Causes, Mechanisms and Prevention of Environmental Diseases

Harold I Zeliger

doi:10.21767/2472-5048.100001

Abstract

The onset of non-communicable disease has been attributed in large part to environmental exposure to toxic chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds and transition metals. This review summarizes recent research into the causes and mechanisms of environmental disease onset and examines the role of oxidative stress as well as steps that can be taken to predict and lower the incidences of environmental diseases.

Highlights

Environmental diseases (ENVDs) are non-communicable diseases that result when people are chronically exposed to toxic environmental chemicals
The onset of environmental disease requires the penetration of toxicants through lipophilic cell membranes
Fibrinogen Malondialdehyde Diminished glomerular filtration rate Increased ceatinine Elevated fasting glucose Low LDL cholesterol High LDL cholesterol Urinary aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites Urinary phthalate metabolites Bisphenol A metabolites chemicals accomplish this step, and facilitate absorption of hydrophiles which serve as solvents and carriers

Summary

Introduction

Environmental diseases (ENVDs) are non-communicable diseases that result when people are chronically exposed to toxic environmental chemicals. It was reported that total lipophilic load and total transition metal ion load, irrespective of the chemical nature of the individual species, are critical; since all lipophiles can permeate cell membrane lipophilic bilayers and numerous transition metal ions can pi-bond to a wide spectrum of planar aromatic hydrocarbons Support for this dual chemical hypothesis comes from a consideration of the published health effects of both lipophilic chemicals and heavy metals. Oxidative stress can be induced in numerous ways These include; exposure to exogenous toxic chemicals, including low molecular weight hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, chloro- and bromo- water disinfection by-products, phthalates, bis-phenol A, heavy metal ions; pharmaceuticals; exposure to radiation; as a result of environmental disease or infectious disease illness; psychological stress; sensory offensive agents; ingestion of certain foods and food additives; and obesity [68,25,55,87]. Warmer environmental temperatures enhance the volatilization of POPs, pesticides and other organics into the air, require increased use of pesticides in farming, increase the rates of chemical reactions that lead to higher levels of ozone and secondary air pollutants and increase the risk of wildfires which spew large quantities of polluting species into the air [209,210]

Limitations to prevention

Findings

Summary