other chronic health problems. Lung cancer being one. Other metals are present in smoking but aren’t as pertinent.
Mercury is not very commonly inhaled in dangerous amounts but still can be found naturally. It can be dangerous when released from rocks, volcanoes and forest fires. It is then released naturally throughout the atmosphere. However, airborne mercury contamination results mainly from human activities. The main activities include: Burning of coal, oil, wood that contain mercury, if not burning mercury itself. Many power plants and companies do so and make up for most of the toxic activity. According to the EDF(Environmental Defense Fund) “A large amount of toxic mercury pollution is released from a relatively small number of plants. …show more content…
Total air releases found from industrial sources were about 27 tons in 1987(Toxic Release Inventory 1989). Mainly the higher levels of thallium are in the workplace are not as big of a threat. Studies show that individuals exposed to breathing in thallium in the workplace for an extended period of time can experience nervous system effects. A short exposure to inhaling thallium can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lung heard kidney and liver damage.
WATER CONTAMINATION “In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems.” (APEC Water)
Cadmium occurs naturally, which means it can enter drinking water due to weathering and leaching throughout soils to groundwater. It exists in water as the hydrated ion in inorganic complexes including, carbonates, hydroxides, chlorides, or sulfates. Its organic complexes are with humic acids. Other forms included erosion of soils and bedrock and deposition from factories. Consequences from drinking water contaminated with cadmium include short term and long term. Short term effects can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, salivation, liver problems, and rental failure. Long term effects include high and long term damages to kidney liver and …show more content…
Lead is used in most pipes and fixtures and can enter drinking water, especially with aging and areas with high acidity and low mineral content. Temperature also affects fixtures which can erode away common fixtures and faucets. Children and pregnant women are the most fragile to lead poisoning. Children are still growing and developing and lead poisoning may result in learning problems and health problems as well. Women pregnant with high levels of lead in them can expose the fetus to lead and can lead to premature birth and a reduced growth. In all cases when lead enters the bloodstream, it elevates the blood level and can damage various parts of the body including the nervous and reproductive system and the kidneys. Many of these problems are
Mercury is not very commonly inhaled in dangerous amounts but still can be found naturally. It can be dangerous when released from rocks, volcanoes and forest fires. It is then released naturally throughout the atmosphere. However, airborne mercury contamination results mainly from human activities. The main activities include: Burning of coal, oil, wood that contain mercury, if not burning mercury itself. Many power plants and companies do so and make up for most of the toxic activity. According to the EDF(Environmental Defense Fund) “A large amount of toxic mercury pollution is released from a relatively small number of plants. …show more content…
Total air releases found from industrial sources were about 27 tons in 1987(Toxic Release Inventory 1989). Mainly the higher levels of thallium are in the workplace are not as big of a threat. Studies show that individuals exposed to breathing in thallium in the workplace for an extended period of time can experience nervous system effects. A short exposure to inhaling thallium can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, lung heard kidney and liver damage.
WATER CONTAMINATION “In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems.” (APEC Water)
Cadmium occurs naturally, which means it can enter drinking water due to weathering and leaching throughout soils to groundwater. It exists in water as the hydrated ion in inorganic complexes including, carbonates, hydroxides, chlorides, or sulfates. Its organic complexes are with humic acids. Other forms included erosion of soils and bedrock and deposition from factories. Consequences from drinking water contaminated with cadmium include short term and long term. Short term effects can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, salivation, liver problems, and rental failure. Long term effects include high and long term damages to kidney liver and …show more content…
Lead is used in most pipes and fixtures and can enter drinking water, especially with aging and areas with high acidity and low mineral content. Temperature also affects fixtures which can erode away common fixtures and faucets. Children and pregnant women are the most fragile to lead poisoning. Children are still growing and developing and lead poisoning may result in learning problems and health problems as well. Women pregnant with high levels of lead in them can expose the fetus to lead and can lead to premature birth and a reduced growth. In all cases when lead enters the bloodstream, it elevates the blood level and can damage various parts of the body including the nervous and reproductive system and the kidneys. Many of these problems are