Assessing environmental health risks

The chemical industry has piled many chemicals on humans which cause many serious health consequences. Research on chemical effects shows that a definite link exists between exposure to some industrial chemicals and specific serious diseases especially cancer. For example benzene is linked to leukemia. Recent studies indicate that increases in the incidence and mortality rate of cancers with no known links to smoking are occurring. These increases effect the young and old alike. Genetic factors do not account for all of the increase. Evidence that many environmental pollutants at low levels of exposure undermine biological function is growing. This impaired functioning occurs without any obvious signs of disease. US regulatory agencies view of chemical risks (i.e. cancer prevention) is thus incomplete. Toxic effects at lower levels of exposure are particularly worrisome since almost everyone and every plant and animal are exposed to low levels of some chemicals. Neurotoxins (e.g. lead and solvents) cause short-term memory problems dizziness fatigue irritability inability to concentrate and structural changes to the nervous system. The best evidence for a link between environmental pollution and immune dysfunction is asthma and respiratory illnesses. The cause of about 60% of reproductive and development disorders is not known. People who work with glycol ether have a high rate of adverse reproductive outcomes. These links and identified effects call for a more conservative approach to chemical regulation. Regulatory agencies e.g. US Environmental Protection Agency need to include the growing evidence of toxic effects at lower levels into their chemical risk assessments. Specifically their specialists must consider potential effects on the nervous system the endocrine and reproductive systems and the immune system.