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Sources of Common Contaminants and Their Health Effects


Common Sources
Contaminants
Potential Health Effects
Household Items, such as Batteries, Thermometers, and Paints mercury Toxic to kidneys.

Can cause eye and skin irritation; chest pain; tremor; fatigue; weakness.

Car Radiators and De-icing Agents ethylene glycol Can cause abdominal pain; vomiting; weakness; dizziness; central nervous system depression.
Photocopy Machines chromium Toxic to kidneys; potential human carcinogen.
Dry Cleaning Agents and Degreasers trichloroethane and trichloroethylene Central nervous system depression: decreased alertness, headaches, sleepiness, loss of consciousness.

Kidney changes: decreased urine flow, swelling (especially around eyes), anemia.

Liver changes: fatigue, malaise, dark urine, liver enlargement.

Herbicides for Vegetation Control chlorophenoxy compounds; 2;4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid Chloracne, weakness or numbness of arms and legs, long-term nerve damage.
dioxin Dioxin causes chloracne and may aggravate pre-existing liver and kidney disease.
Pesticides chlorinated ethanes; DDT; lindane Acute symptoms of apprehension, irritability, dizziness, disturbed equilibrium, tremor, and convulsions.
Cyclodienes (aldrin; chlordane; dieldrin; endrin); chlorocyclohexanes Acute symptoms of apprehension, irritability, dizziness, disturbed equilibrium, tremor, and convulsions.

Liver toxicity and permanent kidney damage.

Chlorocyclohexanes can cause anemia.

Organophosphate: diazanon; dichlorovos; dimethoate; trichlorfon; malathion; methyl parathion; parathion

carbamate: aldicarb; baygon; zectran

All cause a chain of internal reactions leading to neuromuscular blockage.

Acute symptoms include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, increased salivation and crying, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, tightness in the chest, and muscle twitching

Electrical Transformers and Other Industrial Uses polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Various skin ailments, including chloracne.

May cause liver toxicity.

Carcinogenic to animals.

Commercial Solvents benzene; ethyl benzene; toluene; xylene Benzene suppresses bone marrow function, causing blood changes; chronic exposure can cause leukemia.

Central nervous system depression: decreased alertness, headaches, sleepiness, loss of consciousness.

Defatting dermatitis.

carbon tetrachloride; chloroform; ethyl bromide; ethyl chloride; ethylene dibromide; ethylene dichloride; methyl chloride; methyl chloroform; methylene chloride; tetrachloroethane; tetrachloroethylene; trichloroethylene; vinyl chloride Central nervous system depression: decreased alertness, headaches, sleepiness, loss of consciousness.

Kidney changes: decreased urine flow, swelling (especially around eyes), anemia.

Liver changes: fatigue, malaise, dark urine, liver enlargement, jaundice.

Various Commercial and Industrial Manufacturing Processes arsenic; beryllium; cadmium; chromium; lead; mercury All are toxic to kidneys. Decreased mental ability, weakness, headache, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and anemia. Also affects blood-forming mechanisms and the peripheral nervous system.

Long-term exposure to lead can cause permanent kidney and brain damage.

Cadmium can cause kidney and lung disease.

Chromium, beryllium, arsenic, and cadmium have been implicated as human carcinogens.

PCBs Various skin ailments, including chloracne; may cause liver toxicity; carcinogenic to animals.
Chemical Manufacturing benzene; ethyl benzene; toluene; xylene Benzene suppresses bone marrow function, causing blood changes; chronic exposure can cause leukemia.

Central nervous system depression: decreased alertness, headaches, sleepiness, loss of consciousness.

Defatting dermatitis.

Steel and Glass Manufacturing chromium; lead; mercury All are toxic to kidneys. Lead causes decreased mental ability, weakness, headache, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and anemia. Also affects blood-forming mechanisms and the peripheral nervous system.

Long-term exposure to lead can cause permanent kidney and brain damage.

Chromium has been implicated as a human carcinogen.

Chrome Plating Operations chromium Toxic to kidneys; potential human carcinogen.

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