182 Chemicals Persistence in the Biosphere: a Global
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
I J R B A T, Vol. II, Issue (7), Nov 2015: 182-184 ISSN 2347 – 517X INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES IN BIOSCIENCES, AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY © VISHWASHANTI MULTIPURPOSE SOCIETY (Global Peace Multipurpose Society) R. No. MH-659/13(N) www.vmsindia.org CHEMICALS PERSISTENCE IN THE BIOSPHERE: A GLOBAL ISSUE Reshal Deshmukh and Yogita Meshram Department of Chemistry ,Shivaji Science College,Nagpur(M.S) India [email protected] ABSTRACT Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. With the evidence of long-range transport of these substances to regions where they have never been used or produced and the consequent threats they pose to the environment of the whole globe, the international community has now, at several occasions, called for urgent global actions to reduce and eliminate releases of these chemicalsbecause they are highly toxic to humans and the environment, Persist in the environment, resist bio-degradation, Take up and bio-accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, Capable of long-range, transboundary atmospheric transport and deposition. KEY WORDS- Persistent Toxic Substances , Monitoring Process Introduction Convention a scientific review process that has Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic led to the addition of other POPs chemicals of chemicals that adversely affect human health global concern. dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and the environment around the world. Because (DDT) dieldrin endrin heptachlor they can be transported by wind and water, hexachlorobenzene mirex toxaphene most POPs generated in one country can and do polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) affect people and wildlife far from where they are polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins(dioxins) used and released. They persist for long periods polychlorinated dibenzofurans (furans) of time in the environment and can accumulate Persistent organic pollutants (POP s) and pass from one species to the next through are organic compounds that are resistant the food chain. To address this global concern, to environmentaldegradationthrough chemical, the United States joined forces with 90 other biological, and photolytic processes. Because of countries and the European Community to sign this, they have been observed to persist in the a groundbreaking United Nations treaty Exit in environment, to be capable of long-range Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2001. Under the transport, bioaccumulate in human andanimal treaty, known as the Stockholm Convention, tissue, bioaccumulate in food chains, and to countries agreed to reduce or eliminate the have potential significant impacts on human production, use, and/or release of chemicals health and the environment. Many POPs are and specified under the Convention a scientific currently or were in the past used as pesticides. review process that has led to the addition of Others are used in industrial processes and in other POPs chemicals of global concern. the production of a range of goods such A Global Issue as solvents, polyvinyl chloride, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic and pharmaceuticals. There are a few natural chemicals that adversely affect human health sources of POPs, such as volcanic activity and and the environment around the world. Because vegetational fires but most POPs are created by they can be transported by wind and water, humans in industrial processes, either most POPs generated in one country can and do intentionally or as byproducts Public concern affect people and wildlife far from where they are about contamination by POPs exists, due to the used and released. They persist for long periods multitude of evidence showing the negative of time in the environment and can accumulate effects of POPs on human health and the and pass from one species to the next through environment. Several compounds have been the food chain. To address this global concern, identified as hormone disruptors which can the United States joined forces with 90 other alter normal function of endocrine and countries and the European Community to sign reproductive systems in humans and a groundbreaking in Stockholm, Sweden, in May wildlife. Cardiovascular disease,cancer, obesity, 2001. Under the treaty, known as the and diabetes have also been linked to POPs. Stockholm Convention, countries agreed to Exposure to POPs during pregnancy has been reduce or eliminate the production, use, and/or linked to developmental defects in the resulting release of POPs and specified under the offspring. There are many risks and effects of 182 I J R B A T, Vol. II, Issue (7), Nov 2015: 182-184 ISSN 2347 – 517X having these chemicals in our environment. 12 years. Endrin is highly toxic to aquatic After these pollutants are put into the animals and humans as a neurotoxin. Human environment, they are able to stay in the system exposure results primarily through food. for decades causing problems such 4. Heptachlor, a pesticide primarily used to kill as cancer, birth-defects, learning disabilities, soil insects and termites, along with cotton immunological, behavioral, neurological and insects, grasshoppers, other crop pests, and reproductive disorders in humans and animals. malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Heptachlor, The effect of POPs on human and environmental even at every low doses has been associated health was discussed, with intention to with the decline of several wild bird eliminate or severely restrict their production, populations – Canadian geese and American by the international community at kestrels. In laboratory tests have shown high- the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic dose heptachlor as lethal, with adverse Pollutants in 2001. behavioral changes and reduced reproductive Initially the Stockholm Convention recognized success at low-doses, and is classified as a only twelve POPs for their adverse effects on possible human carcinogen. Human exposure human health and the environment, placing a primarily results from food. global ban on these particularly harmful and 5. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), an industrial and toxic compounds and requiring its parties to technical chemical first introduced in 1945– take measures to eliminate or reduce the release 1959 to treat seeds because it can of POPs in the environmentAldrin, an insecticide kill fungi on food crops. HCB-treated seed used in soils to kill termites, grasshoppers, grain consumption is associated with Western corn rootworm, and others, is also photosensitive skin lesions, colic, debilitation, known to kill birds, fish, and humans. Humans and a metabolic disorder called porphyria are primarily exposed to aldrin through dairy turcica, which can be lethal. Mothers who products and animal meats. pass HCB to their infants through the 1. Chlordane, an insecticide used to control placenta and breast milk had limited termites and on a range of agricultural crops, reproductive success including infant death. is known to be lethal in various species of Human exposure is primarily from food. birds, including mallard ducks, bobwhite 6. Mirex, an insecticide used against ants and quail, and pink shrimp; it is a chemical that termites or as a flame retardant in plastics, remains in the soil with a reported half-life of rubber, and electrical goods. Mirex is one of one year. Chlordane has been postulated to the most stable and persistent pesticides, with affect the human immune system and is a half-life of up to 10 years. Mirex is toxic to classified as a possible human carcinogen. several plant, fish and crustacean species, Chlodane air pollution is believed the primary with suggested carcinogenic capacity in route of humane exposure. humans. Humans are exposed primarily 2. Dieldrin, a pesticide used to control termites, through animal meat, fish, and wild game textile pests, insect-borne diseases and Scope of the challenge insects living in agricultural soils. In soil and • Prevent the exposure of humans and the insects, aldrin can be oxidized, resulting in environment to harmful chemicals and waste rapid conversion to dieldrin. Dieldrin’s half-life of global importance. is approximately five years. Dieldrin is highly • Combine environmentally safe technologies toxic to fish and other aquatic animals, and systems with financial and organizational particularly frogs, whose embryos can develop mechanisms, policies, and practices that help spinal deformities after exposure to low levels. countries move towards innovative, rapid, Dieldrin has been linked to Parkinson's transformational change. disease, breast cancer, and classified as • Develop the enabling conditions, tools and immunotoxic, neurotoxic, with endocrine environment for the sound management of disrupting capacity. Dieldrin residues have harmful chemicals and wastes been found in air, water, soil, fish, birds, and • Reduce the prevalence of harmful chemicals mammals. Human exposure to dieldrin and waste and support the implementation of primarily derives from food. clean alternative technologies/substances 3. Endrin, an insecticide sprayed on the leaves of Of all the pollutants released into the crops, and used to control rodents. Animals environment every year by human activity, can metabolize endrin, so fatty tissue Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are among accumulation is not an issue, however the the most dangerous. POPs are pesticides, chemical has a long half-life in soil for up to industrial chemicals, or unwanted