Environmental Health Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Environmental Health Assessment - Essay Example Adverse health conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, Attention Deficit Disorder, dyslexia and learning disabilities are increasingly being observed in infants, which are attributable to toxic metals poisoning (Windham). In addition to toxins of metallic origin, many a toxic organic chemical of synthetic or petroleum based origin are also being polluting the environment globally. At present over 80,000 man-made chemicals are being released into the earth’s environment which include 600 generic pesticides. (Turnbull, p 60). The (RoHS) 2002/95/EC directive which came into force on July1, 2006 to restrict the use of six hazardous substances should be viewed in this context. As a result of this directive, the manufacturers/sellers of electronic/electrical equipments put on EU market has to ensure that their products do not contain at least six toxic substances, namely Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls,and polybrominated diphenyl ether, beyond permissible limits. 1) Multi-sources context: The RoHS 2002/95/EC directive is applicable to equipments as defined in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, which can be considered as multisources in the present context as follows : 2) Multi-media context.: The toxic substances released by industry ultimately reaches the air, the water, food and the soil from where human exposure may take place by absorption, inhalation, ingestion or by direct skin contact. Human exposure can also take place during production, storage, transportation, processing, use and disposal of the equipments containing these toxic substances. 3) Multi-chemical context: The maximum limits of each of the six hazardous substances that can be contained in electrical/electronic equipments have been restricted by the European Union as per the (RoHS) 2002/95/EC Directive as mentioned below. Though everyone is exposed to lead, children are the most vulnerable