Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings 14 Environmental Health and Toxicology Part C PowerPoint ® Slides prepared by Jay Withgott and Kristy Manning Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Federal agencies and risk management In the U.S., most risk management is conducted by federal and state agencies. Particularly: Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Policy on toxicants Key agencies and products they regulate: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -food, additives, cosmetics, drugs, medical devices Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -pesticides, industrial chemicals, and any synthetic chemicals not covered by other agencies Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) -workplace hazards

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings EPA regulation: Pesticides Pesticides to be introduced to market in the U.S. need to be registered with the EPA. Registration involves risk assessment and risk management. EPA assesses research from the manufacturer along with any outside research. EPA can set restrictions on use, or even ban a product.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings EPA regulation: Industrial chemicals EPA is charged with monitoring 75,000 industrial chemicals. Too many chemicals, too little time, people, resources Only 10% of chemicals on the market are thoroughly tested. Only 2% are screened for carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens. <1% are government regulated. ~0% are tested for endocrine, nervous, or immune effects.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings “The dirty dozen” POPs Aldrin(insecticide) Chlordane(insecticide) DDT(insecticide) Dieldrin(insecticide) Dioxins(industrial by-product) Endrin(insecticide) Furans(industrial by-product) Heptachlor(insecticide) Hexachlorobenzene (fungicide, industrial by-product) Mirex(insecticide, fire retardant) PCBs(industrial chemical) Toxaphene(insecticide)

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Viewpoints: Industry or government? Warren Porter Marian Stanley “Given the inherent inadequacies of the testing process and the uncertainty of the economic impacts, both government and industry should share the responsibility of testing to ensure public safety.” “Manufacturers often voluntarily conduct new studies to support the continued safe use of their chemicals. … It is important that the EPA and manufacturers work together in evaluating chemicals.”

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Conclusion International agreements are a hopeful sign that governments will prevent environmental hazards. But solutions can come more easily when they do not arise from government regulation alone. Consumer choice can influence industry if consumers have scientific information. But we will never attain complete knowledge of risks. A safer future depends on knowing risks, phasing out harmful substances, and replacing them with safer ones.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Review Which causes birth defects? a.Allergen b.Mutagen c.Carcinogen d.Teratogen e.Endocrine disruptor

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Review Which statement is NOT correct regarding the insecticide DDT? a.It was criticized in the book Silent Spring. b.It helps fight malaria. c.It is persistent and bioaccumulates. d.It has no toxic breakdown products. e.Its use was banned by the EPA.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Review Epidemiological studies… ? a.Can prove a certain toxicant causes a certain effect. b.Search for statistical association between hazard and effect. c. Are rapidly completed. d.Take place with lab animals.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Review Which statement is FALSE? a.Babies are more sensitive to toxicants than people aged 30. b.Synergistic effects can occur with mixtures of chemicals. c.Chronic exposure occurs over a short period of time. d.Some doses may elicit no measurable response.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Weighing the Issues DDT is banned in the U.S. to protect human health and the environment, but U.S. companies produce and sell DDT to developing nations to use against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. How do you feel about this? a.It is hypocritical for the U.S. to protect its own citizens against DDT but to sell it abroad. b.It is fine, because every nation has the right to pass its own laws regarding pesticides. c.It is good, because malaria is a bigger health hazard in some developing nations than are risks from DDT.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data The curve demonstrates … ? a.The point at which 20% of the animals are killed b.The percentage of animals affected decreases with the dose c.The percentage of animals affected increases with the dose

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data Which hazard involves the greatest risk? a.Car crash b.Plane crash c.Murder d.Being overweight

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings QUESTION: Viewpoints In testing new synthetic chemicals, should we follow the “innocent-until-proven-guilty” approach, or the precautionary principle? a.“Innocent-until-proven-guilty” approach b.Precautionary principle c.A hybrid of both approaches