Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Conclusions
Human exposure to the array of pollutants that commonly exists in the environment,
and the health affects normally recorded as a result of this exposure are tip of the
iceberg. The visible clinical manifestations of exposure constitutes only a small
fraction of what may exist as latent damage or disease vulnerability, whereas the
major portion is submerged in the unknown dimensions of effects that have not been
investigated, and hence, are not yet known (Fig.
1
). It is this submerged portion that
relates to future risks that derive from manifold environmental exposures that pre-
dispose to disease susceptibility or clinical vulnerability. The future epidemiologi-
cal challenge is to better identify, quantify, and evaluate the magnitude of this risk
to subjects, who become clinically vulnerable after such exposures.
Multiple Chemical
Exposures
- Pesticides
- PCBs, PAHs, dioxins
- Air pollutants
- Heavy metals
- BPA,
- Organic solvents
Host (Human)
Features
- Age
- Sex
- Habitation
- Existing disease
Complex biological
processes
• Inflammation
• Tissue regeneration
• Immunomodulation
• Apoptosis
• Hyperproliferation
• Dysplasia
Environmental
- Physical agents
- Chemical agents
- Biological agents
- Social factors
Cancer
Diabetes, obesity
Infertility
Respiratory diseases
Allergies, immune response
Neurodegenerative disorders
Stress response
Disease
(Measurable (x))
Acquired
Susceptibility
(Measurable (y) but
generally not measured in
epidemiological studies)
Fig. 1
A diagram of the potential impact of E-waste exposure on humans as it relates to acquired
susceptibility. Epidemiologically, a, b, c are input variables and
x
,
y
are output variables. The exact
mathematical relationship of a, b, c and
x
,
y
needs to be further explored and quantiied.
Abbreviations:
PCB
polychlorinated biphenyl,
PAH
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
B PA
Bisphenol A
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