 μm (PM10) or 2.5 μm (PM2.5) being considered especially dangerous since they can easily penetrate the nasal sinus cavity and lungs, then through the alveoli go to the vascular system and brain. Currently, there are some questions as to whether the PM10, PM2.5 particulates are more important to human health.258 Toxicity of particulates also varies depending upon their chemical compositions with nanoparticles <200 μm being the worst because they can enter the body and especially the brain so easily. Particulates of special concern include toxic metals like lead and mercury, PAHs, persistent organic toxicants such as dioxins,217,259 and pesticides. The main outdoor sources of PAHs are motor vehicles, coal/oil-fired power plants, and biomass burning.260 (See Chapter 2 for more information.)
Carbon Monoxide
Published in David J. George, Poisons, 2017
Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. Hundreds die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning and many thousands are treated in medical facilities. Survivors of poisonings can suffer significant neurological damage that may be permanent. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas. Anything that burns fuel or generates combustion gases can be a source of carbon monoxide (Table 8.1). Fuel sources include wood, charcoal, coal, oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Many vehicles, heating units, appliances, tools, and other devices utilize these fuels. When carbon monoxide enters the lungs during respiration, it combines with hemoglobin in the blood and prevents the hemoglobin from transporting oxygen to vital organs.
Electron microscopic investigation of benzo(a)pyrene-induced alterations in the rat kidney tissue and the protective effects of curcumin
Published in Ultrastructural Pathology, 2022
Dila Şener Akçora, Deniz Erdoğan, Gülnur Take Kaplanoğlu, Gül Eser Göktaş, Uğur Şeker, Çiğdem Elmas
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic environmental and chemical contaminants that occur through industrial processes and the combustion of organic materials.1 They have been implicated in the etiology of a number of diseases, including cancer, through their acute toxic, teratogenic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic effects.2 Benzo (a) pyrene (BaP) is a well-known PAH compound protype that is formed during high-temperature pyrolytic processes of organic materials such as coal, oil, wood, cigarette smoke, and barbecued meats.3 Therefore, the compound is pervasive in the environment.4 Indoor work environments, contaminated air and meals, the burning of animal waste, forest fires, cigarette smoke and, pesticides, are among the main sources of human exposure to BaP and PAH.4,5 It was shown that BaP is directly or indirectly metabolized to highly reactive free radicals in the liver tissue following its uptake into the organism. Numerous studies have revealed that free radical production level of BaP leads to DNA damage, immunosuppression, toxic effects, and formation of many diseases including cancer in the lung, liver, skin, esophagus, pancreas, colon, stomach, cervix, prostate, and kidney.6–9 The liver, kidney, hematopoietic, and reproductive systems are reported to display the primary toxic effects of BaP, and chronic exposure of humans to aromatic hydrocarbons is linked to kidney dysfunction and kidney cancer.9–11
The association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and atopic triad by age and body weight in the US population
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022
Sooyoung Kim, Kathryn A. Carson, Anna L. Chien
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potent atmospheric pollutants composed of fused aromatic rings. PAHs form during the incomplete combustion of coal, oil and gas, garbage, and other organic materials (5). People are exposed to mixtures of PAHs that originate from a wide range of sources such as vehicle exhausts, asphalts, wild fires, coal tar, and tobacco smoke (2). PAHs are major constituents of motor vehicle exhaust and can be used as markers for exposure to traffic-derived pollution (6). They are predominantly metabolized to hydroxylated and glucuronide metabolites (2). Urinary hydroxylated PAH metabolite levels have been proposed as specific biomarkers of PAH exposure (7). PAHs have received attention due to their ability to induce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in relation to immunological alteration (8). Previous studies reported that exposure to PAHs is associated with several adverse outcomes including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, delayed cognitive development and impaired pulmonary function (9,10).
Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoke of charcoal grilled meat-restaurants in Amman, Jordan
Published in Toxin Reviews, 2022
Sharif H. Arar, Sarya G. Ikbarieh, Mohammed H. Kailani, Mahmoud A. Alawi
Cooking fumes contain various hazardous compounds involve many heavy metals, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs), BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbonyl compounds like (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids), and others (Schauer et al.1999, Lin et al. 2010). PAHs are one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. They are semi-volatile organic compounds, carcinogenic, and mutagenic pollutants. PAHs can be produced by many sources, natural and anthropogenic processes. These compounds are released into the environment during incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of organic materials (Nikolaou et al.1984, Beak et al.1991, Douben 2003). PAHs can be released into the environment during the incomplete combustion from both natural and man-made sources by different routes. Anthropogenic sources of PAHs include the incomplete combustion of organic material (coal, oil, fuels, and wood) in industrial processes, waste incineration, vehicles emissions, burning of wood in stoves (heating emissions), cigarette smoke, and from food processes (cooking) (Kordybach 1999, Ravindra et al.2008, Zhang and Tao 2009).