Irondale Environmental Hazards

orWho puts an iron smelting plant on the

beach??

Irondale Environmental Hazards

orWho puts an iron smelting plant on the

beach??Anita BhansaliMarch 7, 2007

Anita BhansaliMarch 7, 2007

Contaminants Associated with

Smelting Industries

Contaminants Associated with

Smelting Industries• Lead

• Arsenic

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

• Lead

• Arsenic

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

• Earth’s crust - soil (natural or man-made), leafy green vegetables

• Plumbing* - can contaminate water water• Paint - paint chips, dust• Gasoline* - major source of lead air pollution is larger cities • Batteries - hazardous waste sites• Cigarettes - one of many dangerous ingredients• Occupation* - insecticides, mining, smelting

Elemental and inorganic lead can be ingested and inhaled. Organic lead (*) is the most toxic form and can also be dermally absorbed.

• Earth’s crust - soil (natural or man-made), leafy green vegetables

• Plumbing* - can contaminate water water• Paint - paint chips, dust• Gasoline* - major source of lead air pollution is larger cities • Batteries - hazardous waste sites• Cigarettes - one of many dangerous ingredients• Occupation* - insecticides, mining, smelting

Elemental and inorganic lead can be ingested and inhaled. Organic lead (*) is the most toxic form and can also be dermally absorbed.

Sources of LeadSources of Lead

• Lead is chemically similar to calcium• Cell membranes, enzymes, IC messengers• Mitochondria - interferes with ox phos• ATPase pumps - cellular gradients• Inclusion bodies - gene expression

• Nervous system• Particularly sensitive to dysfunction in energy

metabolism• Capillary damage in brain - edema• Damages support cells and myelin• Interacts with Ca to affect nerve impulse transmission

• Lead is chemically similar to calcium• Cell membranes, enzymes, IC messengers• Mitochondria - interferes with ox phos• ATPase pumps - cellular gradients• Inclusion bodies - gene expression

• Nervous system• Particularly sensitive to dysfunction in energy

metabolism• Capillary damage in brain - edema• Damages support cells and myelin• Interacts with Ca to affect nerve impulse transmission

“Lead makes the mind give way” -

Dioscorides

“Lead makes the mind give way” -

Dioscorides

Health Effects of Lead“Plumbism”

Health Effects of Lead“Plumbism”

• Adults• Abortifacient, fetotoxic,

teratogenic• Reproductive problems• High blood pressure• Digestive problems• Nerve disorders• Memory and

concentration problems• Muscle and joint pain• Classified as a probable

carcinogen

• Adults• Abortifacient, fetotoxic,

teratogenic• Reproductive problems• High blood pressure• Digestive problems• Nerve disorders• Memory and

concentration problems• Muscle and joint pain• Classified as a probable

carcinogen

• Children• Damage to brain and nervous

system• Behavior and learning

problems - hyperactivity• Slowed growth• Hearing problems• Headaches• Convulsions

• Severe acute poisoning• Renal failure• Convulsions, coma• Anemia

• Children• Damage to brain and nervous

system• Behavior and learning

problems - hyperactivity• Slowed growth• Hearing problems• Headaches• Convulsions

• Severe acute poisoning• Renal failure• Convulsions, coma• Anemia

Populations Most Affected

Populations Most Affected

• People living near hazardous waste sites• Mechanics, plumbers, miners, refinery workers, smelters• Smokers or those around them (second-hand)• Hobbies - stained glass, pottery, furniture re-finishing• Folk remedies - azarcon• Pregnant women and developing fetuses• Young children - tend to put things in mouth, and absorb more

GI lead

• People living near hazardous waste sites• Mechanics, plumbers, miners, refinery workers, smelters• Smokers or those around them (second-hand)• Hobbies - stained glass, pottery, furniture re-finishing• Folk remedies - azarcon• Pregnant women and developing fetuses• Young children - tend to put things in mouth, and absorb more

GI lead

TreatmentsTreatments

• As always, the best treatment is prevention.• The next best thing is to get away from the

exposure.• Elemental and inorganic lead can be chelated.• Organic lead must be converted to inorganic

lead and then chelated. Supportive treatment in the interim.

• Careful of zinc loss with chelation therapy.

• As always, the best treatment is prevention.• The next best thing is to get away from the

exposure.• Elemental and inorganic lead can be chelated.• Organic lead must be converted to inorganic

lead and then chelated. Supportive treatment in the interim.

• Careful of zinc loss with chelation therapy.

• Earth’s crust - soil• Wood preservatives, ceramic enamels• Paint - paint chips, dust• Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides • Fossil fuel burning• Diet - fish, seafood; organic• Cigarettes - one of many dangerous ingredients• Occupation - pesticides, coal power, smelting, glass, fireworks,

microelectronics• Arsine gas - short-lived, extremely toxic; colorless, garlicky odor

Toxicity of inorganic arsenic depends on valence state, with trivalent (+3) Ar being the most toxic. Organic arsenic is essentially non-toxic.

• Earth’s crust - soil• Wood preservatives, ceramic enamels• Paint - paint chips, dust• Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides • Fossil fuel burning• Diet - fish, seafood; organic• Cigarettes - one of many dangerous ingredients• Occupation - pesticides, coal power, smelting, glass, fireworks,

microelectronics• Arsine gas - short-lived, extremely toxic; colorless, garlicky odor

Toxicity of inorganic arsenic depends on valence state, with trivalent (+3) Ar being the most toxic. Organic arsenic is essentially non-toxic.

Sources of ArsenicSources of Arsenic

• Inorganic Arsenic• Capillary injury - vasodilation, exudation, shock• Fluid and electrolyte imbalances

• Trivalent Arsenic• Sulfhyrdryl groups - PDH, Kreb’s cycle, ox phos

• Pentavalent Arsenic• Compete with phosphate, ATP breakdown

• Arsine• Binds preferentially to hemoglobin, RBC lysis and

contamination spread

• Inorganic Arsenic• Capillary injury - vasodilation, exudation, shock• Fluid and electrolyte imbalances

• Trivalent Arsenic• Sulfhyrdryl groups - PDH, Kreb’s cycle, ox phos

• Pentavalent Arsenic• Compete with phosphate, ATP breakdown

• Arsine• Binds preferentially to hemoglobin, RBC lysis and

contamination spread

ToxicologyToxicology

Health Effects of Arsenic

Health Effects of Arsenic

• Inorganic Arsenic• GI - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,

abdominal pain; hemorrhagic gastroenteritis

• Irritation of skin/mucus membranes

• Anemia, vascular lesions• CNS - headaches, weakness,

delirium; low IQ in children• Peripheral neuropathy• Liver & kidney damage• Abortifacient, fetotoxic,

teratogenic• Cancer - lung, skin, bladder, liver

• Inorganic Arsenic• GI - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,

abdominal pain; hemorrhagic gastroenteritis

• Irritation of skin/mucus membranes

• Anemia, vascular lesions• CNS - headaches, weakness,

delirium; low IQ in children• Peripheral neuropathy• Liver & kidney damage• Abortifacient, fetotoxic,

teratogenic• Cancer - lung, skin, bladder, liver

• Arsine• Headaches • Vomiting, abdominal pains • Hemolytic anemia• Liver/kidney -

hemoglobinuria, jaundice, acute tubular necrosis, kidney failure

• Death• Spontaneous abortions

• Arsine• Headaches • Vomiting, abdominal pains • Hemolytic anemia• Liver/kidney -

hemoglobinuria, jaundice, acute tubular necrosis, kidney failure

• Death• Spontaneous abortions

Examples of Arsine Exposure

All it takes is arsenic and hydrogen…

Examples of Arsine Exposure

All it takes is arsenic and hydrogen…

• A worker was poisoned while pouring freshly diluted commercial hydrochloric acid through the pipes of a water jacket. The manufacturer had added sodium arsenite and aniline hydrochloride to the acid to act as inhibitors to the corrosive action of the acid. Subsequently the mixture of water and sodium arsenite under these conditions led to the generation of arsine.

• Eight children and one adult were poisoned on a farm while cleaning a dipping vat. Two years before, arsenic had been used in the vat as an insecticide. Later, with another insecticide, superphosphate was added to create an acid medium, thereby leading to arsine production.

• A worker was poisoned while pouring freshly diluted commercial hydrochloric acid through the pipes of a water jacket. The manufacturer had added sodium arsenite and aniline hydrochloride to the acid to act as inhibitors to the corrosive action of the acid. Subsequently the mixture of water and sodium arsenite under these conditions led to the generation of arsine.

• Eight children and one adult were poisoned on a farm while cleaning a dipping vat. Two years before, arsenic had been used in the vat as an insecticide. Later, with another insecticide, superphosphate was added to create an acid medium, thereby leading to arsine production.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/79142_32.html

TreatmentsTreatments

• Prevent/avoid exposure• Chelation is beneficial within hours of arsenic exposure

• Dimercaprol, D-penacillamine, DMSA• Can attempt GI decontamination - questionable effect

• For arsine exposure, use blood transfusions, exchange transfusions• Chelation has no benefit

• Dialysis

• Prevent/avoid exposure• Chelation is beneficial within hours of arsenic exposure

• Dimercaprol, D-penacillamine, DMSA• Can attempt GI decontamination - questionable effect

• For arsine exposure, use blood transfusions, exchange transfusions• Chelation has no benefit

• Dialysis

• Incomplete combustion of coal, oil, gas, garbage• Tobacco• Ground water• Charbroiled meat (collects in animal fat), contaminated

food - burnt toast…• Tar, crude oil, creosote, soot• Medicines• Dyes, plastics, pesticides• Hazardous waste sites• Occupation - coking, coal-tar, asphalt production,

smokehouses, municipal trash sites

• Incomplete combustion of coal, oil, gas, garbage• Tobacco• Ground water• Charbroiled meat (collects in animal fat), contaminated

food - burnt toast…• Tar, crude oil, creosote, soot• Medicines• Dyes, plastics, pesticides• Hazardous waste sites• Occupation - coking, coal-tar, asphalt production,

smokehouses, municipal trash sites

Sources of PAHsSources of PAHs

• PAHs are a collection of cyclic-substituted benzenes• Nonpolar, lipid-soluble• Absorbed via skin, lungs, GI• Collect in high-lipid content organs• Induce P450 enzymes

• generate toxic metabolites• benzo(a)pyrene --> electrophilic epoxide --> DNA adducts

• Reduced serum Ig - potential biomarker• RBC damage

• Most data from benza(a)pyrene and naphthalene

• PAHs are a collection of cyclic-substituted benzenes• Nonpolar, lipid-soluble• Absorbed via skin, lungs, GI• Collect in high-lipid content organs• Induce P450 enzymes

• generate toxic metabolites• benzo(a)pyrene --> electrophilic epoxide --> DNA adducts

• Reduced serum Ig - potential biomarker• RBC damage

• Most data from benza(a)pyrene and naphthalene

Toxicology of PAHsToxicology of PAHs

Polycyclic Aromatic

Hydrocarbon Compounds

A few examples

Polycyclic Aromatic

Hydrocarbon Compounds

A few examples

Health Effects of PAHs

Health Effects of PAHs

• Headache, confusion, nausea, perspiration; optic neuritis (high doses)• Reduced lung function, abnormal chest X-ray, cough, bloody vomit,

throat and chest irritation• May be potentiated by other airborne particulate matter

• Liver, kidney, liver, spleen particularly vulnerable• Irritation of eyes, nose, throat, bronchial tubes, skin; hypersensitivity• Suppressed immune system• Anemia, hematuria• Potential pregnancy and developmental complications• Bioaccumulation in aquatic life• Metabolic and endocrine disruptions• Cancer - skin, lung, bladder, local cancers upon injection

• Headache, confusion, nausea, perspiration; optic neuritis (high doses)• Reduced lung function, abnormal chest X-ray, cough, bloody vomit,

throat and chest irritation• May be potentiated by other airborne particulate matter

• Liver, kidney, liver, spleen particularly vulnerable• Irritation of eyes, nose, throat, bronchial tubes, skin; hypersensitivity• Suppressed immune system• Anemia, hematuria• Potential pregnancy and developmental complications• Bioaccumulation in aquatic life• Metabolic and endocrine disruptions• Cancer - skin, lung, bladder, local cancers upon injection

Populations Most Affected

Populations Most Affected

• Genetic predisposition• Metabolic enzyme induction• Deficiencies in DNA repair

• Immunodeficiency• Smoking, sun exposure• Liver and skin diseases• Nutritional deficiencies - associated with low-

income• Rapid fat loss and PAH mobilization• Chimney sweeps that don’t bathe…

• Genetic predisposition• Metabolic enzyme induction• Deficiencies in DNA repair

• Immunodeficiency• Smoking, sun exposure• Liver and skin diseases• Nutritional deficiencies - associated with low-

income• Rapid fat loss and PAH mobilization• Chimney sweeps that don’t bathe…

TreatmentsTreatments

• Prevent / avoid exposure• Antioxidants can exert protective effects against PAHs

• Vitamin A, C, E; flavenoids; selenium, phenolic compounds

• Avoid consuming too much charbroiled meat• Wash contaminated clothing, skin after exposure

• Prevent / avoid exposure• Antioxidants can exert protective effects against PAHs

• Vitamin A, C, E; flavenoids; selenium, phenolic compounds

• Avoid consuming too much charbroiled meat• Wash contaminated clothing, skin after exposure

ReferencesReferences

• www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group29/index.htm

• http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic42.htm• www.epa.gov• www.atsdr.gov• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html• www.npi.gov.au• Williams, James, Roberts. Principles of Toxicology. 2nd edition.• Robbins and Cotran. Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th edition.

• www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group29/index.htm

• http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic42.htm• www.epa.gov• www.atsdr.gov• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html• www.npi.gov.au• Williams, James, Roberts. Principles of Toxicology. 2nd edition.• Robbins and Cotran. Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th edition.

Special thanks to Mike McNickle and Tom Locke