Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - Essay Example

"Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons " is an outstanding example of a paper on poisoning, toxicology, and environmental health.
A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is a class of related chemical compounds, which have fused aromatic ring features. PAH comes into existence in the process where there is incomplete burning of most organic elements instance oil, coal, and petrol. Concerning risk, they are assessed because they show similarities in structure and toxicity. This kind of risk especially if it relates to human health, can extend to hazardous levels. To understand the concept, it is nice to differentiate the two terms. A hazard is something that can cause harm. They include tools, materials, and work methods. On the contrary, a risk is the chance of the harm occurring. Therefore, the harm is a negative health problem.

According to the Health Protection Agency, the surrogate maker is the best way of assessing risk in soils that are contaminated with the genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Farant et al, 1998). However, the approach shows some uncertainties because of scientific limitations. In this case, scientific toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) are used to assess the risk. For instance, the researches on UK soils prove benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a very efficient surrogate maker. This possesses as a cancer risk. This is because it is carcinogenic among all the components of PAHs. This, in 1993 led to the adoption of this guideline in the assessment of the cancer risk factors that are associated with the toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In reality, there are two means of assessing risk and hazard issues. These are non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic factors. Already, the carcinogenic example has been discussed. The 2 to 3 ring members of the PAHs group are non-carcinogenic in that they affect the human respiratory, the general immune system, and the neurological centers. In some cases, the 4 to 7 members of the PAHs may act as non-carcinogens (Laupeze et al, 2002). However, they are better referred to as the potent carcinogens

since they rely on the mutagenic mode. Therefore, a concentration of these PAHs elements in the environmental framework including seafood varies in either cancer or non-cancer health effects.

Using a rat in the experiment to determine the toxic levels, it is evident that Benzo(a)pyrene has the fastest absorption rate (De Jong et al, 1999). This is due to the food component, which increases the lipid content. The PAH is evenly distributed to all body parts. Some of the organ, which has a high level of adipose, is a good store for this chemical. The high levels of enterohepatic cycling influence the high distribution of Benzo(a)pyrene in the gastrointestinal linings. The PAH components are always excreted through feces, urine, and bile with bile acting as the most affected path because it accounts for more than 55 percent of the Benzo(a)pyrene doze with urine having very little phrases of up to 4 percent.

PAH quickly binds with the DNA structures thus increasing health risks. The binding always occurs though covalent means (Shiue, 1987). The metabolic process reveals the PAH shows a high reaction with nucleic acids. In the process, a benzo (j) fluoranthene is activated in which through a series of chemical reaction forms an electrophilic sulfate ester.

Conclusion

There are very many governmental and private laboratories trying to carry out experiments that can give enough proof of the toxicity issues of PAHs. This means that the risks of such effects have to be addressed by providing preventative measures. It is very difficult to independently test the PAH elements. However, through a combined effort with all the toxicologists, chemical analysts, and health researchers, there will be effective policies and measures that can see a reduction in toxic related issues.