Lecture 6: Environmental Chemistry and

Toxicology in Environmental Engineering

Engr Bonifacio B. Magtibay, PhD
 • the scientific review of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that
occur in natural places.
• the study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects of chemical
species in the air, soil, and water environments; and also the effect of
human activity on these
• an interdisciplinary science that includes atmospheric, aquatic and soil
chemistry
Environmental • involves first understanding how the uncontaminated environment
chemistry works, which chemicals in what concentrations are present naturally,
and with what effects.
 Environmental chemistry coverage

• Heavy metal contamination of land by industry. These can then be

transported into water bodies and be taken up by living organisms.
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in large bodies of water
contaminated by oil spills or leaks. Many of the PAHs
are carcinogens and are extremely toxic. They are regulated by
concentration (ppb) using environmental chemistry
and chromatography laboratory testing.
• Nutrients leaching from agricultural land into water courses, which
can lead to algal blooms and eutrophication
• Urban runoff of pollutants washing off impervious
surfaces (roads, parking lots, and rooftops) during rain storms.
Typical pollutants include gasoline, motor oil and
other hydrocarbon compounds, metals, nutrients
and sediment (soil)
• Organometallic compounds, chemical compounds containing at
least one chemical bond between a carbon atom of an organic
molecule and a metal.
 Ref: WHO
https://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/p
A BAD CLAMPF ublic_health/chemicals_phc/en/
Emerging Environmental Pollutants

Compounds that are not currently

covered by existing regulations,
have not been studied before, and are
thought to be potential threats to
environmental ecosystems and
human health and safety
(Farré et al, 2008)

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 Emerging Environmental Pollutants

• Not necessarily new compounds

• Some are present in the environment for decades
• Recently “discovered” due to improvement of
analytical methods
• Long-term adverse effects to health and environment
remain unknown, under evaluation, not well-studied,
not fully understood, or with very little information

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 Other Terminologies

• Pollutants of emerging concern

• Emerging micropollutants
• Emerging contaminants
• Compounds of emerging concern
• Chemicals of emerging concern

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 Group of EEPs

• Pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, veterinary

products, illicit drugs
• Personal care products, cosmetics,
sunblockers, beta-blockers, steroids
• Disinfectants, biocides , pesticides
• Gasoline additives
• Food additives
• Water disinfection by-products, UV filters
• Nanomaterials, e-wastes, flame retardants
• Biological toxins

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 Source:
http://dx.doi.org/10.577
2/60410

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Environmental Pathways and Health Effects

PFC-Perfluorochemicals
DBP-dibutyl phthalates
Source: Meng Lei et al, 2015

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In Water

Source: Gavrilescu, M. et al., 2014

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Human Exposure and Point of Entry

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Effects on Health and Environment

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Effects on Health and Environment

wastewater

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* SSRIs- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
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Application in Environmental Engineering

• In designing technologies that use

chemicals for treating or removing
microbial hazards
• In designing technologies that can
remove or treat toxic and hazardous
chemicals