1,1-dichloroethane is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the Halogenated Organic Compound (HOC)s that needed to be regulated by the government under the category of C “Possible Human Carcinogen”. HOCs are defined by EPA as any compounds having a carbon-halogen bond (“40 CFR Part 268, Appendix III to Part 268 - List of Halogenated Organic Compounds Regulated Under § 268.32,” n.d.) It is flammable oily liquid, without color, but has a very delicate odor that resembles chloroform. Apart from being an intermediate product of other industrial chemicals and/or being used in the production processes of plastic wrap, adhesives and synthetic fiber, we may come across it in the form of common household products such as degreaser, …show more content…
While detectable amount of 1,1-dichloroethane is reported in both public and private water supplies in the U.S., however, its relatively low concentration in the water appears to raise less concerns compared to the exposure route through air (inhalation). This may be especially the case for urban, industrial waste hazard areas, where higher concentration level of 1,1-dichloroethane were reported (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1989).One may want to avoid being in contact with highly concentrated 1,1-dichloroethane either through direct exposure to body parts, such as skin, mouth and eyes, or through inhalation, in order to prevent damage to the Central Nervous System and/or other important body organs such as lung, liver and kidneys. Much does not seem to have been investigated, however, as to the exact extent of the toxicity of 1,1-dichloroethane, compared to a more toxic form of the HOC, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Most of the scientific evidence comes from animal research, and reported at best to be “inconclusive”, or weak in terms of carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity as well as acute exposure effects. More vigorous research may be needed to determine its reversibility as well as extent of “likely” toxicity to human health. One interesting type of research relevant to 1,1-dichloroethane is
The goal of this two week lab was to examine the stereochemistry of the oxidation-reduction interconversion of 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone. The purpose of first week was to explore the oxidation of an alcohol to a ketone and see how the reduction of the ketone will affect the stereoselectivity. The purpose of first week is to oxidize the alcohol, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol, to ketone just so that it can be reduced back into the alcohol to see how OH will react. The purpose of second week was to reduce 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol from first week and determine the effect of the product's diastereoselectivity by performing reduction procedures using sodium borohydride The chemicals for this lab are sodium hypochlorite, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone
These applications include pesticide, herbicide, defoliating agent such as Agent Orange, cleaning agent and electrical insulation. Consequently, human exposure to dioxin is not a recent phenomenon and the dangers of dioxin are not unknown. Only in recent years, especially after the Vietnam War, has the media concentrated on the dangers and impact of dioxin. The physical effect of exposure to dioxin was first seen in skin diseases developed by chemical plant workers in 1895. Exposure to dioxin results in a type of skin disease like acne called "chloroacne," since its cause was initially and incorrectly linked to chlorine gas.
"Chemical Warfare Agents - Resources on the health effects from chemical weapons, emergency response & treatment, counterterrorism, and emergency preparedness.au.af." Specialized Information Services - Reliable information on toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, HIV/AIDS, and minority health. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.
Schecter, Arnold, et al. "Recent Dioxin Contamination From Agent Orange in Residents of a Southern Vietnam City." FFRD. N.p., May 2011. . Rpt. in JOEM. Vol. 43. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. 5. FFRD. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.
Two case-control 4,5, two nested case-control2,6 and two cohort1,7 studies reported estimates for the association between Tetrachloroethylene (TCE) exposure and primary liver cancer. A non-significant association was found between occupational solvent exposure and primary liver cancer among one case-control study, while the other observed a significant association. Hemberg et al. found the odds ratio (OR) for heavy/moderate exposure compared with little/no exposure was 2.3 (95% CI: 0.8, 7.0). The association was confined to women (exact Fisher’s chi-square p=0.007) with the men having a non-significant odds ratio of 0.5. Stemhagen et al. found that among men, the OR for working laundry or dry cleaning compared to not working in that occupation was 2.50 (95% CI: 1.02,...
The reason that this dioxin is so dangerous is that the “dioxin is persistent organic pollutant that is toxic over many decades, is not water-soluble and does not degrade easily. Clinging to soil particles carried by water runoff from spills or sprayed areas downstream into the sediments of lakes or streams; it is consumed by mollusks, fish and waterfowl, easily entering the human food chain.” It is chemically stable and is retained in the human fatty tissue. If it is detected early it can be treated by surgery or medication but usually if it is found to late then it can’t be treated (make agent orange
EPA. (2009, December 29). Retrieved January 15, 2011, from Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health: http://www.epa.gov/teach/
According to a policy statement published on the AMA's website, studies have shown that lifelong exposure to pavements treated with coal-tar sealants increases the risk of cancer 38 times. Even if humans limit their exposure, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, contained in these sealants find their way into the air, soil and water, endangering aquatic wildlife as well as humans. The AMA is urging legislators to ban sealants that contain PAHs or at least require that sealants contain minimal PAH
In a small reaction tube, the tetraphenylcyclopentadienone (0.110 g, 0.28 mmol) was added into the dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate (0.1 mL) and nitrobenzene (1 mL) along with a boiling stick. The color of the mixed solution was purple. The solution was then heated to reflux until it turned into a tan color. After the color change has occurred, ethanol (3 mL) was stirred into the small reaction tube. After that, the small reaction tube was placed in an ice bath until the solid was formed at the bottom of the tube. Then, the solution with the precipitate was filtered through vacuum filtration and washed with ethanol. The precipitate then was dried and weighed. The final product was dimethyl tertraphenylpthalate (0.086 g, 0.172mmol, 61.42%).
Evidence provided to support these claims of human and wildlife harm is largely from laboratory studies in which large doses are fed to test animals, usually rats or mice, and field studies of wildlife species that have been exposed to the chemicals mentioned above. In laboratory studies, high doses are required to give weak hormone activity. These doses are not likely to be encountered in the environment. However the process of bioaccumulation can result in top-level predators such as humans to have contaminants at levels many million times greater than the environmental background levels (Guilette 1994). In field studies, toxicity caused by endocrine disruption has been associated with the presence of certain pollutants. Findings from such studies include: reproductive disruption in starfish due to PCBs, bird eggshell thinning due to DDT, reproductive failure in mink, small penises in alligators due to DDT and dicofol (Guillette 1994, Colburn et al 1996). In addition, a variety of reproductive problems in many other species are claimed to be associated with environmental contamination although the specific causative agents have not been determined. One recent discovery that complicates the situation is that there are many naturally occurring "phytoestrogens", or chemicals of plant origin that exhibit weak estrogenic properties.
The dioxin exposure from agent orange wreaked havoc on the health of our veterans that fought in Vietnam. The Aspen institute reports (as cited by The U.S. Institute of Medicine’s report, 2009) there is “sufficient evidence of association between exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin and five illnesses: soft-tissue sarcoma, non Hodgkin 's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (including hairy-cell leukemia), Hodgkin’s disease, and chloracne.” (pg.1) I was flabbergasted that something this volatile would be allowed in something babies would wear almost every moment of their lives until they were potty trained. Unbelievably, dioxin is not the only thing used to make disposables diapers with a well documented history of negative impacts on human
Benzyl bromide, an unknown nucleophile and sodium hydroxide was synthesized to form a benzyl ether product. This product was purified and analyzed to find the unknown in the compound.
In a widely reported study of smallmouth bass from the Potomac River, male fish were found to have female ovarian tissue within their testes. In another study, fish exposed to wastewater from a metropolitan area sewage treatment plant exhibited endocrine disruption, i.e. male fish produced female egg-yolk proteins (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products). To date, no studies directly link trace chemicals found in water with human health problems but there are countless reasons for concern. Could exposure to these minute amounts of drugs in our water cause drug resistance? Could one unknowingly ingest a drug to which they are allergic to simply by drinking water? And how do these trace amounts of drugs, which may not be harmful to humans, affect a
Sebastian Shaper Hairspray Styling Mist for Hold and Control is bad for many reasons. To begin with the people who use the hairspray are slowly harming their body because the hairspray contains many harmful chemicals like alcohol, carcinogens, propellants, propane, and artificial fragrance. These substances can cause irritation of the skin, lungs and eyes, low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, and coma. It is currently unknown whether ingredients in hairspray are safe for humans to use, but many of the ingredients in this hairspray are unstable compounds and have potential to be harmful. For example before the 1970’s hairsprays contained the propellant vinyl chloride (VC), it took more than a decade to ban this ingredient even though it was known to be harmful for humans. According to the National Institute of Health, “As angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) is a sentinel cancer from exposure to VC, identification of thes...
Some examples of harmful toxins with difficult names include diethanolamine (DEA), formaldehyde, glucocorticoids, and triethanolamine (TEA). We are exposed to toxic chemicals in many ways. We may breathe them in as sprays and powders, swallow chemicals on our lips and, even rub them on our skin. According to a team of researchers who conducted a study on the relationship between exposure to phthalates and DNA damage on human sperm, “cosmetics frequently contain enhancers that allow ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. Studies have found health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including increased risk of sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system and low birth weight in girls” (Duty et al. 1164). There should be regulations banning toxic chemicals from personal care and beauty products because toxins are bad for our health (1), the consumer faith in cosmetic companies are suffering (2), and other countries recognized the effects and banned it while America has not