Xenobiotics and man. The action of xenobiotics. Effect of xenobiotics on humans. Xenobiotics are ...

With the development of industrial society, there have been changes in the formation of the biosphere. A lot of alien substances, which are the product of human activity, got into the environment. As a result, they affect the vital activity of all living organisms, including ours.

What are xenobiotics?

Xenobiotics are synthetic substances that negatively affect any organism. This group includes wastes of industrial activity, household utensils (powders, washing-up liquids), building materials, etc.

A large number of xenobiotics are substances that accelerate the appearance of the crop. It is very important for agriculture to increase the resistance of the crop to various pests, and to give it a good appearance. To achieve this effect, use pesticides, which are related to foreign substances for the body.

Building materials, glue, varnishes, household goods, food additives - all these are xenobiotics. To this group, strangely enough, some biological organisms, for example, viruses, bacteria, pathogenic fungi, helminths.

How do xenobiotics work on the body?

Substances that are alien to all living things, have a detrimental effect on many metabolic processes. For example, heavy metals can stop the operation of membrane channels, destroy functionally important proteins, destabilize the plasmalemma and cell wall, cause allergic reactions.

Any organism is more or less adapted to the elimination of toxic poisons. However, large concentrations of the substance can not be removed completely. Metal ions, toxic organic and inorganic substances eventually accumulate in the body and after some time (often several years) lead to pathologies, diseases, allergies.

Xenobiotics are poisons. They can penetrate the digestive system, the respiratory tract and even through intact skin. The routes of entry depend on the aggregate state, the structure of the substance, and the environmental conditions.

Through the nasal cavity with air or dust, gaseous hydrocarbons, ethyl and methyl alcohols, acetaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, ethers, acetone enter the body. The digestive system penetrates phenols, cyanides, heavy metals (lead, chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, mercury, thallium, antimony). It is worth noting that such trace elements as iron or cobalt are necessary for the body, but their content should not exceed a thousandth of a percent. In higher doses, they also lead to a negative effect.

Classification of xenobiotics

Xenobiotics are not only chemicals of organic and inorganic origin. This group includes biological factors, including viruses, bacteria, pathogenic protists and fungi, helminths. Strangely enough, but such physical phenomena as noise, vibration, radiation, radiation, also belong to xenobiotics.

The chemical composition of all the poisons are divided into:

1. Organic (phenols, alcohols, hydrocarbons, aldehydes and ketones, halogen derivatives, ethers, etc.).
2. Organo-organic (organophosphorus, organomercury and others).
3. Inorganic (metals and their oxides, acids, bases).

By origin, chemical xenobiotics are divided into the following groups:

1. Industrial.
2. Household.
3. Agricultural.
4. Poisoning substances.

Why do xenobiotics affect health?

The appearance of foreign substances in the body can seriously affect its performance. Increased concentration of xenobiotics leads to the appearance of pathologies, changes at the level of DNA.

Immunity is one of the main protective barriers. The influence of xenobiotics can spread to the immune system, interfering with the normal functioning of lymphocytes. As a result, these cells function incorrectly, which leads to a weakening of the body's defense and the appearance of allergies.

The cell genome is sensitive to the effects of any mutagen. Xenobiotics, penetrating the cell, can disrupt the normal structure of DNA and RNA, which leads to the appearance of mutations. If the number of such events is high, there is a risk of oncology.

Some poisons act selectively on the target organ. Thus, neurotrophic xenobiotics (mercury, lead, manganese, carbon disulfide), hematotropic (benzene, arsenic, phenylhydrazine), hepatotropic (chlorinated hydrocarbons), nephrotropic (cadmium and fluorine compounds, ethylene glycol) are isolated.

Xenobiotics and humans

Economic and industrial activities have a detrimental effect on human health due to the large amount of waste, chemicals, pharmaceuticals. Xenobiotics today are found almost everywhere, which means that the probability of their entry into the body is always high.

However, the most powerful xenobiotics with which humans are found everywhere are medicines. Pharmacology as a science studies the effect of drugs on a living organism. According to experts, xenobiotics of this origin are the cause of 40% of hepatitis, and it is not accidental: the main function of the liver is to neutralize poisons. Therefore, this body suffers most from large doses of drugs.

Prevention of poisoning

Xenobiotics are substances that are foreign to the body. The human body has developed many alternative ways to eliminate these toxins. For example, poisons can be neutralized in the liver and released into the environment through respiratory, excretory systems, sebaceous, sweaty and even mammary glands.

Despite this, the person himself must take measures to minimize the detrimental effects of poisons. First, you must carefully choose food. Additions of the "E" group are strong xenobiotics, so purchases of such products should be avoided. Do not just look at the appearance of vegetables and fruits. Always pay attention to the expiration date, because when it expires, poisons are formed in the product.

It is always worth knowing the extent of medications. Of course, for effective treatment it is often a compulsory necessity, however, take care that it does not develop into a systematic unnecessary consumption of pharmaceuticals.

Avoid working with dangerous reagents, allergens, various synthetic substances. Minimize the impact of household chemicals on your health.

Conclusion

It is not always possible to observe the harmful effects of xenobiotics. Sometimes they accumulate in large quantities, turning into a slow-motion mine. Other people's body harms health, which leads to the development of diseases.

So remember the minimum preventive measures. Perhaps you will not notice a negative effect immediately, but after a few years xenobiotics can lead to serious consequences. Do not forget this.