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Human Health Effects of
Trespassing Toxic
Pollution from Waste Incineration |
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Particulate Matter travels deep into the lungs where it can become
trapped. Toxic and cancer-causing chemicals can ride on these tiny particles
into the lungs, enabling them to enter the blood stream.
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Sulfur Dioxide can restrict air passages when inhaled. This makes
breathing harder for people with asthma and young children, whose lungs need to
work harder.
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Nitrogen Oxides can irritate the lungs, cause bronchitis and pneumonia,
and decrease resistance to respiratory infections. They may promote the growth
of cancer.
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Carbon Monoxide can cause death in high doses. Lower doses during
exercise can cause earlier onset of angina, the chest pain experienced by heart
patients.
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Non-methane Hydrocarbons react in the atmosphere with nitrogen oxides to
form ground-level ozone (smog). Inhaled continuously, it attaches to lung
tissues and causes harmful changes to breathing passages, a decrease in our
lungs’ ability to work and chest pains. It may lead to cancer.
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Hydrochloric Acid has not been widely studied relative to health
effects. Sulfuric Acid is another aerosol acid that may serve as a point
of reference. Continued exposure to sulfuric acid is a potential irritant to
the upper respiratory system. Even a single exposure can cause chronic
bronchitis.
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Arsenic exists in several forms. It has been identified as a cause of
skin cancer and lung cancer. Long-term exposure can damage the central nervous
system. Little is known about the specific form that is present in waste
incinerator pollution.
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Cadmium in the airborne state is particularly hazardous. It can lead to
heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema. It is classified by the USEPA as a
probable human cancer-causing agent.
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Lead accumulates in the blood stream. Even small exposures over time
seriously threaten unborn children, developing children and the elderly. Lead
poisoning affects the brain and nervous system, limiting intelligence. Lead
poisoning can cause permanent brain damage if untreated.
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Mercury exposure over the long term can permanently damage the brain,
kidneys and central nervous system. It is especially dangerous to unborn
children. Mercury builds up in the food chain and chronic exposure is
considered to be a very serious public health issue that requires policies to
keep exposures at the lowest possible levels.
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Dioxins and Furans are widely described as the most toxic chemicals ever
known and are highly toxic at extremely low doses. Dioxin is a potent human
cancer-causing agent. Research is showing that its damaging effects on the
immune and central nervous systems, and on sexual development may actually pose
a greater threat. Dioxins and furans also build up in the food chain.
Approximately 90% of dioxin exposure is through consumption of meat and dairy
products, where it accumulates in fat. Infants are at a higher risk because of
their ingestion of mother’s breast milk. However, research still indicates that
the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risks.
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An amount of dioxin equal to one to four grains of rice, if distributed equally
and directly to average sized adults, is equivalent to the “allowable” yearly
dose for one million adults
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This is based on the World Health Organization’s tolerable daily intake (TDI) of
1-4 pq TEQ/kg bw/day. Most American adults have levels of dioxins in their
bodies approaching amounts that result in adverse health impacts.
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Health effects information from:
http://www.penweb.org/b-pure/Wheelabrator.html
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