Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and condense at cooler temperatures, reaching their highest concentrations in the
cooler regions of the world (northern latitudes and high altitudes).
iv. POPs are toxic compounds, causing adverse health effects, such as birth defects
and damage to the immune and respiratory systems and critical organs. Hormone
system dysfunction associated with POPs includes damage to the reproductive
system, sex-linked disorders, and shortened lactation periods for nursing moth-
ers. Also, endocrine disruption can have developmental and carcinogenic effects.
Moreover, exposure to POPs can result in death in humans (including aborted
fetuses) and wildlife. Exposure of the fetus to minute concentrations of some POPs
can result in neurophysiological effects, such as attention deficits, learning dis-
orders, behavioral problems (e.g., increased aggression), and poor gross and fine
motor coordination.
15.8.3 Environmental Factors
It is known that the environmental conditions (e.g., wind, temperature, and location) have
profound effects on the persistence and toxicity of pesticides. Nowadays, climatic change
has arisen as a subject of major concern to ecologists and toxicologists. There is extensive
peer-reviewed literature on the environmental impacts of climate change, particularly
ecological impacts; however, there have been few studies investigating the relationships
between pesticides and climate change. Based on the source-pathway-receptor analysis,
Bloomfield et al. (2006) estimated that the main climate drivers for changing pesticide fate
and behavior are changing rainfall patterns (changes in seasonality and intensity) and
increased temperatures. The increase in global temperature will lead to greater volatiliza-
tion and, consequently, to higher concentrations of chlorinated POPs in the atmosphere
and in aquatic systems and ultimately in the human body (Grimalt et al. 2010). The overall
effect of climate change on pesticide fate and transport is likely to be very variable and dif-
ficult to predict because of the uncertainties associated with the climate predictions. Some
important source, pathway and receptor responses to climate change have been identified,
but many of these responses have conflicting implications for pesticide fate and transport
and the system needs to be assessed in a holistic manner if a full picture of the pesticide
fate is to be obtained. In the long term, land-use change driven by changes in climate may
have a more significant effect on the pesticides in the environment than the direct impacts
of climate change on specific pesticide fate and transport processes (Grimalt et al. 2010).
15.9 Minimizing and Removing Pesticide Residues
Taking into consideration the large number of workers involved in pesticide application,
especially in developing countries, and their attitudes and behaviors on dealing with
these chemicals, solutions to the problem of health risks among those workers must be
addressed. The farm workers are often careless about wearing protective clothes or masks,
and thus they are acutely exposed to the pesticides applied. Illiteracy among the workers
also causes overdosing of the sprayed pesticides and harvesting their crops before suitable
waiting periods. Under such conditions, one could expect health hazards to the workers
and consumers of their crops. This matter highlights the role of agricultural extension ser-
vices to guide and educate the farm workers sector, and develop a system of “Spray-man
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