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Organohalogen Pollutants and Human Health
Citation:
Kodavanti, P. AND B. Loganathan. Organohalogen Pollutants and Human Health. Chapter 6, International Encyclopedia of Public Health. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA, 6:204-214, (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00145-9
Impact/Purpose:
This book chapter is meant for a common public to understand what are organohalogens with respect to their origin, usages, wide-spread contamination, human exposure and health effects. This chapter focuses on three groups of organohalogens such as organochlorines, brominated organic compounds and fluorinated organic compounds. This chapter also describes the regulatory aspect of organohalogens as well.
Description:
During the past century, a vast number of organic chemicals have been manufactured and used in industrial, agricultural, public health, consumer products, and other applications. Widespread use of organohalogens, including chlorinated, brominated and fluorinated compounds, have lead to global environmental contamination. Human exposure to these compounds occurs through multiple pathways including direct skin contact, inhalation, drinking water, and mainly through food consumption. Exposure to these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been implicated in myriad human health effects including reproductive, neurological, immunological, endocrine, behavioral, and carcinogenic effects in both wildlife and humans. In addition, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), the perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), triclosan, triclocarban, tetrabromobishphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) are considered as chemicals of emerging environmental and human health concern. Based on their use pattern and their persistent chemical properties, it can be predicted that human exposure to these compounds will continue. Hence, understanding human health effects and taking preventive measures for such exposures are necessary.
