EESA10H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter L#4: Furan, Agent Orange, Flame Retardant
5 Jul 2018
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LECTURE #4
CHAPTER 5 (196-205)
- Lots of organic chemicals are in use majority are man made
- In oil refineries, the constituents of crude oil are sep. into lighter/heavier fractions which
are then used to make many products including various fuels, non fuel products and
chemicals
Organic Solvents
-Solvents: chemicals that
dissolve other substances
used as intermediaries
in synthesizing chemicals
and are used in degreasing
metals in the manufacture of electronic components
-There are 4 common solvents in this group of solvents BTEX
-Industrial solvents are released into the env. Mainly by the industries that produce
them
oLargest industries for these are chemical, printing, publishing, and petroleum
industries
oMost of the solvents are disposed of onsite (eg. Landfills) are common
contaminants of US groundwater
oIn textile industries, solvents are used in dyeing clothes
- Most solvents affect the nervous system, while benzene is known to cause leukemia in
people (2A = carcinogenic, 2B = possibly carcinogenic to humans)
Phthalte Plasticizers and Bisphenol A
-Plasticizers make plastics flexible/malleable phthalates
-Bisphenol A (BPA) is also used
-Both are semi-volatile compounds not water soluble, lipophilic (bioaccumualte in
fish), but do not biomagnify across levels in the ecosystems b/c larger animals can
metabolize them
-Most common phthalate plasticizer is DEHP used in water pipes, credits cards etc.
-B/c large scale production, phthalates are common in the env. people in developed
countries are routinely exposed to these chemicals at low levels
-Phthaltes and BPA are considered endocrine disruptors or endocrine-disrupting
compounds: chemicals that interfere in some way w/ the body’s hormonal signalling
mimic the effect of a hormone or block its effects
Environmental hormone: refers to endo. Disrupting chemcials in the env.
Xenoestrogen: env. Chemicals w/ effects similar to those of the female estrogen
hormone
- All cause developmental toxicity in animals (eg. Developmental problems in rates, and
they can cross the placenta and are present in breastmilk)
- Evidence of a link between exposure to env. Chemicals and obesity
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lots of organic chemicals are in use majority are man made. In oil refineries, the constituents of crude oil are sep. into lighter/heavier fractions which are then used to make many products including various fuels, non fuel products and chemicals. Used as intermediaries in synthesizing chemicals and are used in degreasing metals in the manufacture of electronic components. There are 4 common solvents in this group of solvents btex. Most solvents affect the nervous system, while benzene is known to cause leukemia in people (2a = carcinogenic, 2b = possibly carcinogenic to humans) Both are semi-volatile compounds not water soluble, lipophilic (bioaccumualte in fish), but do not biomagnify across levels in the ecosystems b/c larger animals can metabolize them. Most common phthalate plasticizer is dehp used in water pipes, credits cards etc. B/c large scale production, phthalates are common in the env. People in developed countries are routinely exposed to these chemicals at low levels.
