Environmental Toxicology

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology Unit Unit- -VII VII

Syllabus Syllabus • Environmental risk assessment solid and hazardous hazardous waste control and remediation, evaluation of toxicity, toxic materials : their physiological and metabolic effects waste management rules,

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • Environmental Environmental disciplinary disciplinary field study study of of the biological organisms. Toxicology Toxicology, field of science science concerned the harmful harmful effects effects of of various and physical is a multi multi- - with the concerned with various chemical, agents on the living

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • Rachel Rachel environmental environmental toxicology field within toxicology in 1962 with the publication of her book Silent Silent Spring Spring, which covered the effects of uncontrolled pesticide use. • Rachel Rachel Louise Louise Carson Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American conservationist whose book Silent writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement. Carson Carson is considered the mother mother of of toxicology, as she made it a distinct marine marine Silent Spring Spring and other biologist biologist and

Rachel Louise Carson Rachel Louise Carson

“Silent Spring” “Silent Spring” • Late in the 1950s, Carson turned her conservation, conservation, especially especially environmental she she believed believed were were caused caused by result was Silent Silent environmental concerns to an unprecedented share of the American people. Although Although Silent with with fierce fierce opposition opposition by by chemical chemical companies a reversal in national national pesticide pesticide policy nationwide nationwide ban ban on on DDT DDT and inspired a grassroots environmental movement that led to the creation creation of of the the U U. .S S. . Environmental Agency Agency. Carson was posthumously Presidential Presidential Medal Medal of Freedom by Jimmy her attention attention to to problems that synthetic pesticides pesticides. The ( (1962 1962), ), which environmental problems by synthetic Spring Spring that brought Silent Spring Spring was companies, it spurred policy, which led to a and other other pesticides pesticides, and it was met met Environmental Protection awarded Jimmy Carter Carter. Protection the

“Silent Spring” “Silent Spring”

Agent Orange Vietnam War Agent Orange Vietnam War

Agent Orange Vietnam War Agent Orange Vietnam War • During During the the 20 20, ,000 000, ,000 herbicides herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam, the to to defoliate defoliate rural/forested rural/forested land, of of food food and and cover cover and and clearing as as around around base base perimeters perimeters. The program was also a part of a general policy of forced draft urbanization, which which aimed aimed to to destroy peasants peasants to to support support themselves themselves in in the forcing forcing them them to to flee flee to to the the U U. .S S. . dominated depriving depriving the the guerrillas guerrillas of of their the Vietnam Vietnam War United United 000 U U. .S S. . gallons War, between 1962 and 1971, States States military military gallons ( (75 75, ,700 700, ,000 000 l) l) of chemical sprayed sprayed nearly nearly chemical the goal goal was guerrillas areas such was land, depriving depriving guerrillas clearing sensitive sensitive areas such destroy the the countryside, countryside, dominated cities, their rural rural support support base the ability ability of of cities, base. .

Agent Orange Vietnam War Agent Orange Vietnam War

Effects on the Vietnamese People Effects on the Vietnamese People Health Health Effects • The Vietnam Red Cross reported as many as 3 3 million million Vietnamese Vietnamese people people have been affected by Agent Orange, including including at at least born born with with birth birth defects defects. According to to Vietnamese Ministry Ministry of of Foreign Foreign Affairs, Affairs, 4 4. .8 8 million people people were were exposed exposed to to Agent 4 4, ,00 00, ,000 000 people people being being killed 5 5, ,00 00, ,000 000 children children born born with with birth Effects least 150 150, ,000 000 children children Vietnamese Vietnamese million Vietnamese Agent Orange Orange, resulting in killed or or maimed maimed, and birth defects defects.

Effects on the Vietnamese People Effects on the Vietnamese People

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • Environmental Environmental Toxicology science science concerned concerned with various various chemical chemical, biological organisms. Toxicology, is a multi with the the study biological and physical multi- -disciplinary disciplinary field study of of the the harmful harmful effects physical agents field of effects of of agents on living

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • Harmful Harmful effects agents agents can insecticides, insecticides, pesticides, which can community through shifts in species diversity and abundance. • Resulting Resulting changes changes in in population impact impact the the ecosystem ecosystem by by altering and and stability stability. effects of of chemical can include include toxins pesticides, and impact chemical and toxins from and fertilizers fertilizers all of an organism and biological biological from pollutants pollutants, and its population dynamics altering its its productivity productivity dynamics

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • There are many toxicity toxicity that that can in in our our food food, water and air. • These sources sources include pollutants pollutants, pesticides pesticides and biological of which can can have have harmful organisms organisms. many sources sources of of environmental can lead lead to to the the presence presence of of toxins environmental toxins include organic organic and biological agents harmful effects effects on and inorganic inorganic agents, all on living living

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • Pollutants Pollutants Polychlorinated Polychlorinated Biphenyls organic organic pollutants pollutants that are still present in our environment today despite being banned in many countries such as the United United States to the persistent nature of PCBs in aquatic ecosystems, many aquatic species contain high levels of this chemical. • For For example, example, fish fish farmed farmed salmon have have significantly significantly higher higher PCB PCB levels Biphenyls (PCBs) (PCBs) are States and and Canada Canada. Due salmon have levels. . have been been shown shown to to

Pollutants Polychlorinated Biphenyls Pollutants Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (PCBs)

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology Heavy Heavy Metals • Heavy Heavy metals fish can also have harmful effects. These can can include include mercury, mercury, lead, cadmium cadmium. It has been shown that fish are exposed to higher cadmium levels and grow at a slower rate than fish exposed to lower levels or none. Metals metals found found in in food food sources sources, such as These metals lead, aluminum aluminum and metals and

Heavy Metals Heavy Metals

Environmental Toxicology Pesticides Pesticides • Pesticides are a major source of environmental These chemically synthesized agents have been known to persist in the environment administration. The poor bio bio- -degradability can result in bio bio- -accumulation accumulation of chemicals in various organisms along with bio bio- -magnification web. Pesticides can be categorized according to the pests they target. Insecticides Insecticides are are used pests pests that that attack attack various various fruits fruits and • Herbicides Herbicides target target herbal herbal pests pests such as weeds and other unwanted plants that reduce crop production. Environmental Toxicology environmental toxicity toxicity. . long after pesticides their degradability of pesticides magnification within a food used to to eliminate eliminate agricultural and crops crops. agricultural

Pesticides Pesticides

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology Insecticides Insecticides • Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane organochlorine insecticide that has been banned due to its adverse effects on both humans and wildlife. DDT was was widely widely used used by by farmers farmers in in order pests pests. In 1962, the harmful effects of the widespread and uncontrolled use of DDT were detailed by Rachel Carson in her book The The Silent quantities of DDT Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) released into the environment were toxic to both animals and humans (DDT) (DDT) is an DDT order to to kill kill agricultural agricultural Silent Spring and Spring. Such large its metabolite (DDE) that were

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) (DDT)

Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology • DDT DDT is is not accumulates accumulates in in soil become polluted and marine life such as fish and shellfish accumulate DDT DDT in in their this effect is amplified when animals who consume the fish also consume the chemical, demonstrating bio- magnification within the food web. • The process of bio bio- -magnification magnification has on various various bird bird species species. Rapid declines in bird populations have have been been seen seen various not easily easily biodegradable biodegradable and soil and and sediment and thus runoff. Water systems thus the the chemical chemical sediment runoff their tissues tissues. Furthermore, has detrimental detrimental effects effects various parts parts of of the the world world. .

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules • Hazardous Hazardous wastes therefore disposal of such wastes needs proper attention so as to reduce possible environmental hazards. • Industrial Industrial growth growth has has resulted resulted in in generation volume volume of of hazardous hazardous wastes wastes in in the to this, hazardous wastes sometimes get imported mainly from the western countries for re-processing or recycling. • Inventorisation Inventorisation of of hazardous hazardous wastes the the country country is is not not yet yet Completed Completed. . Scientific hazardous hazardous wastes wastes has has become become a a major issue issue in in India India. . wastes are are considered considered highly highly toxic toxic and generation of of huge the country country. In addition huge wastes generating generating units Scientific disposal major environmental environmental units in in disposal of of

Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Wastes

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules • Hazardous Hazardous Handling) Handling) Rules, Central Central Government Government and 2003 2003 to deal with the hazardous wastes related environmental problems that may arise in the near future Wastes Wastes 1989 have been framed by the and amended amended in in 2000 (Management (Management and and Rules, 1989 2000 and and

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules • Environmental Environmental management major concern in India as haphazard dumping of hazardous wastes results in severe environmental impairment. • The adverse effects of hazardous wastes as well as the significant potential risks posed by them to the life and its supporting systems are increasingly recognized Rapid in in India India has has resulted resulted in in generation generation of of increasing hazardous hazardous wastes wastes. Both indigenously generated and imported from other countries for recycling or reprocessing need scientific treatment and disposal. However, landfill landfill sites sites are are available available in in the hazardous hazardous wastes wastes in in an an environmentally environmentally sound management of of hazardous hazardous wastes wastes has become a Rapid growth increasing volume growth of of industries volume of of industries However, only the country country for sound manner only a a few for disposal disposal of of manner. . few secured secured

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules

Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules Environmental Risk Assessment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Rules • An An illegal cause cause severe Environment Environment and Wastes Wastes (Management (Management & & Handling) the same same in in 2000 2000 and handling of hazardous wastes in the country. These deal deal with with the the ban ban for for importing importing a a few wastes wastes. India has also ratified the Basel boundary boundary movement movement of of hazardous significant tool for controlling and monitoring of import and export of hazardous wastes and its proper management. illegal dumping dumping of of hazardous severe environmental environmental pollution and Forests Forests (MoEF) wastes by pollution. The Ministry (MoEF) has has promulgated promulgated Hazardous Handling) Rules, Rules, 1989 1989 and amended and 2003 2003 for proper management and hazardous wastes by the the industries industries may Ministry of of Hazardous may These rules rules also hazardous on trans trans- - also few categories categories of of hazardous Basel Convention Convention on hazardous wastes wastes in in 1992 1992, which is a

Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Wastes Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Wastes

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes • Hazardous Hazardous wastes, gaseous gaseous form, environment, environment, either alone or when in contact with other wastes . Hazardous wastes can be identified by the characteristics that they exhibit corrosivity, corrosivity, reactivity, reactivity, or or toxicity toxicity. . wastes, which form, may may cause which may cause danger may be be in in solid, danger to to health solid, liquid health or or liquid or or exhibit viz, viz, ignitability, ignitability,

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Process Process Wastes • Hazardous wastes in India can be categorized broadly • into two categories, viz, • i) hazardous hazardous wastes wastes generated generated in in India various industries, and • ii) hazardous hazardous wastes wastes imported imported into to to India India. Hazardous wastes are being generated in the country by various industries. Wastes India from into or or exported exported

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes • Inventorisation of hazardous wastes generating units and quantification of wastes generated in India are being done by the respective States. Pollution Pollution Control Control Boards Boards (SPCBs) Control Control Committees Committees (PCCs (PCCs). Depending on the physical and chemical hazardous wastes, these may be categorized into three categories, viz. , , recyclable, and and landfill landfill. . (SPCBs) or or Pollution Pollution characteristics of recyclable, incinerable incinerable

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes • The hazardous hazardous wastes recyclable recyclable when by by reprocessing reprocessing the it is possible to incinerate the wastes for destruction destruction and and energy energy recovery, waste waste when when this this is is not resource resource or or energy energy recovery recovery, but suitable for dumping with or without any treatment. wastes may when resource resource recovery the waste waste, as incinerable when may be recovery is is possible be categorized categorized as as possible recovery, and not suitable suitable either and as as landfill either for landfill for

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes • Management Management and for for hazardous hazardous wastes • Industrial Industrial incinerators and are merely a combustion chamber and source of emission of dioxins dioxins and and furans furans. . Environmentally sound management of hazardous Wastes would require Common Common Hazardous Hazardous Waste Waste (CHWMF) (CHWMF) for industrial clusters spread all over the country, as it is not possible to have hazardous waste management facility for each unit, particularly in the case of small and medium scale units and disposal disposal The wastes in in India incinerators in use are generally not efficient The major major issues India issues of of concern concern Management Management Facility Facility

Industrial Incinerators Industrial Incinerators

Environmental Toxicology