Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The authorization procedure aims to impose a reinforced control on the use of
chemical substances that cause the most concern. CMR agents are clearly such sub-
stances and require authorization before being placed on the EU market. Authorization
can be expected to be granted for CMR agents for which the risk is considered to be
controlled; that is, if the exposure is below a threshold at which the substance has
no negative effect on human health and the environment. For CMR agents in respect
of which, although a safe threshold can be determined, the risk is not managed or
over which adequate control is not possible, authorization is likely to be granted only
if no safer alternative exists and if the socio-economic benefits of the substance use
outweigh the risks.
9 POLLUTANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN
Emerging pollutants or more precisely contaminants with emerging concern are haz-
ardous chemical substances that have been recently (in the last 10-15 years) discovered
in the environment such as endocrine or immune disruptors, sensitizers and allergen
compounds. Emerging contaminants are chemicals or materials of interest that are
characterized by:
-
Perceived or real threat to human health or the environment;
-
Lack of a clear dose-response relation;
-
High dose experiments do not predict low dose effects;
-
Lack of threshold values;
-
Significant individual differences in sensitivity and the realization of effects;
-
Their effects depend on age, life stage, season and other environmental conditions;
-
Lack of published health standards or an evolving standard;
-
Non-measurable effects by traditional test methods.
Contaminants may also be “emerging'' because of the discovery of a new source,
a new pathway to humans or a new detection method or technology. The main types
of emerging pollutants according to their adverse effects are listed here. Most of them
can be traced back to endocrine disruption:
-
Endocrine disruptors (EDs);
-
Immune system disruptors;
-
Sensitizers;
-
Allergens;
-
Neurotoxic agents.
The study of EDs is closely associated with the name of Colborn, an environmental
health analyst, known for her studies on the health effects of endocrine disrupting
chemicals in the early 90's. Her topic: “ Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our
Fertility, Intelligence, and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story '' (Colborn et al., 1996),
is written in a popular style, but is based on solid scientific evidence and calls the note
on the problems of endocrine disruption.
EDs are naturally occurring or man-made substances that may mimic or interfere
with natural hormones in the body. EDs may turn on, shut off, or modify signals that
Search WWH ::




Custom Search