Toxicology and Endocrine Disruptors - Assignment Example

Environmental Studies Assignment ID Environmental Studies Assignment Question One: Toxicology and Endocrine Disruptors The experiment is run more than once to ensure a reduced margin of error and more than one animal is used in each run to create a control experiment that will provide a basis for comparisons and hence producing results that are more valid. Each concentration leads to a different level of reaction as portrayed in the reaction levels of each toxin and the levels present in the animal under study. The effect of aquatic experiments indicates the ability of the toxin to dissolve in the water plays a role in exposure in aquatic animals.teh report using a 50% mortality rate considers the fact that many of the aquatic animals that gain access or exposure to the substance die and few of them survive. The 96 hours of exposure indicates the maximum time of exposure that may result into viable results. Acute toxicity may not apply to natural environments hence limiting the results of studies involving them. The disadvantages with these also involves the reliance on cause and affect aspects in research and lastly the effect of the specific nature of the study that limit they results. The usefulness of acute toxicity is in the analytical nature of the experiments and the results provided (Acute and Chronic Toxicity Testing, n.d). The maximum levels of concentrations set by the regulators are normally lower to reduce the effects that the chemicals may have on the experimenters. Through these, the margins of exposure determinations become possible since the NOEL levels provide the basis for other measurements to provide relevant information and the concentrations become easier to interpret (Reference dose RFD, 2012). In other words, NOEL sets the reference dose for usage in all experiments that acts as base. Question Two: Endocrine Disruptors Natural endocrines provide a hormonal support to the body systems. Endocrines play a role in building connections with glands tasked to carry hormones around the body and place them into the blood stream for purposes of hormonal responses and support. Glands and hormones have the role of regulating growth, development and maturity aspects among other body regulations. There exist natural endocrines and artificial endocrines. The natural endocrines exist naturally in the body and build up because of natural processes while the artificial endocrines are introduced into the body to play the same role as natural endocrines. Among the many glands that produce, hormones in the body include pituitary glands, thyroid glands, thymus, pancreases, and ovaries among others. There exist many endocrine systems in animals serving a number of functions ranging from reproductive functions to functions that protect people during fear all aimed at producing body results that can enhance proper body performance. For the case, discussing the adrenalin medulla and its functions in the body is considered. The endocrine system is controlled by the functions of the gland adrenalin medulla that produces adrenaline and noradrenalin. The target tissue for the hormone includes the smooth muscle, the blood vessel and the cardiac muscle. Among the functions that the hormones play, include the increasing of the heart rate, blood pressure aspects, metabolic rates and the initiation of stress responses (The Endocrine System, n.d). The chemical nature of these hormones is a derivative of amino acids majorly. Endocrine Disruptors The substances when absorbed into the body mimic or blocks the functions of the hormones in the body are an endocrine disruptor. When the chemical substances access the body systems, they either affect the levels of the hormone and their production levels or affecting the paths taken by hormones. Through these, they affect the functionality of the hormones (Endocrine Disruptor, 1998). Examples of these substances include diethylstilbestrol, dioxin among other pesticides. The endocrine disruptors therefore affect the function ability of the hormones and make it difficult or impossible for the hormones to function properly. Considering the dose response curve, an increase in dose increases the fraction of medicine responding while a decrease works in the opposite direction. These reflect the relationship between the level of toxin administered and the degree of response to the dose (Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 1989). Some of the classical responses of the body to toxins such as mercury include the effect it has on the stomatitis, nausea among many others. The reactions also include the neurotic disorders that make the toxin confuse scientists in many ways. Among the many events happened in the world, one of the most chemical effect experienced by the world was as a result of the bombing of Japan in the world war era that left behind a chemical effect felt to the present. The actions caused huge effects to humans specifically the people of Japan that have experienced the effects of this chemical composition in their environment to present. Question Three: Ecotoxicology Among the many chemicals, there exist phosphate esters that play a major role in polymers and aspects of textile cellulose fibers. The function of these includes the regulation of the formation of gasses inflammable in nature in compounds such as polyurethane and the polyamides (Segev, Kushmaro & Brenner, 2009). The chemical is an organophosphate flame retardant that serves as a component of phosphates playing the vital role as described above in an example of one. Among the many sources of exposure to phosphate esters, the exposure through food is the most common one that has affected many populations. The exposure in food has seen an account for the composition of the ester in agricultural products especially fruits and vegetables known to contain the largest percentage of the toxin with a study by the U.S Department of Agriculture showing that 28% in frozen blueberries, 20% of celery and strawberries seen to contain 25%. These reflect that particular organophosphates phosphate ester. The same study indicated that the 27% green beans contain other phosphates, 17% peaches and 8% in broccoli (Klein, 2010). The mode of action of the organophosphates on organisms starts with the ingestion of the substance through the mouth or the inhalation based on the particular ester in consideration. The studies conducted have indicated that the presence of phosphates in the body could lead to effects of fertility especially in men. The organophosphates affect the levels of production of the hormone and semen and their quality in the men. Studies conducted in many species of animals especially rats show that the problems caused by the substance in the kidneys and the testis and the effect are associated with increase in tumors most of which proved cancerous. The toxins also affect brain cells leading to conclusions that the organophosphates prove lethal to human health (Mergel, 2012). Considering the effect described above, the toxin is considered an endocrine disruptor because it inhibits or limits the production of hormones and their levels in the testes of humans hence the qualification s an endocrine disruptor. At low levels of exposure, the dose of the toxin in the human body has less effect to the body hormones while and increased consumption would result in a more hyperactive reaction. Acute toxicity in animals normally occurs through the consumption of large levels of the toxin with more chronic effects occurring due to the levels of consumption or exposure of the person. In mammals like rats used above, the substance is known to cause the development of tumors that may provide a platform for the development of cancerous cells in the body. The fate of the chemical when released into the air is the attachment on substances or the inhalation from the air. Its presence in the plants also weighs in and provides a basis through which it easily gains access to the body through ingestion. There exists no breakdown product of the organophosphates. References Acute and Chronic Toxicity Testing. (n.d.). PowerPoint doc. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CE0QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clt.astate.edu%2Frgrippo%2FLecture%25204A%2520%2520Acute%2520and%2520Chronic%2520Toxicity%2520Testing.ppt&ei=ruo7VJP6AYftO7rLgIgK&usg=AFQjCNHmqCJjZNkGF7VN7FRy6x_Ie8XCCA&sig2=xpRxEoDxdH6FhW4hRZh1PQ Reference Dose (RfD): Description and Use in Health Risk Assessments | Basic Information | IRIS | US EPA. (2012, September 26). EPA. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/iris/rfd.htm Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (1989, May 5). Section 6 - VI. Health Effects Discussion and Determination of Final PEL. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=770&p_table=preambles Endocrine Disruptors. (1998, November 25). Natural Resources Defense Council – The Earths Best Defense. Retrieved October 12, 2014, from http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp Segev, O., Kushmaro, A., & Brenner, A. (2009, February 5). Abstract. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672362/ Klein, S. (2010, May 17). Study: ADHD linked to pesticide exposure . CNN. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/17/pesticides.adhd/ Mergel, M. (2012, April 19). Chlorinated Tris (TDCPP). - Toxipedia. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.toxipedia.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=9175065 The Endocrine System. (n.d.). Raven06_56.pdf. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/raven6b/graphics/raven06b/other/raven06_56.pdf Read More