Persistent Organic Pollutants (dioxins) + Pesticides (TOX 4)

18 important questions on Persistent Organic Pollutants (dioxins) + Pesticides (TOX 4)

What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)?

POPs are organic chemical substances, that is, they are carbon-based. They possess a particular combination of physical and chemical properties such that, once released into the environment, they:
  • Remain intact for exceptionally long periods of time (many years);
  • Become widely distributed throughout the environment as a result of natural processes involving soil, water and, most notably, air;
  • Accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms including humans, and are found at higher concentrations at higher levels in the food chain; and
  • Are toxic to both humans and wildlife.

What are examples of dioxin-like compounds?

  • Dioxins (PCDDs)
  • Furans (PCDFs)
  • Dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs)

What are sources of PCDDs and PCDFs?

These compounds are side products of:
  • Burning processes
  • Production of organochlorine compounds
  • Leaded gasoline
  • Metal industry
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What is the problem with PCBs?

PCBs are very stable, they are not broken down and thus end up in the food chains.

What are the toxic effects of non-dioxin-like PCBs?

  • Reproduction
  • Development
  • Thyroid hormone
  • Immune system
  • Nervous system
  • Carcinogenic

How are we exposed to dioxin-like compounds?

  • Intentional poisoning
  • Illegal activities
  • Natural origin
  • Disaster
  • Background levels

What is the grasshopper effect of POPs?

POPs always move to colder regions (by condensation), this causes accumulation in the arctic.

What is the mechanism of dioxin-like compounds?

Dioxin-like compounds bind to the Ah-receptor, this can now bind to the CYP450-gene causing CYP450-mRNA to be synthesized. The CYP450-mRNA causes expression of CYP450. CYP450 adds an OH-group to the dioxin-like compounds. Other gene products add a glucose to this same compound. When dioxin-like compounds are present, the CYP450 cannot bind this OH group anymore and the other gene products cannot bind a glucose either. This leads to no breakdown and thus dioxin-like compounds are very persistent.

What is the TEF value?

TEF is the toxic equivalency factor, it is the cumulative risk of dioxin-like compounds. It is the relative potency of individual dioxin congeners compared to the most potent dioxin 2,3,7,8-TCDD.

What is the TEQ value?

TEQ is the TCDD equivalent concentration. This is often an underestimation.

What are requirements for a compound to be included in the TEF concept?

  • Persistent against breakdown
  • Bioaccumulative (hydrophobic)
  • Toxicity

These are all PBT properties.

What are other names for pesticides?

  • Plant protection products (PPP)
  • Phytopharmaceuticals
  • Biocides (non-agricultural use)

Why was DDT useful to use against malaria in Europe and the USA but not in tropical regions?

In tropical regions there is not just a 'mosquito season' plus there is a bad infratructure.

What is the mechanism of DDT?

DDT disrupts the ion transport in nervous cell membrane, causing the Na+ channel to remain open.

What do other organochlorinated (OC) insecticides inhibit?

Other organochlorinated (OC) insecticides inhibit the GABA neurotransmitter. GABA is an “inhibiting” neurotransmitter. It becomes harder to get a new action potential. So depolarization is easier.

What is the mechanism of pyrethroids?

Neurotoxic mechanism of action
  • Increased Na-influx in the cell
  • Negative after-potential as with DDT
  • Type I: Hyperexcitable state > Repetitive firing
  • Type II: Loss of membrane potential > Action potential impossible

What is an advantage of pyrethroids?

  • Degradable by sun light
  • Degradable in water

What is a disadvantage of pyrethroids?

Fish are very sensitive.

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