| Popis: |
We have examined but a small number of selected chemical agents from a spectra of environmental areas, viz. , drugs 1 ; feed medicants and pesticides 2 ; polymer and plastic ingredients, rubber additives, brightening agents and industrial chemicals with a view toward elaborating their potential hazard via a primary consideration of their structural analogies to known carcinogens, mutagens and/or teratogens. Efforts were made to cite where possible, the areas of primary environmental concern to man in terms of water, soil, air and food residues and attendant portals of entry of these agents as well as to stress their known biological and toxicological effects. Recognition was also made wherever feasible to the interrelationships and commonality of metabolites and degradation products from within the classes of compounds examined. We stress the fact that not only are chemical pollutants (both synthetic and naturally occurring, as well as their metabolic and/or degradation products) capable of producing any one or more of a variety of acute and chronic toxicities, but they may also interact in vitro and in vivo to produce synergistic or potentiating effects. Clearly the problem is staggering when one considers the myriad of new agents introduced into the environment annually on top of an already staggering number of present and potential hazards, but the time may also be short in eliciting the hazards of these agents to man. |
