Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Research Paper Example

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Introduction Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) are pollutants of the environment. They are made up of fused aromatic rings and are nor made up of heteroatoms. The simplest PAH is naphthalene (Plant, ‎Voulvoulis and Ragnarsdottir, 2012). They are found in naturally occurring materials such as coal, oil and tar deposits and are potent carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens. This paradigm is divided into two parts: the first one focuses on how to manage the risks associated with an individual who has already been exposed to PAHS.

The second part focuses on how to communicate the risks associated with exposure to PAHS. Body Management of risks associated with exposure to PAHS depends on the levels and the duration of exposure. If an individual is exposed to acute high doses, decontamination and other supportive measures should be the basic objectives (Feng, Sun and Song, 2014). Decontamination should be carried out by washing up the individual and cleaning up the clothes. The skin of the victim should be thoroughly scrubbed with soap and water as soon as possible.

The victim should also be isolated from a polluted environment to a place with clean air (Plant et al., 2012). Other supportive care such as pulmonary functional tests should be routinely carried out. X-rays to determine the level of damage to the lungs should be carried out also. For ocular contamination, the patient should be treated by irrigating the eye (Whitacre and Ware, 2008). If an individual has been exposed to low levels of PAHS for a long time, they eventually develop toxicity. For effective care, the patient should be taught about the risks associated with exposure to PAHS and how to avoid further exposure (Friis, 2008).

They should be informed of the possibility of developing bronchogenic cancer and the additive effects of exposure to cigarette smoke and other related toxic agents. The parents should be made to follow-up periodic evaluations for treatment of symptoms associated with PAHS exposure. Risk communication to individuals exposed to PAHS should take into account the challenges associated with trying to maintain a balance between concern and undue alarm to the patient. This is because PAHS are complex, and hence it is impossible to predict their carcinogenicity based only on several of the components.

Effective risk communication should involve a comprehensive education programme on the dangers of PAHS exposure. Medical surveillance of workers who are at the risk of exposure to PAHS should be done to inform them of the dangers of overexposure (Whitacre and Ware, 2008). Conclusion Acute exposure to PAHS should be managed through thoroughly scrubbing the patients’ skin with soap and water. Contaminated clothes should be discarded, and symptoms exhibited treated. Routine medical practices such as x-rays and pulmonary functional tests carried out.

For low levels of PAHS exposure, they should receive education on the dangers of exposure and how they can avoid the pollutant. Risk communication should be carried out taking into account the challenges associated with trying to maintain a balance between concern and undue alarm to the patient. ReferencesFeng, Y., Sun, H. & Song, Y. (2014). A community study of the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites on heart rate variability based on the Framingham risk score. BMJ Open Journal. 71, (5), pp. 338-345.Friis, H. (2008). Essentials of Environmental Health.

California: California State University.Plant, ‎J., Voulvoulis, N. & Ragnarsdottir, V. (2012). Pollutants, Human Health and the Environment: A Risk Based Approach. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Whitacre, D. & Ware, G. (2008). Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. New York: Springer.