Biomaterial Database

Exposure limits for occupational and environmental chemical pollutants in various media. 1991

Z Bardodĕj

Charles University, Medical Faculty of Hygiene, Praha, Czechoslovakia.

Exposure limits for occupational and environmental chemical contaminants are based on animal experimentation and observation in humans. Usually, the final recommendations are "predictions" which can hardly guarantee the absolute safety for all. Late effects were discovered to lately in the past. The impact of the biotransformation of pollutants on their biological activity is demonstrated with trichloroethylene, styrene and N,N-dimethylformamide, which are suspected of having carcinogenic potential. In addition, trichloroethylene and N,N-dimethylformamide cause intolerance of alcohol with hyperacetaldehydemia; acetaldehyde is claimed to be carcinogenic as well. The biotransformation of these three widely used substances differs among various species. Different fate of chemicals in human and animal organisms results in the necessity to consider kinetic and metabolic studies in setting limits; in microorganisms also metabolites supposed to be formed in humans should be tested. Limits for some pollutants in various media are given.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003604	Czechoslovakia	Created as a republic in 1918 by Czechs and Slovaks from territories formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia 1 January 1993.
D004781	Environmental Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals.	Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D004785	Environmental Pollutants	Substances or energies, for example heat or light, which when introduced into the air, water, or land threaten life or health of individuals or ECOSYSTEMS.	Environmental Pollutant,Pollutant,Pollutants,Pollutants, Environmental,Pollutant, Environmental
D006304	Health Status	The level of health of the individual, group, or population as subjectively assessed by the individual or by more objective measures.	General Health,General Health Level,General Health Status,Level of Health,Overall Health,Overall Health Status,General Health Levels,Health Level,Health Level, General,Health Levels,Health Status, General,Health Status, Overall,Health, General,Health, Overall,Level, General Health,Levels, General Health,Status, General Health,Status, Health,Status, Overall Health
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001711	Biotransformation	The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alterations may be divided into METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE I and METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE II.
D016273	Occupational Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation.	Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures