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Toxic substances and chemicals involves the loss of biodiversity

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Toxic substances and chemicals involves the loss of biodiversity

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Another negative effect associated with toxic substances and chemicals involves the loss of biodiversity. Certain chemicals such as pesticides cause water and soil pollution or contamination (Febbraio, 2017).

However, following soil damage by toxic substances and chemicals, it becomes difficult for the insects to survive in such an environment. Like soil contamination, water contamination also results in the death of useful aquatic animals (Spurgeon et al., 2020).

Toxic substances affect the ecosystem and the biodiversity of the community by causing the death of aquatic animals as well as useful insects that live in the soil.
Therefore, a reduction in the number of aquatic animals due to water contamination reduces the food supply

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Effects of Toxic Substances on Biodiversity

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Effects of Toxic Substances on Biodiversity

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Exposure to toxic chemicals such as pesticides may cause infertility in different ways

(Rüdel et al., 2020).

Toxic substances usually cause endocrine disruption or damage. Some of the toxic chemicals that can lead to the damage of either male or female reproductive systems include:

Benzene

Boric acids.

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Toxic substances and chemicals are also known to cause certain birth defects. In case a pregnant woman is exposed to toxic pesticides and other organic solvents during the first trimester of the pregnancy, birth defects may be experienced (Mascarelli, 2012).

Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals during pregnancy include :

Heart defects

Deafness

In some cases, exposure to toxic substances and chemicals is also known to cause down syndrome in children.

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One of the major health complications experienced by human beings as a result of exposure to toxic substances includes cardiovascular illnesses. Usually, exposure to toxic substances and chemicals leads to structural damage of the cardiovascular system (Manisalidis et al., 2020).

Very high levels of exposure to toxic substances and chemicals may lead to permanent heart damage.

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Toxic substances that are released into the environment also have adverse effects on ecosystems. Some of the pesticide chemicals do not only cause potential harm to humans but also plants and wildlife animals.

Functioning in an effective manner high levels of exposure to pesticides affects the ability of Human beings including:

Animals

Plants

Exposure to toxic substances, therefore, poses a great risk of reduction in the number of certain species within the ecosystem. Thus, various measures and strategies need to be put in place in order to ensure that all the species within the ecosystem are not exposed to high levels of toxic substances such as pesticide chemicals.

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According to Boedeker et al. (2020), an estimated 20,000 people from across the world die annually due to exposure to pesticides. Therefore, reducing harmful human activities can play a major role in promoting health and improving diversity in the community.

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How The Negative Effects of E-Waste Can be Reduced:

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How The Negative Effects of E-Waste Can be Reduced:

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Strategies to be Considered:

Companies:

Extended Producer Responsibility

Example: EcoATM

In developing countries:

Reusing parts from E-Waste to repair devices.

Combining formal and informal industries.

Individual consumers :

Recycling at a certified E-Steward location.

Not buying more devices than needed.

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Exposure to such hazardous substances and chemicals makes individuals suffer from both short-term and long-term health complications (Gross & Birnbaum, 2017). Exposure to toxic substances also leads to the death of humans.

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Negative effects of Toxic Substances in E-Waste

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Negative effects of Toxic Substances in E-Waste

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The toxic substances in E-Waste are a problem because they can cause health problems in humans and environmental pollution. Health issues are a problem for informal E-Waste workers, because of their high exposure and lack of protection against these substances. These workers are also more likely to be poor and of a low education level.

E-Waste can pollute the environment and water when toxic substances leach into the environment in landfills. According to Cho et al. (2018) there was only a 20% recycling rate of E-Waste in 2016.

Heavy Metals:

Some examples:

Cd:

Bioaccumulation

Highly toxic

Health problems affecting human kidneys and bones

Pb:

Causes harm to:

Kidneys

Nervous system

Reproductive system

Children's development

OC's:

Health Issues:

Neurotoxicity

Damage to memory and learning

Thyroid and hormone issues

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Organic contaminants are a type of toxic substance in E-Waste that can contaminate the Environment, and includes POP's such as PBDE's, BFR's, and PCB's.

To illustrate this pollution, In a study by He et al. (2017), the concentration of OC's in dust indoors were compared in China in a place where E-Waste recycling was happening to two other areas without E-Waste recycling, which were an urban and rural area.

It can be seen from the data how E-Waste significantly contaminated the environment due to the much higher concentrations in the E-Waste area.

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The effects of toxic substances on human beings depend on the duration of exposure and the type of chemical. 

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The effects of toxic substances on human beings depend on the duration of exposure and the type of chemical. 

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Individuals who get exposed to toxic chemical fumes may experience complications such as :

Shortness of breath

Cough

Upper chest pain

Throat irritation.

Human beings at times engage in activities that increase the rate of toxic substances in the environment. To avoid such health complications, it is important to come up with measures and strategies that are meant to reduce the rate of toxic substances emission in the environment (Manisalidis et al., 2020).

Some of the human activities that lead to a high rate of toxic substances in the environment include

Inappropriate dumping

Sewage spills

Chemical discharges

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Health complications that  may experience

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Health complications that  may experience

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Includes

Kidney dysfunctions

Nervous system disorders

Skin lesions

Vascular damage.

Ali et al. (2019) argue that the accumulation of heavy metals in the environment results in the contamination of aquatic and terrestrial systems.
As a result, the number of aquatic organisms such as fish decreases significantly since many of them die due to contamination of water bodies.

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Today, more than 3 million workers in the US are potentially exposed to lead in their workplaces (Wani et al, 2015).

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According to Ali et al. (2019), some of the main heavy metals that cause harm to human health and aquatic organisms
Includes:

Lead

Mercury

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Toxic substances affect human beings and organisms such as aquatic organisms are through the accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. 

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Toxic substances affect human beings and organisms such as aquatic organisms are through the accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. 

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the concern level of lead in water is 0.015 mg/l. For instance, in Flint, Michigan, there were excessive lead levels of 0.0252 mg/l of lead in 95% of water samples (Twitty, 2020).

Parents who are exposed to lead in their workplaces may bring lead dust to their homes thus increasing the chances of exposure to their children. For instance, in 2009, more than 2000 children were found to be poisoned with lead (Wani et al, 2015).

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Ali, H., Khan, E., & Ilahi, I. (2019). Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of Hazardous Heavy Metals: Environmental Persistence, Toxicity, and Bioaccumulation, Journal of Chemistry, vol. 2019: 1-14.

Boedeker, W., Watts, M., Clausing, P., and Marquez, E. (2020). The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review. BMC public health, 20(1), 1-19.

Cho, R. 2020. What can we do about the growing e-waste problem? https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/08/27/growing-e-waste-problem/

Daum, K., Stoler, J. & Grant, R.J. 2017. Toward a more sustainable trajectory for E-waste Policy: A review of a decade of E-Waste research in Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14: 135.

Febbraio, F. (2017). Biochemical strategies for the detection and detoxification of toxic chemicals in the environment. World journal of biological chemistry, 8:1-13

Geneva Environment Network. 2021. The growing environmental risks of e-waste. https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/the-growing-environmental-risks-of-e-waste/

Gross, L., & Birnbaum, L. S. (2017). Regulating toxic chemicals for public and environmental health, 17, 1-18

He, C.-T., Zheng, X.-B., Yan, X., Zheng, J., Wang, M.-H., Tan, X., Qiao, L., Chen, S.-J., Yang, Z.-Y. & Mai, B.-X. (2017) Organic contaminants and heavy metals in indoor dust from e-waste recycling, rural, and urban areas in South China: Spatial characteristics and implications for human exposure. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 140: 109–115.

Ilankoon, I.M.S.K., Ghorbani, Y., Chong, M.N., Herath, G., Moyo, T. & Petersen, J. 2018. E-waste in the international context – a review of trade flows, regulations, hazards, waste management strategies and technologies for value recovery. Waste Management, 82: 258–275

Luo, C., Liu, C., Wang, Y., Liu, X., Li, F., Zhang, G. & Li, X. 2011. Heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetables near an e-waste processing Site, south China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 186: 481–490.

Manisalidis, I., Stavropoulou, E., Stavropoulos, A., and Bezirtzoglou, E. (2020). Environmental and health impacts of air pollution: a review. Frontiers in public health, 8: 1-14.

Mascarelli, A. (2012). Environment: toxic effects. Nature, 483(7389), 363-365.

N. Perkins, D., M.-N. Brune Drisse, T. Nxele, and P. D. Sly. 2014. E-waste: A global hazard. Annals of Global Health 80: 286-295.

Rüdel, H Körner, W., Letzel, T., Neumann, M., Nödler, K., and Reemtsma, T. (2020).
Persistent, mobile and toxic substances in the environment: a spotlight on current
research and regulatory activities. Environmental Sciences Europe, 32: 1-11.

Spurgeon, D., Lahive, E., Robinson, A., Short, S., and Kille, P. (2020). Species sensitivity to
toxic substances: evolution, ecology and applications. Frontiers in Environmental
Science, 8: 245-269

Twitty, (2020). The Impact of Lead Water Pollution Toxicity on Aquatic Organisms. International
journal of environmental research and public health, 17:, 2174-2204

Wani, A. A., and Usmani, J. A. (2015). Lead toxicity: a review. Interdisciplinary toxicology, 8:
1-55.

Yin, L., Tang, H., Kim, K. H., Zheng, N., Song, Z., Gabrielson, N. P., ... and Cheng, J. (2013).
&quot;Light‐responsive helical polypeptides capable of reducing toxicity and unpacking DNA:
toward nonviral gene delivery.&quot; Angewandte Chemie 125.35 (2013): 9352-9356.

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Even though there is increased awareness about the effects of toxic substances, emissions of these substances continue to rise hence affecting the health of human beings, damaging the biodiversity and harming other organisms in the ecosystem. One of the major sources of these toxic substances polluting the environment is Electronic Waste (E-Waste) that contains heavy metals and organic contaminants that can harm humans and the environment.

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Includes

Metals

Pesticides

Phthalates as well as tobacco by-products.

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Toxic Subtances and their effect on Organisms

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Toxic Subtances and their effect on Organisms

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Toxic substances refer to the substances that are poisonous or those that can cause adverse health effects.

A study conducted by Center for Disease Control and Prevention across the USA found traces of 27 chemicals in all the sampled population (Yin et al., 2013).

Ineffective disposal or emission of toxic substances to the environment is one of the major issues that are experienced in the modern community. The issue of the high rate of emission or disposal of toxic substances to the environment should be addressed to promote health and diversity.

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Heavy Metals are a type of toxic substance found in E-Waste, with some examples being Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn.

In a study by Luo et al. (2011,) there were very high concentrations Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb found in the soil of formal E-Waste handling areas in Guangdong, China, and contamination of surrounding areas including air, water, and river sediment.

Example: Cd

Mean concentration of Cd in soil of E-Waste burning location: 17.1 mg kg-1.

Background value of soil in Guangdong with no E-Waste contamination: 0.06 mg kg-1

China's National Environmental Protection Agency's Standard for Cd: ≤0.3 mg kg -1

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E-Waste, or electronic waste, is a type of waste that contains toxic substances that can pollute the environment. This is significant because of the large quantities produced.

The quantities of E-Waste created globally in the following years according to I.M.S.K Ilankoon et al. (2018) were:

2014: 41.8 million tonnes

2016: 44.7 million tonnes

Expected amount for 2021: 52.2 million tonnes