ENVIRONMENTAL
toxicology
Ximena Barrera
What is?
Environmental toxicology is a branch of
toxicology that studies the consequences of
industrial or agricultural chemical substances
on human health and the environment.
The current concern regarding toxicology is also
related to the understanding of potential
interactions between chemical products and
biological systems, leading to a risk not only for
humans but also for ecosystems.
When referring to the toxicity of a
chemical product, we generally
speak in terms of the determination
of LD50 and LC50, as well as the
potential for subacute, chronic, and
delayed toxicities.
The amount of known chemicals
Thanks to industrial development, there are around
four million known chemicals, of which more than
seventy thousand are in common use, and every
year, one thousand new products are introduced to
the market.
Since the 1960s, the word
"pollution" began to be introduced,
which almost suggests that
humanity was in danger.
Pesticides are compounds used to control
pests and unwanted species that cause
harm or interfere with agricultural and
forestry production.
Environmental pollution from pesticides is a
major global issue because they generate
residues that contaminate crops, soils,
water bodies, biota, and air, ultimately
affecting food chains and consequently
human health.
This pollution can occur through
Rain
Bioaccumulation
precipitation
Transportation Evaporation
The negative impact of pesticides is
evaluated from three perspectives:
Toxicity in Toxicity in Persistence in
human and indicator the
domestic organisms environment
animals
Pesticides are composed of various
chemical compounds, each designed for a
specific purpose.
Organophosphates Carbamates Organochlorines
One of the most notorious cases
of a pesticide gone wrong is
DDT
(dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethan
e), which was widely used in
agriculture and mosquito control
programs to combat diseases
like malaria.
DDT
(dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethan
e) is a synthetic chemical
substance that does not occur
naturally in the environment. It is
a white crystalline solid, odorless
and tasteless.
In 1972, its use was banned due
to the damage it causes to
wildlife, but it is still used in a
limited number of countries
where diseases like malaria are a
significant health issue.
El DDE y el DDD se forman cuando el DDT se degrada. Estas
sustancias químicas se pueden evaporar al aire desde el agua y
de la tierra húmeda y se pueden transportar entonces a lugares
muy alejados de la fuente original. La lluvia y la nieve las pueden
extraer del aire o la luz solar las puede degradar. El DDT, el DDE y
el DDD se adhieren firmemente a la tierra y no es probable que
pasen a aguas subterráneas. Los microorganismos que hay en la
tierra degradan el DDT lentamente (puede tardar de 2 a 15 años
degradar la mitad del DDT). El DDT no se disuelve fácilmente en el
agua y se encuentra mayormente en el sedimento del fondo de
los cuerpos de agua. El DDT, el DDE y el DDD se pueden acumular
en las plantas y los animales.
The most common way to be exposed to small
amounts of these chemical substances
MILK
POULTRY FISH
PRODUCTS
Some studies have shown that individuals
with higher levels of DDT in their blood
are at an increased risk of developing
liver cancer. Liver cancer has also been
observed in animals that were fed DDT
for extended periods.
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
youremail@freepik.com
+91 620 421 838
yourcompany.com
CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons
by Flaticon and infographics & images by Freepik
Please keep this slide for attribution
