Chemicals and Health

Abstract

Man is exposed throughout his life to a vast number of chemicals. Some of them are consumed deliberately or intentionally introduced into the environment as drugs, food and feed additives, pesticides and various consumer chemicals, others are present as pollutants or contaminants. Well documented are the effects of occupational exposure, of health risks from environmental chemicals, from accidental poisonings and from recent outbreaks of chemical disasters. However, there is a growing evidence that the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of environmental chemicals could be mutagenic, teratogenic and, especially, carcinogenic. A long period of latency may occur between the first chemical exposure and the manifestation of these effects. Further research is needed on these environmental chemicals and their possible involvement in the etinpathogenesis of some non-communicable diseases. Assessment of exposure and evaluation of related health risks, including identification of individuals or groups at particular risk, should be considered as the necessary first action aiming at the safe and full exploitation of all the benefits of chemical progress.