Definitions of the Toxic Substance Control Act - Assignment Example

TSCA Definitions: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs They are 209 congeners which are structurally similar organic compounds. This family of compounds ranges from oily liquids to waxy solids. Among them, 12 have dioxin-like structure and either be toxic or non-toxic. An example of this include 3,4,4,5- Tetrachlorobiphenyl. PCBs are synthetic and can be manufactured in a single form, in homogeneous form or as mixture. Some of their physical properties are: they have high boiling point they are non-flammable, stable and does not conduct electricity and heat. Due the properties above, they find use in electrical equipments e.g. transformers as coolants and lubricants, also used as hydraulic fluids, dyes and carbon-less copy paper ink. When PCBs are released into the atmosphere, they can be ingested through inhaling, eating contaminated food and also drinking contaminated water. This usually occurs because the substances (Polychlorinated biphenyls) stay suspended in the atmosphere and may take a lot time to be cleared off. A person can also be exposed to these chemicals through using or even being at close proximity to old equipments that makes use of PCBs e.g. transformers, fluorescent tubes capacitors and other appliances. Air containing above 42% of chlorine PCB or more than 1microgaram of air for a 10-hour workday, 40-hour workweek is not recommended to breath by NIOSH. Requirements by the EPA is that the companies producing this chemicals should store, transport and dispose of this chemicals following the rules and regulations of the Federal Hazardous Waste Management Program and also limits the amount PCBs used in waste water treatment. Hexavalent Chromium (Hex Chrome) Chromium have different oxidation states, one of them is +6 and thus the name hexavalent chromium. It is manufactured industrially. Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI) is are many side effects which include: causes cancer, it also affects the kidney, skin, liver, respiratory system and even eyes. It is estimated that about 558000 workers from different occupations in the United States of America are exposed to hexavalent chromium. Employees are expose to Cr(VI) by inhaling dust, mist or fumes containing this chemical, ingestion or even eye contact with fluids that have this chemical. Exposure to hexa chrome can be very harmful to the skin and the eyes. Direct contact with the skin can lead to susceptible response known as dermatitis. When an anaphylaxis has developed, even concise skin contact can bring about manifestations. Direct skin contact can also bring about an infection referred to as chrome ulcers which small wounds on the skin but with time they rapture and become, dry and become scars. It can also lead to throat and nose problems. Chlorofluorocarbons ( CFC’S). This refers to organic chemical compounds which are made of carbon, fluorine and chlorine. They are very volatile compounds which are derivatives of methane and ethane. Anybody can be exposed CFCs in many ways. These include use of cooling systems that contain CFCs, use of a pre2008 inhaler containing CFCs, use of auto ventilations that uses CFCs, more seasoned fridges containing CFCs e.t.c. Like for vehicles, good care should be taken to ensure that the CFCs present in them are store and transported well without being exposed to people. Those people working in offices and houses with air conditioning and aerations systems that uses CFCs should be prevented from doing so because in due time they are exposed to the chemicals little by little and at the end lead to problems. Chlorofluorocarbons are gases and therefore when emitted by different sources they end up into the atmosphere. The air we breathe every day contain these harmful gases which are suspended in the atmosphere and therefore cover the whole environment. CFCs in the atmosphere have very adverse effects of global warming as proved by the latest research done by the University of Waterloo published in the International Journal of Modern Physics. Dioxin: This is a common name for the chemical 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or TCDD. ‘Dioxins’ refer to chemical compounds with dioxin-like structures and they resemble in their chemical structures. The dioxins are made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and chlorine. Dioxins are everywhere in our environment and therefore everybody has at least some trace of dioxins in their bodies. One can be exposed to tiny quantities of dioxins through food materials e.g. fish and water. You can also be exposed to dioxins by use of pesticides and herbicides, cigarette smoking and even burning of trash. Infants can also be exposed to dioxins through breast milk, cow milk an infant formula. Fetus can also be exposed and this is through the placenta. Burning of old electrical equipments that contain PCBs and forests can also lead to exposure. Even those workers working at the pesticides, herbicides or chemical manufacturing industries are prone to exposure to dioxins. Also those people working in hazardous waste clean-up, emergency clean-up of PCB transformers, or firefighting are prone to this exposure. Taking of the effects of dioxins, TCDD dioxin is listed as a human carcinogen in the Thirteenth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program. This is because it causes lung cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Polymer: This refers to a compound with a very large molecular formula and made up of simple components of the same kind called monomers which are interconnected through linkages. Plastics are polymers while proteins are polymers which are in nature and are made of amino acids. Plastic is a common name for synthetic polymers which comes from a greek word ‘plasitos’ meaning shaping or molding. Natural biopolymers are called polypeptides which form proteins, this include silk, collagen and keratin. Synthetic polymers include fibers and plastics. However, it is important to replace the most hazardous substances in plastic products with less hazardous alternatives," says Delilah Lithner of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. Plastics exist in various compound structures and are far reaching in the general public and the earth. Worldwide yearly creation of plastics has multiplied in the course of recent years, to 245 million tons in 2008. Plastic polymers are not by themselves dangerous but they are mixed with other chemical compounds which when disposed to environment, they are released and have side effects to the environment. Lithner also studied the chemicals used to make about 50 plastic polymers and noted the polymer in which the most harmful chemical is used to manufacture. This are put there for their own good but becomes risky to the environment. Some of this polymers made with harmful chemicals include polyurethanes, polyacrylonitriles, PVC, epoxy and certain styrene copolymers. Bisphenols (BPA’S) Bisphenols are industrially manufactured chemicals used to tar and some plastics in 1960s. BPA can be found in epoxy guns and some polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonates are usually used as containers which are meant to carry refreshments and even water e.g. water and juice bottles. They can also be used as part of customer products. Polycarbonate plastics have found numerous applications in food and drinks industry e.g. water and baby jugs, smaller circles, sway safe security gear, and medicinal gadgets. Epoxy pitches are used as veneers to coat metal items, for example, food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. BPAs can also be used as dental sealants and composites. In the diary industry this plastics find much use e.g. the use of AVENT infant containers, CamelBak sippy glasses, and Lock & Lock sustenance stockpiling holders that filter estrogen-emulating chemicals. Maybe all the more critically, it additionally names a couple of choices that are without hormone. Somewhere around 2010 and 2013, researchers from CertiChem, a private lab in Austin, tried 50 reusable BPA plastic holders. Much of the time, they utilized a line of human bosom tumor cells that duplicates in the vicinity of estrogen, and in addition substances like BPA that copy the female hormone. The following were the findings: few of the items filtered out the hormone-producing even before being brought to conditions, for example, heat from a dishwasher or microwave, that are known to open possibly harmful chemicals inside plastic. Also, most compartments did as such under a few circumstances. After presentation to the kind of bright beams that are found in daylight (UVA) and used to sanitize child bottles (UVC), more than seventy five percent of the holders tried discharged engineered estrogens. The figure below shows the result before and after introducing the UV radiation: References Waterloo, University of. Waterloo News. 13 may 2013. 01 05 2015. Daniel M. Steinway, Kevin A. Ewing. Environmental Law Handbook. n.d. Town, Tox. Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play. 2015. 01 05 2015 . Read More