Effects of pollutants on humans

1999/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Ingurumena

Artic Monitoring and Assessment is the first circumpolar study to study pollutants in humans. Blood samples from mothers from ten Arctic regions have been analyzed.

The chemicals analyzed are very persistent, accumulate in fats and can easily pass from mothers to children, both during pregnancy and during lactation. In addition, as they are not easily eliminated or metabolized, they increasingly focus on animals along the food chain. The high degree of pollution presented by women from the eastern Canadian and western Arctic of Greenland indicates that they have a diet based on marine mammals, fatty fish and poultry eggs, among others.

DDE is caused by degradation of DDT in animal bodies and the environment. It mimics estrogen and acts against male hormones. It can affect fertility, development, nervous system and even cause cancer.

PCBs can produce effects on neuroportation in children of mothers who contain more than 10 micrograms per liter of blood. Chlordane is an insecticide that degrades in the body producing toxic substances. It causes damage to the liver, nervous system, and immune system.