1) Surfactants are a large group of surface active substances with a great number of

(cleaning) applications. Most surfactants have degreasing or wash active abilities.

They reduce the surface tension of the water so it can wet the fibres and surfaces,
they loosen and encapsulate the dirt and in that way ensure that the soiling will not
re-deposit on the surfaces.
Most surfactants are more or less toxic to aquatic organisms due to their surface
activity which will react with the biological membranes of the organisms.
The biological degradability varies according to the nature of the carbohydrate
chain. Generally the linear chains are more readily degradable than branched
chains.
Also the toxic effects vary with the chain structure. Generally an increase of the
chain length in the range of 10 to 16, leads to an increase in toxicity to aquatic
organisms.
2) Dioxin is a general term that describes a group of hundreds of chemicals that are
highly persistent in the environment. The most toxic compound is 2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD. The toxicity of other dioxins and chemicals like
PCBs that act like dioxin are measured in relation to TCDD. Dioxin is formed as an
unintentional by-product of many industrial processes involving chlorine such
as waste incineration, chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper
bleaching. Dioxin was the primary toxic component of Agent Orange, was found at
Love Canal in Niagara Falls, NY and was the basis for evacuations at Times Beach,
MO and Seveso, Italy.
Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds with hydrocarbons.
The major source of dioxin in the environment comes from waste-burning
incinerators of various sorts and also from backyard burn-barrels. Dioxin pollution is
also affiliated with paper mills which use chlorine bleaching in their process and
with the production of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastics and with the production of
certain chlorinated chemicals (like many pesticides).
In addition to cancer, exposure to dioxin can also cause severe reproductive and
developmental problems (at levels 100 times lower than those associated with its
cancer causing effects). Dioxin is well-known for its ability to damage the immune
system and interfere with hormonal systems.
Dioxin exposure has been linked to birth defects, inability to maintain pregnancy,
decreased fertility, reduced sperm counts, endometriosis, diabetes, learning
disabilities, immune system suppression, lung problems, skin disorders, lowered
testosterone levels and much more.

3) Pesticides are the only toxic substances released intentionally into our
environment to kill living things. This includes substances that kill weeds
(herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides), and
others.
Acute health problems may occur in workers that handle pesticides, such as
abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, as well as skin and eye
problems.[6] In China, an estimated half million people are poisoned by pesticides
each year, 500 of whom die.[7] Pyrethrins, insecticides commonly used in common
bug killers, can cause a potentially deadly condition if breathed in. [8] Many studies
have examined the effects of pesticide exposure on the risk of cancer. Associations
have been found
with: leukemia, lymphoma, brain, kidney, breast, prostate,pancreas, liver, lung,
and skin cancers. Evidence links pesticide exposure to worsened neurological
outcomes.[3] The risk of developing Parkinson's disease is 70% greater in those
exposed to even low levels of pesticides.[12] People with Parkinson's were 61% more
likely to report direct pesticide application than were healthy relatives. Both
insecticides and herbicides significantly increased the risk of Parkinson's disease.
[13]
There are also concerns that long term exposures may increase the risk
of dementia. Strong evidence links pesticide exposure to birth defects, fetal
death and altered fetal growth.[3] In the United States, increase in birth defects is
associated with conceiving in the same period of the year when agrochemicals are
in elevated concentrations in surface water. A number of pesticides
including dibromochlorophane and 2,4-D has been associated with impaired fertility
in males.[22] Pesticide exposure resulted in reduced fertility in males, genetic
alterations in sperm, a reduced number of sperm, damage to germinal epithelium
and altered hormone function.[23]
4) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to the group of persistent
organic pollutants (POPs). These are organic contaminants that are resistant to
degradation, can remain in the environment for long periods, and have the potential
to cause adverse environmental effects.
Sources of PAHs can be both natural and anthropogenic.

Natural sources include:

forest and grass fires
oil seeps
volcanoes
chlorophyllous plants, fungi, and bacteria
Anthropogenic sources of PAHs include:
petroleum
electric power generation
refuse incineration
home heating
production of coke, carbon black, coal tar, and asphalt
internal combustion engines

Acute or Short-term Health Effects

The effects on human health will depend mainly on the length and route of
exposure, the amount or concentration of PAHs one is exposed to, and of course the
innate toxicity of the PAHs. A variety of other factors can also affect health impacts
including subjective factors such as pre-existing health status and age. The ability of
PAHs to induce short-term health effects in humans is not clear. Occupational
exposures to high levels of pollutant mixtures containing PAHs has resulted in
symptoms such as eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion.
However, it is not known which components of the mixture were responsible for
these effects and other compounds commonly found with PAHs may be the cause of
these symptoms. Mixtures of PAHs are also known to cause skin irritation and
inflammation. Anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene are direct skin irritants
while anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene are reported to be skin sensitizers, i.e. cause
an allergic skin response in animals and humans (IPCS, 1998).
Chronic or Long-term Health Effects
Health effects from chronic or long-term exposure to PAHs may include decreased
immune function, cataracts, kidney and liver damage (e.g. jaundice), breathing
problems, asthma-like symptoms, and lung function abnormalities, and repeated
contact with skin may induce redness and skin inflammation. Naphthalene, a
specific PAH, can cause the breakdown of red blood cells if inhaled or ingested in
large amounts. If exposed to PAHs, the harmful effects that may occur largely
depend on the way people are exposed.

5) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of chemicals that contain 209

individual compounds (known as congeners) with varying harmful effects.
Sources and Potential Exposure

PCBs are no longer produced in the United States and are no longer used
in the manufacture of new products; the major source of air exposure to
PCBs today is the redistribution of PCBs already present in soil and water.
Smaller amounts of PCBs may be released to the air from disposal sites
containing transformers, capacitors, and other PCB wastes, incineration of

PCB-containing wastes, and improper disposal of the compounds to open

areas. (1)

PCBs have been detected in indoor air at concentrations of an order of

magnitude greater than ambient air. It has been suggested that certain
electrical appliances and devices, such as fluorescent lighting ballasts,
which have PCB-containing components, may emit PCBs to the indoor air.
(1)

In the past, PCBs were released to wastewater from its industrial uses.
Today, PCBs are still detected in water due to the environmental recycling
of the compound. Most of the PCBs in water are bound to the soil and
sediments and may be released to the water slowly over a long period of
time. These PCBs may enter the food chain through ingestion by aquatic
organisms and fish. (1)

PCBs have been detected in food; they bioaccumulate through the food
chain, with some of the highest concentrations found in fish. (1)

PCBs have been listed as a pollutant of concern to EPA's Great Waters

Program due to their persistence in the environment, potential to
bioaccumulate, and toxicity to humans and the environment. (3)
Health Hazard Information
Acute Effects:
No reports of effects in humans following acute (short-term) exposure to
PCBs are available. (1)

Animal studies have reported acute effects on the liver, kidney, and
central nervous system (CNS) from oral exposure to PCBs. (1)

Acute animal tests in rats have shown PCBs to have moderate acute
toxicity from oral exposure. (1,4)
Chronic Effects (Noncancer):

Chronic inhalation exposure of workers to PCBs has been reported to

result in respiratory tract symptoms, such as cough and tightness of the
chest, gastrointestinal effects including anorexia, weight loss, nausea,
vomiting, and abdominal pain, mild liver effects, and effects on the skin
and eyes, such as chloracne, skin rashes, and eye irritation. (1,5)
Reproductive/Developmental Effects:

An epidemiological study of women occupationally exposed to high levels

of PCBs suggested a relationship between PCB exposure and reduced birth
weight and shortened gestational age of their babies; however, limitations
of the study limit the strength of the conclusion. (1)
Cancer Risk:

Human studies provide inconclusive, yet suggestive evidence of an

association between PCBs' exposure and liver cancer. Several studies have
reported an increase in liver cancer among persons occupationally exposed

to some PCB formulations. However, the studies are inconclusive due to

confounding exposures and lack of exposure quantification. (1,6)

Sources:
http://www.eco-forum.dk/detergents/index_files/Page718.htm
http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/
http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/pesticides
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_pesticides
http://www.pjoes.com/pdf/8.3/131-136.pdf
http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Polycyclic+Aromatic+Hydrocarbons
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/polychlo.html