Finn Bro-Rasmussen

Contamination by persistent chemicals in food chain and human health

Persistent polluting chemicals are, by definition, substances which have long half-lives or disappearance rates in the environment, mainly due to their chemical stability, but often also caused by unfavourable conditions for environmental/biological mineralisation processes to take place. DDT, lindane, dieldrin, HCB, and PCB are well known examples of chemicals which can be found in various parts/compartments of the environment, and in living organisms including man. The early findings in 1950s and 1960s of the persistent chlorinated pesticides in birds and fish populations in North America and Europe were obviously the results of deliberate and extensive use of these chemicals in agriculture and industry. The findings were confirmed and substantiated by national and international monitoring programmes, and it became clear that many field observations of threatened species convincingly could be correlated to the increasing levels of contamination. Still more man-made chemicals have been drawn into the field of interests as widespread pollutants, and the geographical areas in which contamination takes place have become ever larger. The threat to groundwater resources from infiltration of pesticides into soils, and the alarming reports on contamination of mothers milk are to-day well-known examples. They are described from many parts of the world. Similarly, the food chain biomagnification of several pesticides and of PCB which were already described from Great Lakes region in North America in the 1960s and from the Baltic Sea area in Europe in the 1970s has since then been followed by identical observations in the Danube basin in Eastern Europe and in Indian provinces during the 1980s. Scientifically, we are to-day able to describe many of the fundamental processes, including environmental transport and transformation, as well as exposure, uptake and metabolic patterns for many of the persistent man-made chemicals. Accordingly, we are reasonably well informed of the most obvious cause-effect chains which govern the process of increasing pollution. We understand and can often for most of the chemicals predict the hazards of the environment as well as to man. In spite of this experience, and contrary to belief created by our scientific knowledge, the problem of contamination is still increasing. This includes the frequency of reported accidents and damages from all over the world. It is obvious, therefore, that the question becomes a matter of concern for the global society and a call for world-wide attention through international bodies develops into a matter of urgency.

Ecoepidemiology—A casuistic discipline describing ecological disturbances and damages in relation to their specific causes: Exemplified by chlorinated phenols and chlorophenoxy acids☆

Ecoepidemiology is a new concept created in analogy to human epidemiology, and aims at the study of ecotoxicological effects at the levels of ecosystems, biological communities, and populations in relation to causative environmental exposures, mostly by chemicals. By way of example, ecoepidemiology is described by presenting an example of unintentional dissipation and possible discharges of chlorophenols and phenoxy acids into the terrestrial environment and--as a more specific case--a marine, aquatic area, viz., the Køge Bay immediately to the south of Copenhagen, Denmark. The examples are illustrative of the complex situation which characterizes most ecoepidemiological cases. Difficulties with which the ecoepidemiologist are confronted are not only the identification of possible causative and confounding chemicals, and the description of ecoepidemiological effects per se, but also the assessment of critical pathways of multimedium pollutants. Biomonitoring, computer-based handling of data from natural localities, and determination of a variety of anthropogenic impact factors are necessary elements of ecoepidemiological studies.

Cadmium in soil and terrestrial biota, with emphasis on the danish situation

The cadmium load on the soil and terrestrial biota in the industrialized countries appears to be on the increase. Due to a relatively high mobility of this metal in the soil-plant system, the likely gradual increase in soil concentrations will influence the cadmium load on organisms in the terrestrial biota. It might be too early to predict the actual rate of increase in the cadmium load on specific organisms but some attempts to do so have suggested an annual increase rate of 0.5-2% in the human food intake of the metal. Although the present cadmium pollution of the environment at large is not yet crucial, the most sensitive species, man and other long-lived mammals, might soon need introduction of countermeasures to seriously reduce the load of this toxic metal. The most feasible countermeasures to be taken are reductions in emission to air directly or indirectly via reduction of the indiscriminate use of the metal for common consumer goods. A decrease of the inflow to soils in phosphate fertilizer may be more difficult to curb, but a reduced fertilization rate on most areas might be possible without loss of fertility. Sludge may not be a major source of cadmium nationally, but may locally significantly increase the inflows to agriculture (Statens Naturvårdsverk, 1978; Miljøstyrelsen, 1980; Umweltbundesamt, 1981; Department of the Environment, 1980.

Hazard Assessment - a Summary of Analysis and Integrated Evaluation of Exposure and Potential Effects from Toxic Environmental Chemicals

Abstract The increasing uses of commercial chemicals have forced governments and international organisations, such as OECD, EEC etc. in the years following World War II to address the problem of toxic chemicals in the environment. The scientific basis for any chemical regulation is the knowledge of potential fate and effects of chemicals. Practically every chemical law which has been developed in recent years requests manufacturers and/or importers to register (notify) their production of their marketing of new chemicals to national authorities. The notifications comprise series of data on physico-chemical properties and biological (i.e. toxicological and ecotoxicological) characteristics of the chemicals. From such data it is attempted to establish a hazard ranking (or preliminary hazard assessment) of chemicals. This involves evaluation, or possibly calculation, of the expected exposure from the chemicals and of the potential effects resulting from such exposure. Some basic knowledge on the target, i.e. the ecosystem need to be included in the evaluation process. The possible use of mathematical modelling in hazard ranking and hazard assessment is presently confined to the exposure analyses, which are based on calculations from physico-chemical data of the chemicals and from parameters describing over-all properties of a so-called Unit World. In contrast, the potential effects of a chemical is assessed from a limited number of toxicological and ecotoxicological laboratory tests. The main criteriae used in hazard ranking are established from laboratory data on degradability, mobility and potential for bioaccumulation of the individual chemicals. Such data are selected as the fate (exposure) characteristics of primary importance, while information on acute toxicity to rat, fish, and daphnia are the measures used for evaluation of potential effects. In various ranking schemes these characteristics are expressed in simple numerical scales, and classification codes are assigned to each. These can be scoring systems, or - even more simple - descriptive codes as for instance colour codes, such as Black for ‘Damaging to the environment’, Grey for ‘Dangerous to the environment’, and White for ‘Potentially dangerous to the environment’. The limitations of presently known hazard rankings schemes are discussed, and it is suggested that basic chemical properties (such as the OECD/EEC base-set data or similar) should not realistically be utilised beyond the stage of simple classification rules, e.g. for labelling purposes. More elaborate hazard assessment schemes are still to be expected, and they should be based on more individually developed case-by-case studies.

Studies of mobility of di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), di-N-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by plant foliage treatment in a closed terrestrial simulation chamber

Abstract A climate chamber was constructed for model studies of mobility and effects of chemical substances within simplified terrestrial systems. The chamber functions and its performance were tested by foliar applications of phthalates on higher plants. A low elimination rate from foliage was observed for DEHP. More than 95% of DiBP and DBP were eliminated within 15 days. 1.5 μg cm −2 of DBP caused chlorosis on the leaves of Sinapis alba L.

Chemical hazards are a serious matter—too serious to be left for chemists to administer

Abstract A number of options and recommendations concerned with the need for future revisions of chemical regulations have been discussed during an international Hearing held on 30 October 1996 at the castle of Christiansborg, i.e. the Danish Parliament Building. Most prominent in the debate was the proposal that classification should be made obligatory for all existing chemicals, and this should be based on classification in broad groups or clusters of interrelated chemicals instead of the existing practice in which all chemicals are singled out for individual testing and classification. According to such a scheme, as a precautionary measure, each individual chemical in a group shall be classified and ranked in parallel to the most dangerous/hazardous chemical represented within the group.

The Precautionary Principle and Science-Based Limits in Regulatory Toxicology

In the words of Genesis in the Holy Book, man is given to rule over all the earth, over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over livestock and all creatures that move along the ground.

The environmental experience: ecosystem protection.

In the words of Genesis in the Holy Book, man is given to rule over all the earth, over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over livestock and all creatures that move along the ground. Reading these words and contemplating his own technological achievements, man feels continuously re-assured that this interpretation is both correct and justified.

Future Environmental Problems

Referring to recent experience concerned with the deterioration of marine ecosystems and degradation of their environmental qualities, it is urged that the problems of the future are identical with or they are based on the environmental problems of today. Environmental damages are caused by macropollutants as well as micropollutants, they may be irreversible by nature and irrevocable in their development. Confidence in the prevention of future problems is therefore closely related to the proper protection of the environment today. This prevention should be based on analysis and problem identification in their entirety, and methods of protection should concentrate on the sources of environmental impact — rather than on restorations and remedial actions at the level of environmental target systems.

Harboør Tange, Denmark - A Coastal Area Polluted with Toxic Organic Chemicals and Mercury

Much public concern has been created by the Danish chemical production plant, Cheminova Ltd. due to its practices of discharge and emissions of toxic chemicals to the environment. This has been the case since its production started in the 1940’s in a Copenhagen suburb, and up to the present day, where it is located in the North-western part of Denmark within an area which has been designated as a nature conservancy area of international importance under the Ramsur Convention.