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McKay, Donald. "Front matter" Multimedia Environmental Models ...

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3.3.2.7 Arsenic Compounds<br />

Arsenic, which behaves somewhat similarly to phosphorus, is inadvertently<br />

liberated in mineral processing and has a long and celebrated history as a poison.<br />

It usually exists in anionic and organic forms.<br />

3.3.2.8 Metals<br />

Most metals are essential for human life in small quantities but can be toxic if<br />

administered in excessive dosages. The metals of primary toxicological interest here<br />

are those that form organo-metallic molecules. Notable is mercury, which can exist<br />

as the element in various ionic and organometallic forms. Other metals such as lead<br />

and tin behave similarly. A formidable literature exists on the behavior, fate, and<br />

effects of the “heavy” metals such as lead, copper, and chromium. These metals<br />

often have a complex environmental chemistry and toxicology that vary considerably,<br />

depending on their ionic state as influenced by acidity and redox status.<br />

3.3.2.9 Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products<br />

Considerable quantities of drugs are used by humans and for veterinary purposes<br />

on livestock. Antibiotics and steroids are examples. These substances are excreted<br />

and may pass through sewage treatment plants or enter soils or groundwater following<br />

agricultural use. There is a growing concern that these substances may have<br />

adverse effects or may cause an increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Among<br />

personal care products of concern are detergents, fabric softeners, fragrances, and<br />

certain solvents. They may evaporate or be discharged with sewage, which may or<br />

may not be adequately treated.<br />

3.3.2.10 Other Chemicals<br />

Several other chemicals are of environmental concern including ozone, radon,<br />

chlorine, organic and inorganic sulfides and cyanides, as well as the indeterminate<br />

broad class of “conventional” pollutants or indicators of pollution such as biochemical<br />

oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Finally, certain<br />

mineral substances such as asbestos are of concern, more because of their physical<br />

structure than their chemical composition.<br />

3.3.2.11 The Future<br />

It would be unwise to assume that current lists of priority chemicals are complete<br />

and will remain static. It may be that the chemicals on the lists reflect our present<br />

ability to detect and analyze them rather than their real environmental significance.<br />

The prevalence of organo-chlorine chemicals on lists is in part the result of the<br />

sensitive electron capture detector. As new analytical methods emerge, new chemicals<br />

will presumably be found, and priorities will change. Happy hunting grounds<br />

for environmental chemists include combustion gases, dyes, mine tailings, effluents<br />

©2001 CRC Press LLC

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