Examines what we know about the relationship between organic chemicals and human disease Organic chemicals are everywhere: in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They are also found in a myriad of common household and personal care products. Unfortunately, exposure to some organic chemicals can result in adverse health effects, from growth and developmental disorders to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This book examines how organic chemicals affect human health. It looks at the different diseases as well as how individual organ systems are affected by organic chemicals. Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants on Human Health begins with an introductory chapter explaining why we should care about organic chemicals and their effect on human health. Next, the authors address such important topics as: Burden of cancer from organic chemicals Organic chemicals and obesity Effects of organic chemicals on the male reproductive system Organic chemicals and the immune system Intellectual developmental disability syndromes and organic chemicals Mental illness and exposure to organic chemicals The book ends with an assessment of how much human disease is caused by organic chemicals. Chapters have been contributed by leading international experts in public and environmental health and are based on the latest research findings. Readers will find that all of the contributions are clear and easy to comprehend, with extensive references for further investigation of individual topics. Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants on Human Health is recommended for students and professionals in medicine as well as public and environmental health, bringing them fully up to date with what we know about the relationship between organic chemicals and human health.

Examines what we know about the relationship between organicchemicals and human diseaseOrganic chemicals are everywhere: in the air we breathe, thewater we drink, and the food we eat. They are also found in amyriad of common household and personal care products.Unfortunately, exposure to some organic chemicals can result inadverse health effects, from growth and developmental disorders tocancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This book examines howorganic chemicals affect human health. It looks at the differentdiseases as well as how individual organ systems are affected byorganic chemicals.Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants onHuman Health begins with an introductory chapter explaining whywe should care about organic chemicals and their effect on humanhealth. Next, the authors address such important topics as:* Burden of cancer from organic chemicals* Organic chemicals and obesity* Effects of organic chemicals on the male reproductivesystem* Organic chemicals and the immune system* Intellectual developmental disability syndromes and organicchemicals* Mental illness and exposure to organic chemicalsThe book ends with an assessment of how much human disease iscaused by organic chemicals. Chapters have been contributed byleading international experts in public and environmental healthand are based on the latest research findings. Readers will findthat all of the contributions are clear and easy to comprehendwith extensive references for further investigation of individualtopics.Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants onHuman Health is recommended for students and professionals inmedicine as well as public and environmental health, bringing themfully up to date with what we know about the relationship betweenorganic chemicals and human health.

Contributors vii1. Introduction: Why Should We Care about Organic Chemicalsand Human Health? 1David O. Carpenter2. Sources of Human Exposure 8Martí Nadal and José L. Domingo3. The Burden of Cancer from Organic Chemicals 26Molly M. Jacobs, Rachel I. Massey, and Richard W. Clapp4. Carcinogenicity and Mechanisms of Persistent OrganicPollutants 57Gabriele Ludewig, Larry W. Robertson, and Howard P.Glauert5. Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome 101Duk-Hee Lee and David R. Jacobs, Jr.6. Mechanistic Basis for Elevation in Risk of Diabetes Causedby Persistent Organic Pollutants 130Jérôme Ruzzin7. Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension 143Marian Pavuk and Nina Dutton8. Obesity 174Eveline Dirinck, Adrian Covaci, Luc Van Gaal, and StijnVerhulst9. Effects and Predicted Consequences of Persistent andBioactive Organic Pollutants on Thyroid Function 203Stefanie Giera and R. Thomas Zoeller10. An Overview of the Effects of Organic Compounds onWomen's Reproductive Health and Birth Outcomes 237Susan R. Reutman and Juliana W. Meadows11. Effects of Organic Chemicals on the Male ReproductiveSystem 315Lars Rylander and Anna Rignell-Hydbom12. Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Substances on Bone andJoint 332Chi-Hsien Chen and Yueliang Leon Guo13. Organic Chemicals and the Immune System 362David O. Carpenter14. Exposures to Organic Pollutants and Respiratory Illnessesin Adults and Children 384Krassi Rumchev, Jeff Spickett, and Janelle Graham15. Cognitive Function 400Lizbeth López-Carrillo and Mariano E. Cebrián16. Intellectual Developmental Disability Syndromes andOrganic Chemicals 421David O. Carpenter17. Mechanisms of the Neurotoxic Actions of Organic Chemicals448David O. Carpenter18. Parkinson's Disease 471Samuel M. Goldman19. Psychiatric Effects of Organic Chemical Exposure514James S. Brown, Jr.20. Growth and Development 532Lawrence M. Schell, Mia V. Gallo, and Kristopher K.Burnitz21. How Much Human Disease Is Caused by Exposure to OrganicChemicals? 557David O. CarpenterIndex 570