Health Effects of Environmental Agents ENVR430 (Formerly ENVR130) http://www.unc.edu/courses/2006fall/envr/430/001/ Monday Wednesday Friday, 1 to 1:50 pm McGavran-Greenberg 1301 Course director, L.M. Ball lmball@unc.edu, 6-7306

Pew Environmental Health Commission Environmental Health comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by interactions with physical, chemical, biological and social factors in the environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the environment that may adversely affect the health of present and future generations. Pew Environmental Health Commission

National Environmental Health Association NEHA www.neha.org National Center for Environmental Health NCEH www.cdc.gov/nceh/default.htm National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences NIEHS www.niehs.nih.gov

Environmental Scientists and Specialists Conduct research or perform investigations for the purpose of identifying, abating or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Utilizing knowledge of various scientific disciplines may collect, synthesize, study, report, and take action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water and other sources U.S. Department of Labor

Environmental Agents Microbial Chemical Physical

Physical Hazards Heat Cold Trauma Radiation Ionizing radiation (radioactivity) Non-ionizing radiation X-rays UV Infrared Microwave Radio Electromagnetic

Chemical Hazards “Naturally-Occurring” “Anthropogenic”

Naturally-Occurring Chemicals Microbial toxins Bacterial toxins Botulinus toxin (Clostridium botulinum ) Shigatoxin (Shigella dysenteriae ) Fungal toxins (mycotoxins) Ergot alkaloids (Claviceps purpurea) Aflatoxins (Aspergillus spps)

Plant Constituents Alkaloids Pigments Methane Terpenes Urushiol Atropine Solanine Pigments Methane Terpenes Urushiol Atropine

Animal Constituents Alkaloids Snake venom Ciguatoxin

Combustion Products Gases Hydrocarbons Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Phenanthrene Benzanthracene Benzo[a]pyrene

Minerals Soil dust (including e.g. Ca, Al, Si) Leaching into groundwater Selenium Arsenic

Anthropogenic Chemicals Inadvertent introduction Deliberate use

Inadvertent introduction Industrial by-products Insulators Effluents Wastes Spills Improper disposal

Industrial solvents Aromatic hydrocarbons Chlorinated hydrocarbons

Drinking water disinfection by-products Trihalomethanes Chloroform CHCl3 Bromodiloromethane CHBrCl2 Dibromochloromethane CHBr2Cl Bromoform CHBr3 Haloacetic acids Trichloroacetic acid CCl3-COOH Dichloroacetic acid CHCl2-COOH Dibromoacetic acid CHBr2-COOH

Combustion products Gases: CO, CO2, O3, peroxyacyl nitrates, nitrogen oxides (N2O, NO, NO2), sulfur oxides (SO2, SO3) Particulate matter Hydrocarbons Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Deliberate use Pesticides Fertilizers Food additives Plasticizers Pharmaceuticals Waste disposal

Insecticides Chlorinated hydrocarbons Organophosphates Carbamates

Herbicides Broad-spectrum Broad-leaf Grassy-leaf

Fertilizers Nitrates Phosphates

Food additives Anti-oxidants Anti-microbials Sweeteners Other flavoring agents Coloring agents Humectants Anti-caking agents

Plasticizers

THE MICROBIAL WORLD: SIZES OF MICROBES VIRUS 0.1 um BACTERIUM 1 x 2 um