Six Hazardous Substances For Your Health
The composition of Earth's crust and environment is such that human beings and hazardous substances have frequent contact. These substances can occur in any form, including gaseous, liquid, and solid. They also exist in variety, including heavy metals, radioactive elements, vapors and smog, industrial chemicals, and asbestos.
Their prevalence is so common that preventing contact with them is difficult. Sometimes, direct exposure causes healthcare challenges. Other times, indirect contact can facilitate health issues in becoming severe. Activities involving human and chemical interaction increase the likelihood even more. Some occupations expose people to the side effects of these substances, such as construction and military service. At times, diseases can emerge even without apparent evidence of the exposure.
In other situations, the incorrect storage of these items can also lead to direct injury from lung exposure chemical burns or even projectile injury from flammable aerosol cans. You can easily go online to learn more about how to safely store potentially harmful substances.
Whatever the case, contact with these substances can lead to several short-term and long-term consequences for our well-being. Thus equipping yourself with knowledge on types and precautions helps reduce the risk. Below are some examples of dangerous substances and how they affect our health.
1. Asbestos
Asbestos is a lethal substance since direct contact can lead to terminal healthcare conditions. It is a fibrous material with extensive durability, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals and temperature. These characteristics contribute to its popularity and use in construction material and fire-resistant products. That is why, in the past, asbestos usage was common in the construction, development, and textile industries. As a result, people experience its side effects in some way or the other today despite global restrictions on its use.
Given healthcare standard protocols and occupational safety guidelines, coming in direct contact with asbestos is less common now. Yet, the risk is unavoidable. Inhaling or swallowing microfibrils can cause terminal lung diseases, such as pleural mesothelioma and other forms of cancer. Mesothelioma is a disease that severely damages the lungs' lining and impairs their function. After its diagnosis, patients have hardly a few years of life left to live. Thus pay attention to the safety rules regarding asbestos while working in risk-prone areas and use protective equipment.
2. Radioactive elements
Radioactive elements, such as radon, plutonium, cesium, uranium, iodine, and radium, also pose several hazards to health. They have intense ionization energy that can affect the genetic structure of cells. High doses of radiation can cause radiation sickness and skin burns. Though the body's repairing mechanism can heal some damage, prolonged exposure can lead to cellular mutations. This can lead to cardiovascular diseases and tumors.
Despite thorough safety measures, there are several possibilities for exposure to radioactive elements. For instance, hospitals use intense radiation while carrying out diagnosis and treatment procedures, such as chemotherapy, and expose patients. The chances of radiation threats also exist in your diet as well. A high intake of potassium iodide can increase the absorption of radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine, in return, can cause complications for the thyroid gland.
3. Nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen oxides are compounds made of nitrogen and oxygen, the potential agents for respiratory diseases. Surprising, isn't it? They are the byproduct of transportation, power generating plants, industrial and mining activities. Indoor household and occupational activities that involve burning fuel can also release nitrogen oxides. Poor ventilation can further intensify their damaging impact.
In the outdoors, nitrogen oxides interact with volatile organic compounds released from gases and solids, and sunlight. This facilitates the creation of creates ozone, smog, and airborne particles. All of these products are equally dangerous for human health. As such, airborne particles are particularly harmful to children and patients with respiratory tract issues. Prolonged exposure can worsen respiratory problems and contribute to lung cancer. Nitrogen oxides also increase the chances of developing cardiovascular illnesses and even premature death.
4. Heavy metals
Contact with heavy metals, including lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, lead to various severe health issues. Their sources of exposure are also many. The environment, soil, and food network are the primary sources coming into contact with these metals. Industrial, pharmaceutical, domestic, and agricultural byproducts and waste also contribute to their exposure rate. Various cosmetic products also contain heavy metals, including mercury, to enhance the revitalizing effect on our skin.
Whatsoever the source, these metals are notorious for causing both acute and long-term health issues. For instance, mercury exposure can impair the nervous system. People can experience irritability, blurred vision, tremors, and compromised memory. It also affects kidney functions and fetus development in expectant mothers. Contact with cadmium and arsenic increases the chances of developing pulmonary diseases, malignancies, and bone fragility.
5. Fertilizers
Fertilizers are chemical compounds that contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. They are used in the agriculture sector to boost crop yield. The chemicals are harmful to those having direct contact with fertilizers, including manufacturers and farmers. Contact with fertilizers can cause skin allergy, breathing issues, and itchiness in the eyes.
Fertilizers are also threatening for the remaining population who encounter them via waterways and bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation is the process when crops and soil absorb chemicals and facilitate their propagation throughout the food chain. Chemicals start interfering with normal body functions and damage cells once they find their way in through food. One of the most common side effects of fertilizers is chemical poisoning. This condition arises when consumers consume crops with a higher level of toxicity. Likewise, drinking contaminated water increases the likelihood of developing diseases. Studies reveal the association of diabetes, kidney failure, and Alzheimer's disease with chemical fertilizers.
6. Disinfectants
Houses, healthcare facilities, and other occupational settings depend on disinfectants for cleaning purposes. This dependence has also increased because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since disinfectants have extensive and routine usage, they can also increase people's vulnerability to health problems. It is because disinfectants contain hazardous chemicals. Studies demonstrate that healthcare workers dealing with disinfectants have a higher risk of suffering from asthma and dermatitis. Disinfectants' strong odor can aggravate their breathing problems, whereas bare hand interaction can cause skin burns.
Specifically, exposure to acetic acid and formaldehyde can burn skin, irritate eyes, and cause respiratory tract problems. Disinfectants containing hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol have explosive properties. Their contact with ignition sources can cause damage to objects and people nearby. Though several such chemicals are used in hospitals, other professions also rely upon them. Thus precaution specific to each disinfectant is necessary to prevent a fiery situation.
Conclusion
There are several ways we can expose ourselves to toxic substances. It is why health challenges are also innumerable. Occupational affiliation, frequent contact, and negligence further augment complications for well-being. Thus protection from their impact depends upon people's awareness and adherence to precaution measures within risky situations. It is best to stay knowledgeable and vigilant to prevent long-term and severe damage.