Transcript POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAH’S)

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON
(PAH’S)
Jose.
& Joe Anousaya
Period 5 APES
Chemical Formula : C12H10
Define : PAHs are a group of chemicals
that are formed during the incomplete
burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage,
or other organic substances, such as
tobacco and charbroiled meat. There are
more than 100 different PAHs.
Purpose : PAH compounds are a
generally hazardous class of organic
compounds found in petroleum and
emissions from fossil fuel and conversion
processes.
Sounds Boring? I don’t think so…
PAHs are one of the most widespread organic pollutants. In addition to their
presence in fossil fuels they are also formed by incomplete combustion of
carbon-containing fuels such as wood, coal, diesel, fat, tobacco, and
incense.
Enters Environment
Health Exposure
Breathing: breathing smoke, auto emissions or
industrial air. Most exhausts contain many different
PAH compounds. People with the highest exposures
are smokers, people who live or work with smokers,
roofers, road builders and people who live near major
highways or industrial sources.
High Exposure can
cause Lower IQ &
Childhood asthma
Touching: can be absorb through physical
contact. Exposure can come from handling
contaminated soil or bathing in contaminated
water. It occurs when the person is not cleansed.
Drinking/Eating: Charcoal-broiled foods, especially meats, are a source exposure.
Shellfish living in contaminated water may be another major source of exposure.
Drinking water may also contain the toxin.
Sometimes vegetables do not contain it either.
•Lung Cancer – from smoking too much
such as cigarettes
• Reproductive affects - Reproductive
problems and problems in unborn
babies’ development may occur.
• Organ Damage – Such as lungs, liver,
skin, and kidneys can be damaged by
exposure. Depending if the person
exposure is physical or from
smoking/drinking.
Health Issues
• Many PAHs can be detected in blood or
urine soon after exposure.
• Tests for these compounds are not
routine and can only be performed using
special equipment not usually found in
doctor's offices.
• Blood tests of liver and kidney function
are available.
• People exposed to PAHs in air may want
to have lung function tests done.
Medical Test
Government Enters…
• The federal government has set
regulations to protect people from the
possible health effects of eating,
drinking, or breathing PAHs.
• EPA has suggested that taking into
your body each day the following
amounts of individual PAHs is not likely
to cause any harmful health effects
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) concluded that occupational
exposure to coal products can increase the risk of
lung and skin cancer in workers. NIOSH
established a recommended occupational
exposure limit.
•Only a limit amount of time of exposure to coal
& other stuff.
A 52-year-old man comes to your office for
a health evaluation, his first in 3 years.
The patient has worked at a coal tar
manufacturing plant for the past 34 years.
He has been exposed to varieties of PAH’s
& as a result many side affects has been
happening to him.
Solution: He is put under treatment
And care till further notice, so far
He is only on medication.
“Dyspnea, weight loss, and weakness in a 52-year-old
male coal tar manufacturing plant worker”
Bibliography
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Toxicological profile
for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Public Health Service.
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/PHS/PHS.asp?id=12
0&tid=25