Here is some information about high environmental poisons. We also have other resourses for use by our visitors. A complete list of the resourses is given here. 

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL POISONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

Poisenous substances in the biosphere is one of the most serious global threats nowadays. There is much talk anout the level of CO2, and the increasing level of this substance is allarming. CO2 is however not a poison, even though it threatens the physical conditions on earth. There is also much talk about the reduction of the ozone layer caused by chemicals released into the atmosphere and the increased exposure to ultraviolet light caused by this reduction. This is also an allarming effect, but is still not a toxic effect in the strict sense.

Real poisons get less attention, even though the threat from these are as serious as the threat from CO2, or perhaps more serious. Here are a survey of the worst threatening poisons in the biosphere producerd by human activity.

Mercury

Mercury is produced by a lot industrial sectors, it is used in the production process of many goods, and leak into the soil, the lakes, the rivers and the oceans. The gretest source of mercury pollution is however the burning of coal and garbage. Mercury is comming into the environment by these processes:

• Coal burning in electric power plants.

• Production of chlorine, steal and gold.

• Melting of metals.

• By the production and repair of meteorological instruments and other measure instruments.

• By burning of garbage.

• Medical applications, for example production and use of vaxines.

• By dentistry works.

• By production of cosmetic products.

• By laboratory works of various kinds.

Mercury compounds are taken up by plants and smaller organisms and is accumulated up in the nutritional chain, so that fish and other food sources from many areas contain allarming concentrations of mercury.

The Asian industry is the worst producer of this poison and many Asian territories are worst polluted by mercury. The European industries has managed to control the mercury outlet to a great extend, but the increase of mercury outlet from Asian industries is greater than the reduction in Europe.

Mercury is a metal that is liquid by room temperatur. The metal itself and unsolvable compounds of mercury are not poisonous, but all dissolvable or gasseous compounds of the element are very potent poisons, for example mercury cloride, mercury-methyl and mercury -oxide.

Metallic mercury let into the nature also easily undergo chemical reactions producing poisonous compounds.

Mercury poison can come from the environment or from mercury let out from amalgam fillings in the teeth.

Poison by mercury compounds give very complex and variable effects.

Many people experience nervous disturbances, and these can further effect psychological symptoms, disturbance of the senses and disturbance in the controle of any body process.

Many persons get problems with the immunes system, for example allergic reactions and auto-immune reactions.

Many experience rheumatic problems, especially problems in the connective tissues. Such problems are often connected with the problems in the immunes system that causes auto-immune attacks on connective tissue structures.

Mercury poison can also cause disturbances in the heart and circulatory system.

Polychlorinated Dioxins /PCDDs

The basic structure of PCDDs, commonly called just dioxins, is two benzene rings joined by two oxygen atoms, and at any place in the benzene rings, there can be a chlorine atom.

Dioxins are produced during incomplete burning of organic material in the precense of chlorine. The amount produced is very small, but the strength of these poisons stll make their presence to a big health problems. Dioxins are among very strongest toxins known. An amount so small that is nearly undetectable without advanced measurements can kill a person (50 millonth of a gram/micrograms).

Diocines accumulate in the Zioxines are very stable compunds that accumulate in the food chain. They dissolve into the fatty tissues of humans and animals, and because of their stability they are very difficult to remove again.

Dioxines have a very varied effect upon the health. They do not only produce functional disturbances, but destroys tissues, especially the tissues of the skin, livar stomach and the nerval system. Skin destruction or skin problems is often a very visible sign of dioxine poisoning.

Dioxines are potent inducers of cancer. They have a strong tendency to alter the genetic code and thereby cause congenital disorders.

The dioxine molecule (Picture from wikipedia.org that is free to copy)

Polychlorated and polybromated cyclic hydrocarbons

This is a various group of substances. The molecules contain rings of carbon atoms linked together, hydrogen and many halogen atoms, mostly chlorine and bromine. These compounds are very stable. Therefore they are used in a variety of technical applications, for example as isolating fluids in electric components or as flame stoppers in buildings, furniture or clothes. When products containing these compounds are thrown away as garbage or burned, thes substances are not broken down, but released into the environment. They accunulate in plants and animal fatty, and in highest concentration in fatty tissue of higher animals.

Polychlorated biphenyls are the best known of these compounds. The moøecules of these substances contain two benzene rings linked together, two hydoxyl groups and a variety of chlorine atoms attatched at the benzene rings.

Polychlorinated bipheny (PCB)l is an example of these compounds. Its molecules  consist of two benzene rings linked together, two hydroxyle groups and chlorine atoms attaches to the rings. The compound is an isolating and very stable liquid and it was formerly used very much in electotrchnical components both for isolation and as a cooling fluid.

After its toxic propertiesd was discovered and it was discovered that it accumulted in nature and in the food chain, th euse of it has been discontinued in most places, but still it is found in a great amount in the nature and in soil.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (Picture from wikipedia.org that is free to copy)

Polybromated flame indererers are another group of halogenated cyclic hydrocarbonms. They are extensively used in building materials, clothes and furniture to hinder fire, and are as such useful. When these materials are disposed or burned, the compunds are not easily destroyd. They are let into the environment instead, and cause negative health effect as well as distrubances in the nature.

Halogenated cyclic hydrocarbons have a tendency to create skin diseases, for example a special type of acne, and cause liver damage. They also have a tendency to cause reproductive problems, for example law fertility and feminization in men. They also tend to cause cancer, especially liver cancer.

Disclaimer: The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

i