1. INTRODUCTION
Benzene (also known as benzol) is a colourless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet odour. It evaporates into the air very quickly and partly dissolves in water. Most people can begin to smell benzene in air at approximately 60 ppm of air and recognize it as benzene at 100 ppm. It was first discovered and extracted from coal tar in the 1980s and subsequently from petroleum due to vast increase in its demand. Since then, various industries use benzene to make other chemicals, such as styrene, cumene and cyclohexane. Benzene is also an important ingredient for the manufacturing of some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticide. Hence, individuals employed in these industries may be exposed to benzene in air far greater than the levels normally encountered by the general population. [1]
Concerns on potential health effects resulting from benzene exposure such as bone marrow depression leading to anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, as well as decreases in circulating blood cells have been reported. In addition, laboratory studies on humans and animals indicated that benzene exerts its effect by damaging the genetic material of cells. Hence, benzene is being classified as confirmed human carcinogen. [2]
In Singapore, every employer has the responsibility to take reasonably practicable steps in ensuring no one at work is exposed to benzene above the permissible exposure level (PEL) specified in regulations. The prescribed permissible exposure limit (long term) for benzene is 1 ppm over an 8-hour working day and a 40-hour workweek. [3] These exposure standards are usually set based on risk evaluation using data obtained from human and/or animal health effects studies. [4]
Thus, this...
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... [8] Animal and human studies provide clear evidence of a causal relationship between occupational exposure to benzene that lead to aplastic anemia.
Lan et al. [7] reported that bone marrow toxicity was detected from a group of workers after several months of exposure to benzene in air level at or below 1 ppm. Hence, local PEL setting should be amended to TLV-TWA of 0.5 ppm recommended by ACGIH to minimise the potential of adverse health effects posed by occupational exposure.
Alternatively, the whole world should adopt a single internationally agreed system such as Globally Harmonised System (GHS) under the auspices of United Nations. GHS enables country to adopt a single and unilateral system, reduce duplicative testing and evaluation of chemical, facilitate trade in chemicals where hazards can be properly assessed and identified on an international basis. [15]
...crine disruptors, to alter fetal and childhood development.” According to the OCA, formal studies have never been performed to check if residues from these hormones have any consequences in depleting human population. It can be inferred that the fetus could be susceptible to the sex steroids causing post-natal hindrances that become visible later in the humans life. These problematic health issues may present themselves at any time in the span of a humans life. One instance of a noticeable problem is females that encounter puberty prematurely are at a higher risk to develop breast cancer later in life. Men can undergo tribulations just as well as women in that they may be at risk to become fertile. Besides the negative effects on humans, some cattle become lame after receiving the drug. This factor caused Tyson foods to stop buying cattle that had been administered
The manner in which a teratogen impacts the developing human may vary, though nicotine, caffine and medication consumption are all directly related to physical development. These are examples of habitual teratogens, each contributing to low birth weight and behavioral problems in adolescents. The level of influence of any given teratogen depends on many factors; the first, called the “threshold effect,” occurs when a relatively harmless teratogen in small quantity becomes toxic at a spe...
... in inhabitants living close to smelters and arsenical chemical factories. Citizens who live near waste sites with arsenic may have an increased risk of lung cancer as well.
Each year about 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result breathing the sm...
Stalcup, A. (2013). Surviving toxic work environments. Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 405(4), 1145-1147. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Database (AN: 84944726)
Exposure to medications or drugs during pregnancy can result in abnormalities such as withdrawal symptom, respiratory problems, growth retardation, developmental retardation, congenital heart defects, caudal deficiency and CNS defects. Known prenatal birth defects resulting from environmental toxins such as Lead, mercury or PCB’s are miscarriage, CNS damage, spasticity, mental retardation, skin discoloration and low birth weight.
The use of inhalants is a growing problem among teenagers. Inhaling, also called “huffing,” can severely damage someone. Teenagers aren’t the only ones subject to its influence. Adult use is on the rise and younger kids are getting into it. These deadly substances are not something that you have to buy off the street. These are everyday products found in your home. The ease of accessibility is scary since things like paint, markers, and glue are used to get high.
...per cubic meter of air, they found. While people who smoke may also live in more polluted areas, the large group of the studies showed that even so, pollution can raise even a non-smoker’s risk of cancer.
...and MEA. These chemicals are said to be linked with breast cancer, skin rashes, estrogenic, hormone disruptor, linked to liver and kidney cancer, and irritates the eye.
Longtime mechanic Carlos Contreras says, "a million things can go wrong when working on a car." And a lot of them hurt like heck (Woolston, Chris. Car Mechanics. Healthday, n.d. Web.). Whether you’re in car restoration or own an auto shop, safety in the workshop is always the most important. Keeping yourself, your friends, your family, your customers and any other people safe amongst the dangers of motor vehicle repair is something you should always consider. Injuries occur on a daily basis in the workshop. Safety is the number one issue everyone should be concerned with, mechanic or not. One of the OSHA standards is regularly violated by shops and mechanics is the right to know the standard. This policy is depicts the use of potentially hazardous chemicals which is a very common occurrence in the automotive business. It simply requires that employees be notified of the possible dangers of any of the chemicals they are using. OSHA also insists that employees have a right to know how they might be affected by chemicals in the shop (Ray, Linda. Work. Chron, n.d. Web.). The right to know standard requires labeling all chemicals, and including lists with information, training for employees in use of the chemicals and a plan that outlines how the auto shop plans to follow the right procedures. Another subject would be the general protection of workers. Many auto shops also violate another OSHA regulation by not providing adequate safety equipment for the workers. Auto shops are required to have plans and safety equipment that can be dealt by the hazards that many employees are exposed to at work shop (Ray, Linda. Work. Chron, n.d. Web.). For example,...
Acute silicosis, which occurs where exposure concentrations are the highest and can cause symptoms to develop within a few weeks to 4 or 5 years after the initial exposure [Peters 1986; Ziskind et al. 1976]
High exposure to flame retardants has been correlated with multiple adverse effects on the human body, including disruption of hormones produced by the thyroid gland, hindering of the immune, reproductive, and nervous system, cancer, and dangerous effects on fetal and child development. (SD, 2017)
· contributes to the development of cancer of the bladder, pancreas, and kidney. · causes low birth weight in babies of women who use tobacco during pregnancy. · contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, at least 43 of which cause cancer in humans and animals. · contains nicotine, which causes a chemical addiction to cigarette smoking through its effect on the nervous system.
Factories and transportation depend on huge amounts of fuel--billions of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year. When these fuels burn they introduce smoke and other, less visible, by-products into the atmosphere.
Scientists and health officials have been arguing the detrimental effects smoking has on our health for many years. Smoking can lead to serious complications including asthma, pancreas, lung and stomach cancer due to the large number of carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) and other various substances added to it. It is a health hazard for both smokers and non-smokers and it is especially harmful to unborn babies. Although smokers claim that it helps them to relax and release stress, the negative aspects of the habit take over the positive. As it has been stressed by the scientists and experts, there are some very severe reasons of smoking but its crucial consequences should also be taken into consideration.