| Received and Published: Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 | Magazine: SUN 24 HOUR HEALTH | Retrieved from page 12 |
| Title: The silent pandemic signed dioxin and PCBs | ||
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| the risks associated with incinerator emissions The silent pandemic signed dioxin and PCBs The incineration of waste, not only does not guarantee a savings or energy or economic, but is among the least respectful of all the technologies for health. In addition to the inevitable production of bottom and fly ash and sludge, determines the systematic and continuous release of huge amounts of smoke into the atmosphere pollutants, particulate matter PM-10 and especially fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM-2, 5 and PM-0, 1). The ultrafine fraction - the higher (up to 80% of particulates) the higher combustion temperatures - it is recognized as the most dangerous to human health. In this fraction includes the so-called nanoparticles, aggregates with diameters ranging between 1 and 25 nm, consisting of thousands of atoms. Their dangerousness is due to the high surface / volume ratio, high chemical reactivity and ability to evade filters and natural plant respiratory, penetrating in the lungs and through the alveolar walls and vascular, the blood stream of various organs and tissues and cells and nuclei in the body human. Nanoparticles carry many substances epi (geno) toxic and carcinogenic substances produced by incineration. Among them are highly toxic substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative, some already classified as carcinogens by the particular man for sure. In particular, among the more than 200 substances are found: arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, benzene, lead, dioxins, dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition to these substances cause cancer: - inflammation in all organs of which come through the vascular system; - that processes of atherosclerosis impede blood flow with the risk of heart attack miocardico e di ictus cerebrale; - interferenze endocrine particolarmente nocive nell'età evolutiva; - modifiche genomiche che aumentano la suscettibilità agli inquinanti delle generazioni future. Le diossine e i policlorobifenili (Pcb) costituiscono un gruppo di molecole riconosciute a livello internazionale come microinquinanti organici persistenti (Pops). Tali sostanze sono estremamente persistenti nell'ambiente e in grado di essere trasportate per lunghe distanze rispetto ai punti di emissione. In condizioni ambientali tipiche esse tendono alla bioconcentrazione e presentano un processo di biomagnificazione, raggiungendo concentrazioni potenzialmente rilevanti sul piano tossicologico e rappresentando, therefore, a threat to health and the environment urnana. The long-term exposure to the Pops may have chronic effects on organisms such as, for example, metabolic hormones, carcinogenic, teratogenic effects on the immune system. is important to note that dioxins and PCBs have similar chemical and hazardous, although their sources of origin are different. The toxicological data indicate that over 90% of human exposure to dioxins comes from food and among these, those of animal origin normally contribute about 80% of overall exposure. An important property of this type of compounds is undoubtedly their great physical and chemical stability due to the presence of chlorine atoms, which makes them resistant to biodegradation. The consequence of this stability, then the non-destruction and accumulation of these products in nature, in plants and animals in the fat body, is represented by the length of the food chain, which is the main route of exposure in ' man. The toxicological knowledge is essential for industrial and political choices and deserves special attention for increasing environmental sustainability. In Italy epidemiological data, particularly worrying, recorded an overall increase in incidence of cancer in women, regardless of age, 1% per annum and childhood cancer of 2% per year, exactly twice as much as there is in Europe. Albert Einstein said, an intelligent man solves a problem, a wise man avoids it, these words should cause us to reflect on what may lead to the growing practice of waste incineration. It was estimated that with the forecast of total planned incineration in Europe are going to enter, using the best available technology (Bar) and within the limits of the law, by no means negligible quantities of pollutants: a whopping 500 grams of dioxin per year and dioxin-like compounds. A fundamental concept is therefore that, faced with contamination, and no one can fully assume the effects and consequences should be taken an attitude of utmost caution, avoiding as much as possible to enter into a dangerous and persistent pollutants such as dioxin . The contamination of the food chain can seriously affect human health even with likely damage associated with trans-generational epigenetic modifications. This interference can be viewed as a "silent pandemic" that would explain the increasing incidence of chronic / degenerative diseases, endocrinology and oncology, which is costly them social, human and economic. Also recently re-affirmed the importance of a systems approach to human health, which can not only contemplate the therapeutic side, but must rediscover the role of primary prevention. The most useful action can be taken to reduce exposure to these substances is undesirable, as far as possible, identify the major sources of dioxins and take appropriate measures to reduce emissions in the long term, with the order to reduce the levels in food and human tissues. Since it is imperative to incinerate industrial waste c / o city, and this practice is not justified by the energy and economic point of view, the application the precautionary principle in the management of waste incineration and forced to give up points, so a priority on reducing, reusing and recycling of post consumer materials, as these practices cause an environmental impact significantly lower than incinerators. This view is part of the new policy to enable precautionary measures to protect public health or to prevent harm, rather than mitigate it. Peter Carideo ISDE - Doctors for the Environment Specialist in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Pharmacology and | ||
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