Harmful Substances and Our Environment

Our environment consists of various elements, substances, and phenomena. Everything we see from insects, plants, birds, water, soil, air, and fire are all components of our environment. All these components work in tandem to maintain life on earth. For example, trees cleanse the air we breathe, soil houses numerous insects, and birds act as pollinators of plants.

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Since the beginning of life, humans have constantly tried to alter and modify various parts of the environment according to their needs. However, as times changed and humans evolved, the environment underwent further modification by humans, which eventually led to the formation of an amalgamation between fabricated and natural environments. Nevertheless, the ever-evolving humankind did not stop there and is now destroying the environment because of industrial activities.

Deforestation, air pollution, disruption of the water cycle, and erosion are some of the disastrous effects of human activity. The chemicals and toxic gas emissions from industrial waste led to these effects. These gases and chemicals also destroy our environment and health. To save the environment and ourselves, we must know about these harmful substances present in our surroundings.

Jotted down are five such substances.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a highly toxic substance found in paints, cement, roof shingles, brake pads, and other household and industrial products. Long-term exposure to asbestos leads to scarring of the lungs and eventually causes cancer.

In the past, many people lost their lives due to the disastrous effects of asbestos. Resultantly, asbestos trust funds were set up for individuals or families suffering from asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure occurs due to the inhalation of asbestos fibers upon being released into the air. Normally, asbestos is not harmful, but if it is present in various compounds as small particles, then asbestos can prove detrimental.

These small asbestos particles accumulate in the body and destroy the lining of bodily organs. As the body lining deteriorates, inflammation occurs. Long-term inflammation in the body results in tissue death, DNA mutations, and cell death. Given these adverse effects of asbestos exposure, several countries have banned it altogether.

Lead

Lead is a widespread substance found everywhere in our environment, and most of it is present in the earth’s crust. Lead is a beneficial chemical, and most industries and companies extract it for manufacturing various compounds. Gasoline, batteries, ceramics, and paint all contain lead.

However, due to these activities and lead leakage, the amount of lead in the environment is now toxic, leading to various diseases in adults and children. Lead poisoning in children is widely prevalent as one in every forty children suffers from lead toxicity. Lead toxicity in children builds up slowly and can even be fatal. Moreover, children with a high level of lead in their blood cannot develop physically or mentally, resulting in mental retardation.

Lead positioning in adults is less severe and occurs due to exposure at work. In adults, lead destroys the kidneys, heart, and reproductive organs. Alongside this, it leaves disastrous effects on the brain as well. Therefore, it’s crucial to protect yourself from lead poisoning by frequently washing hands, cleaning homes, and preventing paint chipping.

Mercury

No matter how tempting it is to touch this beautiful liquid, never hold mercury. Mercury is one of the most corrosive elements and can absorb into the body through food, air, or skin contact. Mercury produces a range of adverse effects in the body, depending upon the type of mercury absorbed.

If methyl mercury is absorbed, then serious brain injuries occur. Methyl is the most toxic form of mercury as it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain. Once in the brain, methyl mercury precipitates brain protein and inhibits vital enzymes resulting in convulsions, paresthesia, visual blindness, and loss of motor control. On the other hand, methyl mercury poses a major threat in children as more than 630,000 babies suffer from mercury toxicity each year. Children receive methyl mercury from their mothers in the womb and the environment after birth. As babies are still developing, their kidneys cannot clear up the mercury in the blood. This high mercury concentration in blood travels to the brain and accumulates there, resulting in developmental abnormalities and death.

Even though mercury is highly toxic, it is still present in various materials such as thermometers, bulbs, jewelry, and cosmetics. Moreover, mercury is an ingredient in different medications like antiseptics, optic drops, and ointments.

Formaldehyde

This hazardous substance is different from others in this list because formaldehyde is a gas. It is highly flammable and has a horrendous odor.

Formaldehyde is present all around us: indoors and outdoors. It is present in resins, glues, lacquers, disinfectants, preservatives, paper, plywood, and fertilizers. Its aqueous solution, formalin, helps preserve dead bodies. Formaldehyde poisoning often occurs due to inhalation of vapors or constant exposure to gas. As the gas diffuses into the body, it binds to body cells, disrupting cell membranes and resulting in abnormal cellular function. The body cells most prone to formaldehyde reaction are eyes, lungs, and skin. Formaldehyde in the eyes causes severe irritation, redness, and blindness.

At the same time, on the skin, it leads to rashes, cysts, eczema, and urticaria. The worst effects are on the lungs as formaldehyde exposure triggers irritation, asthma, and pneumonitis.

Benzene

Benzene is a volatile liquid with an aromatic smell. It is a potentially dangerous compound because it increases cancer risks by 40%. Resultantly, any product containing more than 5% of benzene is unsafe, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). However, many companies still use benzene.

Moreover, coal burning, gasoline in cars, and tobacco smoke contribute to increasing levels of benzene in the environment. Toxic levels of benzene have short-term and long-term effects. Acutely, benzene causes neurological effects like dizziness, confusion, and gastrointestinal effects like vomiting and dyspepsia.

In contrast, long-term exposure leads to bone marrow suppression, irregular menstruation, and even death. Exposure to benzene is reducible through preventions like prohibiting smoking, regulating vehicles engines, and limiting the production of benzene products.

Conclusion

Our environment is our home, and it shields us, nurtures us, and sustains us. It also provides us with the essential building blocks required to maintain life. However, some substances that are detrimental to us are also present in the environment. Such substances are consequences of our activities, and protection from them is necessary. Besides ensuring safety, prevention is also mandatory to reduce the risk of these compounds in our environment.