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Table 2 Main disease groups with suspected or confirmed linkage to chemicals

From: Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review

Diseases/disease groups

Examples of exposures

Examples of associated outcomes [22, 66, 67]

Respiratory infections and chronic respiratory diseases

Occupational exposures to dusts, gases, irritant chemicals, fumes

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) [68, 69]

 

Second-hand smoke; occupational exposures to cleaning-agents, pesticides, hairdressing chemicals etc.

Asthma onset and exacerbation [28, 70–72]

 

Second-hand smoke

Acute lower respiratory infections [28]

 

Occupational exposure to asbestos Metal dusts, particulate matter

Asbestosis Bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, silicosis

Perinatal conditions

Maternal exposure to pesticides or other chemicals

Low-birth-weight and preterm infants [73–76]

Congenital anomalies

Maternal exposure to pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), lead, mercury, other endocrine disruptors

Various birth defects [77, 78]

Diseases of the blood

Lead, arsine, naphthalene, benzene

Anaemia, methaemoglobinemia

Cancers

Occupational exposures to carcinogens, aflatoxins in food, second-hand smoke, outdoor air pollution by carbon particles associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asbestos, arsenic; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, pesticides, dioxins. etc.

Numerous cancer sites, including of the lung, skin, liver, brain, kidney, prostate, bone marrow, bladder [79–82]

Neuropsychiatric and developmental disorders

Lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, toluene etc.

Cognitive development, mental retardation, Parkinson disease, Attention-deficit disorder, Minamata disease [51, 78, 83, 84]

Sense organ diseases

Carbon disulfide, mercury, lead

Hearing loss

Cardiovascular diseases

Ultrafine particles in polluted air, lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, pollutant gases, solvents, pesticides, second-hand smoke

Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease [28, 49, 85]

Diabetes mellitus

Arsenic, N-3-pyridylmethyl-N'-p-nitrophenyl urea (rodenticide), 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Diabetes Type II [86–89]

Systemic auto immune diseases

Crystaline silica dust

Systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic small vessel vasculitis [90]

Endocrine diseases

Ethanol, hexachlorobenzene

Porphyria

Genito-urinary diseases

Beryllium, cadmium, lead

Calculus of kidney, chronic renal disease

Digestive diseases

Ethanol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, manganese

Hepatitis, cholestasis, pancreatitis

Skin diseases

Antiseptics, aromatic amines, cement, dyes, formaldehyde, artificial fertilizers, cutting oils, fragrances, glues, lanolins, latex, metals, pesticides, potassium dichromate, preservatives

Atopic dermatitis, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, chloracne, hyperkeratosis [91]

Musculoskeletal diseases

Cadmium, lead

Osteoporosis, gout

Oral conditions

Fluoride

Dental fluorosis

Poisonings

Accidental ingestion of household products, occupational exposures and accidents, intentional self-harm by ingestion of pesticides

Unintentional poisonings, self-inflicted injuries [92–94]