Table of Contents

Forewords xi
Tribute xiii


The Editors xv


Contributors xvii


Acknowledgements xix


Introduction 1

Jane A. Plant, Nikolaos Voulvoulis and K. Vala
Ragnarsdottir


1 The scientific appraisal of hazardous substances in the
environment 5

Olwenn V. Martin and Jane A. Plant


1.1 Introduction 5


1.2 Fundamental concepts of toxicology 5


1.3 Some notions of environmental epidemiology 13


1.4 Scientific evidence and the precautionary principle 19


1.5 Uncertainty and controversy: the endocrine disruption
example 20


1.6 Concluding remarks 23


References 23


2 Regulatory systems and guidelines for the management of
risk 27

Dieudonne-Guy Ohandja, Sally Donovan, Pamela Castle, Nikolaos
Voulvoulis and Jane A. Plant


2.1 Introduction 27


2.2 Current regulation on chemicals 28


2.3 Guideline values 34


2.4 Conclusions and recommendations 47


References 47


3 Essential and beneficial trace elements 53

Xiyu Phoon, E. Louise Ander and Jane A. Plant


3.1 Introduction 53


3.2 Hazardous properties 56


3.3 Sources 59


3.4 Environmental pathways 63


3.5 Effects on human receptors 68


3.6 Risk reduction 77


References 79


4 Toxic trace elements 87

Jilang Pan, Ho-Sik Chon, Mark R. Cave, Christopher J. Oates and
Jane A. Plant


4.1 Introduction 87


4.2 Hazardous properties 89


4.3 Sources 90


4.4 Environmental pathways 94


4.5 Effects on human receptors 101


4.6 Risk reduction 107


References 108


5 Radioactivity and radioelements 115

Jane A. Plant, Barry Smith, Xiyu Phoon and K. Vala
Ragnarsdottir


5.1 Introduction 115


5.2 Hazardous properties 122


5.3 Sources 125


5.4 Environmental pathways 132


5.5 Bioaccessibility and bioavailability 136


5.6 Risk reduction 139


References 141


6 Industrial chemicals 147

Danelle Dhaniram, Alexandra Collins, Khareen Singh and Nikolaos
Voulvoulis


6.1 Introduction 147


6.2 Hazardous properties 148


6.3 Sources 156


6.4 Environmental pathways 161


6.5 Human health 164


6.6 Risk reduction and future trends 170


References 172


7 Agricultural pesticides and chemical fertilisers
181

Rebecca McKinlay, Jason Dassyne, Mustafa B. A. Djamgoz, Jane A.
Plant and Nikolaos Voulvoulis


7.1 Introduction 181


7.2 Pesticides 183


7.3 Fertilisers 195


7.4 Risk reduction for pesticides and chemical fertilisers
197


References 199


8 Pharmaceuticals and personal-care products 207

James Treadgold, Qin-Tao Liu, Jane A. Plant and Nikolaos
Voulvoulis


8.1 Introduction 207


8.2 Hazardous properties 208


8.3 Anthropogenic sources 210


8.4 Pathways and environmental fate 215


8.5 Physiological effects 218


8.6 Risk assessment, communication and reduction 219


8.7 Future trends 220


References 221


9 Naturally occurring oestrogens 229

Olwenn V. Martin and Richard M. Evans


9.1 Introduction 229


9.2 Hazardous properties 231


9.3 Sources 240


9.4 Environmental pathways 241


9.5 Effects on humans 243


9.6 Risk reduction 248


References 249


10 Airborne particles 255

Edward Derbyshire, Claire J. Horwell, Timothy P. Jones and
Teresa D. Tetley


10.1 Introduction 255


10.2 Hazardous properties 257


10.3 Sources 261


10.4 Global pathways 266


10.5 Health effects of inhaled particulate material 270


10.6 Risk reduction and future trends 277


References 281


11 Engineered nanomaterials 287

Superb K. Misra, Teresa D. Tetley, Andrew Thorley, Aldo R.
Boccaccini and Eugenia Valsami-Jones


11.1 Introduction 287


11.2 Useful and hazardous properties 289


11.3 Sources of NPs 299


11.4 Environmental pathways 300


11.5 Regulation and effects on human receptors 301


11.6 Future trends and risk reduction 312


References 313


Conclusions: pollutants, risk and society 319

Richard Owen, Jane A. Plant, K. Vala Ragnarsdottir and Nikolaos
Voulvoulis


Index 327

About the Author

Professor Jane Plant is a leading geochemist based at Imperial who has made major contributions to Earth and Environmental Science, concentrating on issues of particular relevance to society.
Professor Plant is an international expert on chemicals in the environment, especially the naturally occurring radionuclides such as uranium and the trace elements arsenic and selenium. She developed the BGS Geochemical Baseline of the Environment (G-BASE) programme which maps the distribution of many different chemicals over the land surface of the UK and allows their interactions to be studied using geographical information systems or other digital methods. She developed the methods of systematically and reproducibly sampling and analysing sediment, soil and water samples, as well as the first quality-control systems for such data. The standard of the data is widely acknowledged as the best in the world, and the methods have been adopted by the IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baseline Programme, which she leads jointly with the United States Geological Survey. She has used the data for many environmental studies, including issues related to human health and agriculture. She and her team have worked on problems related to human health in Asia and Africa helping, for example, to identify the relationship between a lack of available selenium in parts of China with the incidence of a type of heart disease.

Reviews

Overall, the book offers a well-rounded overview of thecomplex and rapidly changing field of environmental toxicology. Itwill be of interest to anyone studying or working in the broadfields of health, safety and environmental science and of immensevalue to scientists or professionals involved in influencingenvironmental and public health policy. (Occupational Medicine, 8 December 2013) Overall, this book is valuable to the field of cancerdisparity research and will be a good addition to any library,particularly those that cater to the disadvantaged members of theUS population. (Perspectives in Public Health,6 July 2013) This book provides a balanced view of the risks andbenefits of several groups of substances such as essential, toxic,trace and radioactive elements; synthetic organic agricultural andindustrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals; and particulates andnano-materials ... The chapters may be useful as guidelines forthe management of risk. The book will be quite useful for a widespectrum of readership across the world. (Environment & Ecology, 1 October 2012) The book is clearly written, includes extensivereferences, and is well-illustrated. (BookNews, 1 April 2012)