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What are Environmental Toxins?

Troy Holmes
Troy Holmes

Toxins are poisonous substances produced by living organisms, which can cause health problems and even death. Environmental toxins are poisonous substances produced through pesticides, automobile pollution, and industrial factory waste. Many of these toxins are dumped into the water supplies and food chain, where they can be consumed by the general human population.

Water pollution is a form of pollution in which the water supply is contaminated with environmental toxins. This can be created through waste run-off from factories, farms animals, or lawn fertilizer. Many states and other governmental agencies have instituted environmental protection rules to limit the chemicals that can be dumped into the water supply.

Water that is polluted by oil.
Water that is polluted by oil.

Many rural homeowners use drilled wells for their primary source of water within the home. These wells are susceptible to environmental toxins because of the run-off effect. As chemicals are dumped into the ground of rural communities they can become integrated into the well water of the home. This water is then consumed by animals and people within the household.

Oil refineries produce environmental toxins.
Oil refineries produce environmental toxins.

Many factories produce environmental toxins that are released into the atmosphere. These factories release low levels of chemicals that are considered theoretically safe for human consumption. Some examples of these factories include natural gas plants, oil refineries, and coal plants. Long-term exposure to toxins from these types of facilities has been shown to produce several health problems including cancer and asthma.

Pesticides produce environmental toxins.
Pesticides produce environmental toxins.

Most of today’s food supply is also full of environmental toxins. This is because the animals and vegetables that are available at the supermarket have been laced with man-made chemicals. These chemicals are used to increase the longevity of the food supply.

Eating toxins has negative long-term health implications. This is why organic foods have become popular. Food shoppers looking to avoid environmental toxins often look for meats from farmers that feed their animals only grain. Grain-fed meet is believed to have fewer environmental toxins because it contains limited pesticides.

Environmental toxins released into into the atmosphere may cause headaches in some people.
Environmental toxins released into into the atmosphere may cause headaches in some people.

Today, many milk products contain hormones and environmental toxins. These chemicals are added to the diet of dairy cows. Most dairy farmers use these hormones to help dairy cows produce more milk. The long-term effects of these hormones on humans are unclear.

Most automobiles today use oil as a lubricant for the engine and drive train. This oil is transformed into a usable liquid at factories called oil refineries. These factories emit large amounts of pollution into the atmosphere. This causes health issues with animal livestock and humans within range of the plants.

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    • Water that is polluted by oil.
      By: Focusedone
      Water that is polluted by oil.
    • Oil refineries produce environmental toxins.
      By: Tomas Sereda
      Oil refineries produce environmental toxins.
    • Pesticides produce environmental toxins.
      By: tuayai
      Pesticides produce environmental toxins.
    • Environmental toxins released into into the atmosphere may cause headaches in some people.
      By: lithian
      Environmental toxins released into into the atmosphere may cause headaches in some people.
    • Pesticides are a source of environmental toxins.
      By: il-fede
      Pesticides are a source of environmental toxins.
    • Toxic chemical pesticides are particularly dangerous when an aerial spray technique is used.
      By: Leon Forado
      Toxic chemical pesticides are particularly dangerous when an aerial spray technique is used.