Biological Pollutants

Rimsha Azhar
Michelle Arif
Shehryar Bhatti
Pollutants

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment

that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a
resource. A pollutant may cause long- or short-term damage by
changing the growth rate of plant or animal species, or by interfering
with human amenities, comfort, health, or property values.
Biological Pollutants

Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. They promote

poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from
work and school, and of doctor and hospital visits. Some can even
damage surfaces inside and outside your house. Biological
pollutants can travel through the air and are often invisible
 Some of them are:
animal dander (minute scales from hair,
feathers, or skin);
dust mite and cockroach parts;
infectious agents (bacteria and viruses); and
pollen.
Some of these substances are in every home. It is impossible o get rid of them all.
Even a spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two
conditions are essential to support biological growth: nutrients and moisture. These
conditions can be found in many locations, such as bathrooms, damp or flooded
basements, wet appliances (such as humidifiers and air conditioners), and even some
carpets and furniture.
Scope of the Problem

Most information about sources and health effects of biological

pollutants is based on studies of large office buildings and surveys of
homes in the northern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that 30%
to 50% of all structures have damp conditions which may encourage
the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. This percentage is
likely to be higher in warm, moist climates. Some diseases and
illnesses have been linked with biological pollutants in the indoor
environment. However, many of them also have causes unrelated to the
indoor environment.
Health Effects of Biological Pollutants

All of us are exposed to biological pollutants. However, the effects

on our health depend on the type and amount of biological pollution
and the individual person. Some people do not experience health
reactions from certain biological pollutants, while others may
experience one or more of the following reactions:
allergic;
infectious; and/or
toxic.
Except for the spread of infections indoors, allergic reactions may be the most
common health problem with indoor air quality in homes. They are often connected
with animal dander (mostly from cats and dogs), with house dust mites (microscopic
animals living in household dust), and with pollen. Allergic reactions can range from
mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Some common
signs and symptoms are:
watery eyes;
runny nose and sneezing;
nasal congestion;
itching;
wheezing and difficulty breathing;
headache; and
fatigue.
What Can You Do About Biological Pollutants

moisture control
Identifying source
Maintain and clean all appliances that come in contact with water. O
Clean surfaces
Dust control
Environmental Estrogens
We are constantly assaulted by estrogens in our environmentfrom the
food we eat to the chemicals we use or are exposed to. Estrogen in the form
of chemicals (xenoestrogens), or foods and plants (phytoestrogens: soy
beans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax) etc.), mimic the action of
estrogen produced in cells and can alter hormonal activity. Synthetic xenoe
strogens are widely used industrial compounds, such as PCBs, BPA and
phthalates, which have estrogenic effects on a living organism even though
they differ chemically from the estrogenic substances prodauced internally
by the endocrine system of any organism.
 Problems Caused by Environmental estrogens may
Include:

imbalance in women's hormones known as estrogen dominance

girls and boys beginning puberty too early, which can lead to health problems
later in life

abnormal growth of mammary tissues in men known as "man boobs"

other health issues in men including hair loss, atherosclerosis, prostate problems,
lowered libido, and impotency
Solutions

Use
a high-quality water filter in your home
organically grown whole foods
hormone-free meats and dairy products
glass or ceramics for storing food
a simple laundry and dish detergent with less chemicals
organic soaps and toothpastes
natural skincare products
naturally-based perfumes (most perfumes are petro-chemically
based\
Household Cleaning Agents

When consumers buy commercial cleaning products, we expect

them to do one thing: clean! But while the chemicals in cleaners foam,
bleach, and disinfect to make our dishes, bathtubs and countertops
gleaming and germ-free, many also contribute to indoor air pollution,
are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful if inhaled or touched. In
fact, some cleaners are among the most toxic products found in the
home.
Health Hazards

Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose.

Some cause acute, or immediate, hazards such as skin or respiratory
irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated
with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.
The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain
cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners, according to
Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition. Corrosive chemicals
can cause severe burns on eyes, skin and, if ingested, on the throat and
esophagus. Ingredients with high acute toxicity include chlorine bleach
and ammonia, which produce fumes that are highly irritating to eyes,
nose, throat and lungs, and should not be used by people with asthma
or lung or heart problems.
Environmental Issues

After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are
treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal treatment
plants, and then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in
chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during
treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not, threatening water
quality or fish and other wildlife.

Another famous water pollutant is phosphates, water-softening

mineral additives that were once widely used in laundry detergents
and other cleaners. When phosphates enter waterways, they act as a
fertilizer, spawning overgrowth of algae.
This overabundance of aquatic plant life eventually depletes the
water's oxygen supply, killing off fish and other organisms. Although
many states have banned phosphates from laundry detergents and
some other cleaners, they are still used in automatic dishwasher
detergents.

The plastic bottles used to package cleaning products pose another

environmental problem by contributing to the mounds of solid waste
that must be land filled, incinerated or, in not enough cases, recycled
Ionizing Radiations

Ionizing radiation (ionizing radiation) is radiation that carries

enough energy to free electrons from atoms or molecules,
thereby ionizing them. Ionizing radiation is made up of
energetic subatomic particles, ions or atoms moving at high
speeds (usually greater than 1% of the speed of light),
and electromagnetic waves on the high-energy end of
the electromagnetic spectrum.

Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher ultraviolet part of the

electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing.
Sources of Radiations
Health Effects

In general, ionizing radiation is harmful and potentially lethal to

living beings but can have health benefits in radiation therapy for the
treatment of cancer and thyrotoxicosis.
Most adverse health effects of radiation exposure may be grouped in
two general categories:
deterministic effects (harmful tissue reactions) due in large part to
the killing/ malfunction of cells following high doses
stochastic effects, i.e., cancer and heritable effects involving either
cancer development in exposed individuals owing to mutation of
somatic cells or heritable disease in their offspring owing to
mutation of reproductive (germ) cells
Radiation Hazard Warning Signs

Hazardous levels of ionizing radiation are signified by the trefoil

sign on a yellow background. These are usually posted at the boundary
of a radiation controlled area or in any place where radiation levels are
significantly above background due to human intervention.
The red ionizing radiation warning symbol (ISO 21482) was
launched in 2007, and is intended for IAEA Category 1, 2 and 3
sources defined as dangerous sources capable of death or serious
injury, including food irradiators, teletherapy machines for cancer
treatment and industrial radiography units. The symbol is to be placed
on the device housing the source, as a warning not to dismantle the
device or to get any closer. It will not be visible under normal use, only
if someone attempts to disassemble the device. The symbol will not be
located on building access doors, transportation packages or containers.
Inorganic Pollutants

Inorganic Contaminants (IOCs) are elements or compounds found in

water supplies and may be natural in the geology or caused by
activities of man through mining, industry or agriculture. It is common
to have trace amounts of many Inorganic Contaminants in water
supplies. These can lead to various diseases and ailments.
Metal as Pollutants

The most common heavy metal pollutants are arsenic, cadmium,

chromium, copper, nickel, lead and mercury. There are different types
of sources of pollutants: point sources (localized pollution),
where pollutants come from single, identifiable sources
Effects of Heavy Metals on Human Health

Heavy metal poisoning

Mercury: Affects the nervous system and lead to violent muscular
spasms and even death.
Aluminum: Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease
Lead: Deposits itself in the body- bones, soft tissue, and the brain
Cadmium: Affects the cardiovascular and reproductive systems,
kidneys, eyes, and brain.
Protection

Toxic metal tests can be done by many chiropractors or natural

healthcare practitioners using hair, blood or urine analysis. A sauna is
great for heat therapy, which dissolves toxins in the blood and lets you
sweat them out. Find a dentist who has experience and knowledge
removing mercury fillings and have your mercury amalgam fillings
removed immediately. Be cautious of antiperspirants, cookware and
utensils that contain aluminum. Avoid food or drink in aluminum cans.
Think twice about vaccinations for things that are no longer common.

Toxic metal poisons are all around us and you need to actively avoid
toxic metal exposure. However, total avoidance can be a very tricky
proposition- the stuff is everywhere. Detoxify and cleanse your
body to reduce the toxins that affect your health.
References

https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/how-toxic-are-your-
household-cleaning-supplies
https://www.energeticnutrition.com/vitalzym/xeno_phyto_estro
gens.html
https://www.nachi.org/pollutants.htm
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/effects-of-
toxic-metals/