A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Protecting Environmental Health in Schools –

An Introduction to the Ethics and Toxicology

Keeping Students Safe

Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT“A Small Dose of Toxicology”

www.asmalldoseof.org

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

A Small Dose of Toxicology

See: www.asmalldoseof.org -- smdose

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Small Dose of Toxicology

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Milestones of Toxicology

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Child Health

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

“Children can develop and mature in an

environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full

potential.”

Vision for Child Health

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

The study of poisonsor

the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on living

organisms.

Toxicology Definitions

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

“Conditions that ensure that all living things have the best opportunity to reach and maintain their full genetic potential.”

Steven G. Gilbert, 1999

Environmental Health

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

What Is This Pesticide?

N

NN

N

CH3

CH3

CH3

O

O

1

3

7

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Key Words

Risk =

Hazard X Exposure

Dose / Response

Individual Sensitivity

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

“All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a

poison. The right dose differentiates

a poison from a remedy.”

Paracelsus (1493-1541)

Paracelsus

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

“The sensitivity of the individual differentiates a poison from a remedy.

The fundamental principle of toxicology is the individual’s response to a dose.”

S. G. Gilbert (1997)

An Individual View

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Effects of Amount on Response

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Effects of Size on Response

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

• Dose Response Issues

• Higher metabolic rate

• Different nutritional requirements

• Rapidly dividing & migrating cells

• Immature organs

Susceptibility of Children

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

A Small Dose of Lead

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Lead In Homes

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Lead History

Greek 2nd BC

Lead Makes the Mind Give Way

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Lead - Absorption

Orally Consumed Lead Absorbed In Place of Calcium

CHILDREN – 30-50% OF LEADADULTS – 5-10% OF LEAD

Increased During Pregnancy

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

• 25 DAYS -- BLOOD• 40 DAYS -- SOFT TISSUE • 20 YEARS -- BONE

Half-life Of Lead

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Agency Blood Lead Levels

60

40

3025

2015

10

20

10

20

30

40

50

60

Blo

od

Lea

d (

ug

/dl)

CDC1960

CDC1973

CDC1975

CDC1985

WHO1986

EPA1986

CDC1990

CDC2006?

Agency and Year

Acceptable Childhood Blood Lead Levels

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Are we doing enough?

CDC Lead level 10 to 2 Mcg/dL?

Lead in the drinking water of Seattle schools!

SB 5189 Reducing childhood lead exposure

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

A Small Dose of Mercury

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Hg – Like Water

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Fetal Effects of MeHg

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

The Mercury Cycle

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Mercury Education and Reduction Act (MERA) – 2003

• Educate - schools, businesses, local governments, and the public about health effects, disposal, and reduction of use

• January 1, 2006 - Primary and secondary schools can no longer purchase elemental mercury or mercury compounds, and must remove and properly dispose of bulk elemental mercury.

WA State Hg Action Plan

http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHP/mercury/wadoing.htm

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Pesticide Application

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Classes Of Pesticides

Insecticides (kill insects)• Organochlorines• Organophosphates• Carbamates• Synthetic Pyrethroids

Herbicides (kill plants) Rodenticides (kill rodents) Fungicides (kill fungus) Fumigants (kill whatever)

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Other Exposure

Dietary exposure• Pesticide residues on crops, dust –

hand to mouth

Community exposure• Airborne drift from commercial app

Contaminated drinking water• Leaching from soils to ground water

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

• Focus – long-term prevention of pest problems

• Reduce or eliminate chemical pest control methods

• Monitor for the presence of pests before treating

• Nonchemical strategies (make habitat less attractive, physical controls)

• Learn about your pests

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Socially responsible white guys?

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

“When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment,

precautionary measures should be take even if some cause and effect relationships are not

fully established scientifically.”

Wingspread Conference, 1998.

Precautionary Principle

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

• Taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty

• Shifting the burden of proof/responsibility to the proponents of an activity

• Exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions

• Increasing public participation in decision making

Wingspread Conference, 1998.

Central components

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

• Children have a right to a safe, fair and healthy environment

• Ethical Responsibility to share and use of knowledge

• Duty to promote health and well being of children

• Thoughtful public health advocate

Knowledge - Responsibility

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

The Potential of Children

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Principles of Toxicology

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Toxicology – 4/12/06

Additional Information

A Small Dose of Toxicologywww.asmalldoseof.org

For Additional Information contactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

E-mail: sgilbert@innd.orgWeb: www.asmalldoseof.org