Volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) are organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature . They are common and exist in a variety of settings and products, not limited to house mold , upholstered furniture , arts and crafts supplies, dry cleaned clothing, and cleaning supplies . VOCs are responsible for the odor of scents and perfumes as well as pollutants . They play an important role in communication between animals and plants, such as attractants for pollinators, protection from predation, and even inter-plant interactions. Some VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment , often despite the odor being perceived as pleasant, such as " new car smell ".
147-418: Anthropogenic VOCs are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest. Most VOCs are not acutely toxic , but may have long-term chronic health effects. Some VOCs have been used in pharmaceutical settings , while others are the target of administrative controls because of their recreational use . The high vapor pressure of VOCs correlates with a low boiling point , which relates to
294-688: A "9.4% decline in injury rates" and a "26% reduction in injury cost" for the inspected firms. The study found "no evidence that these improvements came at the expense of employment, sales, credit ratings, or firm survival." A 2020 study in the American Economic Review found that the decision by the Obama administration to issue press releases that named and shamed facilities that violated OSHA safety and health regulations led other facilities to increase their compliance and to experience fewer workplace injuries. The study estimated that each press release had
441-636: A 2021 study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change , roughly 3% of the planet's terrestrial surface is ecologically and faunally intact, meaning areas with healthy populations of native animal species and little to no human footprint. Many of these intact ecosystems were in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples. According to a 2018 study in Nature , 87% of the oceans and 77% of land (excluding Antarctica) have been altered by anthropogenic activity, and 23% of
588-477: A Respondent is required to address all allegations of adverse actions taken against Complainant's employment. Additionally, these whistleblower investigations follow the McDonnell-Douglas burden shifting framework. WPP's Investigators conduct complex investigations pertaining to complaints of retaliation by an employer (Respondent) against an employee (Complainant) who reported a violation(s) covered under one of
735-726: A VOC as "any organic compound as well as the fraction of creosote , having at 293.15 K a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa or more, or having a corresponding volatility under the particular conditions of use;". The VOC Solvents Emissions Directive was the main policy instrument for the reduction of industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the European Union. It covers a wide range of solvent-using activities, e.g. printing, surface cleaning, vehicle coating, dry cleaning and manufacture of footwear and pharmaceutical products. The VOC Solvents Emissions Directive requires installations in which such activities are applied to comply either with
882-435: A combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. It is viewed as any change or disturbance to the land perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. Natural hazards are excluded as a cause; however human activities can indirectly affect phenomena such as floods and bush fires. This is considered to be an important topic of the 21st century due to the implications land degradation has upon agronomic productivity ,
1029-565: A four-year study in November 2006, which predicted that, at prevailing trends, the world would run out of wild-caught seafood in 2048. The scientists stated that the decline was a result of overfishing , pollution and other environmental factors that were reducing the population of fisheries at the same time as their ecosystems were being degraded. Yet again the analysis has met criticism as being fundamentally flawed, and many fishery management officials, industry representatives and scientists challenge
1176-597: A global overpopulation scenario is unlikely. Other projections have the population continuing to grow into the next century. While some studies, including the British government's 2021 Economics of Biodiversity review, posit that population growth and overconsumption are interdependent, critics suggest blaming overpopulation for environmental issues can unduly blame poor populations in the Global South or oversimplify more complex drivers, leading some to treat overconsumption as
1323-421: A higher VOC exposure than the two previous groups, that is, they are particularly linked to exposure to acetone, chloroform, α-pinene, 2-propanol or d-limonene. Other healthcare environments such as nursing and age care homes have been rarely a subject of study, even though the elderly and vulnerable populations may spend considerable time in these indoor settings where they might be exposed to VOCs, derived from
1470-445: A hydrological result it is found that: These may be called direct effects. Effects on soil and water quality are indirect and complex, and subsequent impacts on natural, ecological and socio-economic conditions are intricate. In some, but not all instances, water logging and soil salinization can result. However, irrigation can also be used, together with soil drainage, to overcome soil salinization by leaching excess salts from
1617-485: A language and vocabulary workers can understand. OSHA sets enforceable permissible exposure limits (PELs) to protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances, including limits on the airborne concentrations of hazardous chemicals in the air. Most of OSHA's PELs were issued shortly after the adoption of the OSH Act in 1970. Attempts to issue more stringent PELs have been blocked by litigation from
SECTION 10
#17328550333491764-407: A movement among higher-end hotels to be more environmentally friendly, there has been a shift to using less harsh cleaning agents. Another similar environment that exposes workers to VOCs are retail spaces. Studies have shown that retail spaces have the highest VOC concentrations compared to all other indoor spaces such as residences, offices, and vehicles. The concentration of VOCs present as well as
1911-468: A number of VOCs gaseous reference standards are available from specialty gas suppliers or national metrology institutes , either in the form of cylinders or dynamic generation methods. However, for many VOCs, such as oxygenated VOCs, monoterpenes , or formaldehyde , no standards are available at the appropriate amount of fraction due to the chemical reactivity or adsorption of these molecules. Currently, several national metrology institutes are working on
2058-450: A population of six billion their biomass exceeded that of any other large land dwelling animal species that had ever existed by over 100 times. However, attributing overpopulation as a cause of environmental issues is controversial. Demographic projections indicate that population growth is slowing and world population will peak in the 21st century, and many experts believe that global resources can meet this increased demand, suggesting
2205-520: A problem and the date by which the corrective actions must be completed. OSHA's fines are very low compared with other government agencies. They were raised for the first time since 1990 on August 2, 2016, to comply with the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act passed by Congress to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. The new law directs agencies to adjust their penalties for inflation each year. The maximum OSHA fine for
2352-606: A public hearing in September 1995, California's ARB uses the term "reactive organic gases" (ROG) to measure organic gases. The CARB revised the definition of "Volatile Organic Compounds" used in their consumer products regulations, based on the committee's findings. In addition to drinking water , VOCs are regulated in pollutant discharges to surface waters (both directly and via sewage treatment plants) as hazardous waste, but not in non-industrial indoor air. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates VOC exposure in
2499-442: A rate almost 32 times greater than those of the developing world, who make up the majority of the human population. Human civilization has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants. The world's chickens are triple the weight of all the wild birds, while domesticated cattle and pigs outweigh all wild mammals by 14 to 1. Global meat consumption is projected to more than double by 2050, perhaps as much as 76%, as
2646-464: A separate issue. Advocates for further reducing fertility rates, among them Rodolfo Dirzo and Paul R. Ehrlich , argue that this reduction should primarily affect the "overconsuming wealthy and middle classes," with the ultimate goal being to shrink "the scale of the human enterprise" and reverse the "growthmania" which they say threatens biodiversity and the "life-support systems of humanity." The environmental impact of agriculture varies based on
2793-420: A serious violation is $ 13,653 (which can be assessed daily after a failure to "abate" the violation) and the maximum fine for a repeat or willful violation is $ 136,532. In determining the amount of the proposed penalty, OSHA must take into account the gravity of the alleged violation and the employer's size of business, good faith, and history of previous violations. Employers have the right to contest any part of
2940-505: A standard, it must go through a very extensive and lengthy process that includes substantial public engagement, notice, and comment. The agency must show that a significant risk to workers exists and that there are feasible measures employers can take to protect their workers. In 2000, OSHA issued an ergonomics standard. In March 2001, Congress voted to repeal the standard through the Congressional Review Act . The repeal, one of
3087-663: A state's plan, such as work in maritime industries or on military bases. Workers at state and local government agencies are not covered by federal OSHA but have OSH Act protections if they work in those states that have an OSHA-approved state program. OSH Act rules also permit states and territories to develop plans that cover only public sector (state and local government) workers. In these cases, private sector workers and employers remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction. Five additional states and one U.S. territory have OSHA-approved state plans that cover public sector workers only: Connecticut , Illinois , Maine , New Jersey , New York , and
SECTION 20
#17328550333493234-542: A study conducted in 4 hospitals in the United States established that sterilization and disinfection workers are linked to exposures to d-limonene and 2-propanol, while those responsible for cleaning with chlorine-containing products are more likely to have higher levels of exposure to α-pinene and chloroform . Those who perform floor and other surface cleaning tasks (e.g., floor waxing) and who use quaternary ammonium, alcohol, and chlorine-based products are associated with
3381-467: A substitute for those synthetic fertilizers that require considerable fossil fuel use for manufacture, grazing use for wildlife habitat enhancement, and carbon sequestration in response to grazing practices, among others. Conversely, according to some studies appearing in peer-reviewed journals, the growing demand for meat is contributing to significant biodiversity loss as it is a significant driver of deforestation and habitat destruction. Moreover,
3528-451: A sustainable biosphere–atmosphere balance. Due to recent climate change developments, such as warming and greater UV radiation, BVOC emissions from plants are generally predicted to increase, thus upsetting the biosphere–atmosphere interaction and damaging major ecosystems. A major class of VOCs is the terpene class of compounds, such as myrcene . Providing a sense of scale, a forest 62,000 square kilometres (24,000 sq mi) in area,
3675-487: A time-constant of a few years. New buildings may require intensive ventilation for the first few months, or a bake-out treatment. Existing buildings may be replenished with new VOC sources, such as new furniture, consumer products, and redecoration of indoor surfaces, all of which lead to a continuous background emission of TVOCs, and requiring improved ventilation. There are strong seasonal variations in indoors VOC emissions, with emission rates increasing in summer. This
3822-518: A variety of factors from the soil, to water, the air, animal and soil diversity, plants, and the food itself. Some of the environmental issues that are related to agriculture are climate change , deforestation , genetic engineering, irrigation problems, pollutants, soil degradation , and waste . The environmental impact of fishing can be divided into issues that involve the availability of fish to be caught, such as overfishing , sustainable fisheries , and fisheries management ; and issues that involve
3969-469: A wide range of serious hazards. Examples of OSHA standards include requirements for employers to provide fall protection such as a safety harness/line or guardrails; prevent trenching cave-ins ; prevent exposure to some infectious diseases; ensure the safety of workers who enter confined spaces; prevent exposure to harmful chemicals; put guards on dangerous machines; provide respirators or other safety equipment, and provide training for certain dangerous jobs in
4116-461: A wide range of species, including many endangered animals , ranging from birds to rhinos and tigers. Since 2000, 47% of deforestation has been for the purpose of growing oil palm plantations, with around 877,000 acres being affected per year. Natural forests are extremely biodiverse , with a wide range of organisms using them as their habitat. But oil palm plantations are the opposite. Studies have shown that oil palm plantations have less than 1% of
4263-410: A workplace fatality, multiple hospitalizations, worker complaints, or referrals. OSHA is a small agency, given the size of its mission: with its state partners, OSHA has approximately 2,400 inspectors covering more than 8 million workplaces where 130 million workers are employed. In Fiscal Year 2012 (ending Sept. 30), OSHA and its state partners conducted more than 83,000 inspections of workplaces across
4410-426: Is gas chromatography (GC). GC instruments allow the separation of gaseous components. When coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID) GCs can detect hydrocarbons at the parts per trillion levels. Using electron capture detectors , GCs are also effective for organohalide such as chlorocarbons. The second major technique associated with VOC analysis is mass spectrometry , which is usually coupled with GC, giving
4557-530: Is a concern, especially where intensive livestock production is carried out. In the US, in a comparison of 32 industries, the livestock industry was found to have a relatively good record of compliance with environmental regulations pursuant to the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, but pollution issues from large livestock operations can sometimes be serious where violations occur. Various measures have been suggested by
Volatile organic compound - Misplaced Pages Continue
4704-470: Is a growing gap between how many fish are available to be caught and humanity's desire to catch them, a problem that gets worse as the world population grows. Similar to other environmental issues , there can be conflict between the fishermen who depend on fishing for their livelihoods and fishery scientists who realize that if future fish populations are to be sustainable then some fisheries must reduce or even close. The journal Science published
4851-713: Is a misdemeanor with a maximum of 6 months in jail. In response to the criticism, OSHA, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, has pursued several high-profile criminal prosecutions for violations under the Act and has announced a joint enforcement initiative between OSHA and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has the ability to issue much higher fines than OSHA. Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats , labor unions , and community safety and health advocates are attempting to revise
4998-518: Is a non-profit organisation that has developed criteria that its members (of which, as of 2018, there are over 4,000) must follow to produce, source and use sustainable palm oil (Certified Sustainable Palm Oil; CSPO). Currently, 19% of global palm oil is certified by the RSPO as sustainable. The CSPO criteria states that oil palm plantations cannot be grown in the place of forests or other areas with endangered species, fragile ecosystems, or those that facilitate
5145-608: Is a significant factor in contemporary biodiversity loss . A 2021 report in Frontiers in Conservation Science proposed that population size and growth are significant factors in biodiversity loss , soil degradation and pollution . Some scientists and environmentalists, including Pentti Linkola , Jared Diamond and E. O. Wilson , posit that human population growth is devastating to biodiversity . Wilson for example, has expressed concern that when Homo sapiens reached
5292-444: Is based on the farmer's production methods, and "effect-based", which is the impact that farming methods have on the farming system or on emissions to the environment. An example of a means-based indicator would be the quality of groundwater that is affected by the amount of nitrogen applied to the soil . An indicator reflecting the loss of nitrate to groundwater would be effect-based. The environmental impact of agriculture involves
5439-443: Is between 7000 and 10,500 m/Δm, thus it is possible to separate most common isobaric VOCs and quantify them independently. The exhaled human breath contains a few thousand volatile organic compounds and is used in breath biopsy to serve as a VOC biomarker to test for diseases, such as lung cancer . One study has shown that "volatile organic compounds ... are mainly blood borne and therefore enable monitoring of different processes in
5586-509: Is by ensuring there is proper air ventilation. Employers can ensure proper ventilation by placing furniture in a way that enhances air circulation, as well as checking that the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is working properly to remove pollutants from the air. Workers can make sure that air vents are not blocked. Obtaining samples for analysis is challenging. VOCs, even when at dangerous levels, are dilute, so preconcentration
5733-403: Is currently contributing relatively little to global warming. Although reduction of methane emissions would have a rapid effect on warming, the expected effect would be small. Other anthropogenic GHG emissions associated with livestock production include carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption (mostly for production, harvesting and transport of feed), and nitrous oxide emissions associated with
5880-633: Is heated and terpenes can be released when spices are prepared and/or cooked. Cleaning products contain a range of VOCs, including monoterpenes , sesquiterpenes , alcohols and esters . Once released into the air, VOCs can undergo reactions with ozone and hydroxyl radicals to produce other VOCs, such as formaldehyde. Some VOCs are emitted directly indoors, and some are formed through the subsequent chemical reactions. The total concentration of all VOCs (TVOC) indoors can be up to five times higher than that of outdoor levels. New buildings experience particularly high levels of VOC off-gassing indoors because of
6027-537: Is important for employers, workers, and OSHA in evaluating the safety of a workplace, understanding industry hazards, and implementing worker protections to reduce and eliminate hazards. Employers with more than ten employees and whose establishments are not classified as a partially exempt industry must record serious work-related injuries and illnesses using OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301. Recordkeeping forms, requirements, and exemption information are on OSHA's website. OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program (WPP) enforces
Volatile organic compound - Misplaced Pages Continue
6174-531: Is irreversible" and that its acceleration "is certain because of the still fast growth in human numbers and consumption rates." Occupational Safety and Health Administration The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ; / ˈ oʊ ʃ ə / ) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established
6321-1079: Is largely due to the rate of diffusion of VOC species through materials to the surface, increasing with temperature. This leads to generally higher concentrations of TVOCs indoors in summer. Measurement of VOCs from the indoor air is done with sorption tubes e. g. Tenax (for VOCs and SVOCs) or DNPH -cartridges (for carbonyl-compounds) or air detector. The VOCs adsorb on these materials and are afterwards desorbed either thermally (Tenax) or by elution (DNPH) and then analyzed by GC–MS / FID or HPLC . Reference gas mixtures are required for quality control of these VOC measurements. Furthermore, VOC emitting products used indoors, e.g. building products and furniture, are investigated in emission test chambers under controlled climatic conditions. For quality control of these measurements round robin tests are carried out, therefore reproducibly emitting reference materials are ideally required. Other methods have used proprietary Silcosteel-coated canisters with constant flow inlets to collect samples over several days. These methods are not limited by
6468-503: Is not following OSHA standards. Workers and their representatives have the right to ask for an inspection without OSHA telling their employer who filed the complaint. It is a violation of the OSH Act for an employer to fire, demote, transfer or in any way discriminate against a worker for filing a complaint or using other OSHA rights. When an inspector finds violations of OSHA standards or serious hazards, OSHA may issue citations and fines. A citation includes methods an employer may use to fix
6615-645: Is now also used in food, cosmetic and other types of products in other nations as well. Over one-third of vegetable oil consumed globally is palm oil. The consumption of palm oil in food, domestic and cosmetic products all over the world means there is a high demand for it. To meet this, oil palm plantations are created, which means removing natural forests to clear space. This deforestation has taken place in Asia, Latin America and West Africa, with Malaysia and Indonesia holding 90% of global oil palm trees. These forests are home to
6762-418: Is still not the best option) is through agroforestry , whereby the plantations are made up of multiple types of plants used in trade – such as coffee or cocoa . While these are more biodiverse than monoculture plantations, they are still not as effective as natural forests. In addition to this, agroforestry does not bring as many economic benefits to workers, their families and the surrounding areas. The RSPO
6909-511: Is typically required. Many components of the atmosphere are mutually incompatible, e.g. ozone and organic compounds, peroxyacyl nitrates and many organic compounds. Furthermore, collection of VOCs by condensation in cold traps also accumulates a large amount of water, which generally must be removed selectively, depending on the analytical techniques to be employed. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques are used to collect VOCs at low concentrations for analysis. As applied to breath analysis,
7056-472: The Agricultural Revolution but also applies broadly to all major human impacts on the environment. Many of the actions taken by humans that contribute to a heated environment stem from the burning of fossil fuel from a variety of sources, such as: electricity, cars, planes, space heating, manufacturing, or the destruction of forests. Overconsumption is a situation where resource use has outpaced
7203-911: The District of Columbia , Puerto Rico , the Virgin Islands , American Samoa , Guam , Northern Mariana Islands , Wake Island , Johnston Island , and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The OSH Act covers most private sector employers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia , and other U.S. jurisdictions—either directly through federal OSHA or through an OSHA-approved state plan. State plans are OSHA-approved job safety and health programs operated by individual states instead of federal OSHA. Federal OSHA approves and monitors all state plans and provides as much as fifty percent of
7350-523: The EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and China's National Drinking Water Standards set by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment . The presence of VOCs in the air and in groundwater has prompted more studies. Several studies have been performed to measure the effects of dermal absorption of specific VOCs. Dermal exposure to VOCs like formaldehyde and toluene downregulate antimicrobial peptides on
7497-641: The George W. Bush presidency on the specific issue of combustible dust explosions, Chemical Safety Board appointee Carolyn Merritt said: "The basic disappointment has been this attitude of no new regulation. They don't want the industry to be pestered. In some instances, the industry has to be pestered in order to comply." The director of OSHA is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of
SECTION 50
#17328550333497644-654: The OSH Act to make it a felony with much higher penalties to commit a willful violation that results in the death of a worker. Some local prosecutors are charging company executives with manslaughter and other felonies when criminal negligence leads to the death of a worker. A New York Times investigation in 2003 showed that over the 20-year period from 1982 to 2002, 2,197 workers died in 1,242 incidents in which OSHA investigators concluded that employers had willfully violated workplace safety laws. In 93% of these fatality cases arising from wilful violation, OSHA made no referral to
7791-740: The U.S. Department of Justice for criminal prosecution. The Times investigation found that OSHA had failed to pursue prosecution "even when employers had been cited before for the very same safety violation" and even in cases where multiple workers died. In interviews, current and former OSHA officials said that the low rates of criminal enforcement were the result of "a bureaucracy that works at every level to thwart criminal referrals. ... that fails to reward, and sometimes penalizes, those who push too hard for prosecution" and that " aggressive enforcement [was] suffocated by endless layers of review. OSHA has also been criticized for taking too long to develop new regulations. For instance, speaking about OSHA under
7938-644: The United States , several standards exist; California Standard CDPH Section 01350 is the most common one. These regulations and standards changed the marketplace, leading to an increasing number of low-emitting products. Respiratory , allergic , or immune effects in infants or children are associated with man-made VOCs and other indoor or outdoor air pollutants. Some VOCs, such as styrene and limonene , can react with nitrogen oxides or with ozone to produce new oxidation products and secondary aerosols, which can cause sensory irritation symptoms. VOCs contribute to
8085-433: The Virgin Islands . OSHA's protection applies to all federal agencies. Section 19 of the OSH Act makes federal agency heads responsible for providing safe and healthful working conditions for their workers. OSHA conducts inspections of federal facilities in response to workers' reports of hazards and under programs that target high-hazard federal workplaces. Federal agencies must have a safety and health program that meets
8232-516: The amphibian crisis being a few broader examples of an almost universal, cosmopolitan decline in biodiversity. Human overpopulation (and continued population growth ) along with overconsumption , especially by the super- affluent , are considered to be the primary drivers of this rapid decline. The 2017 World Scientists' Warning to Humanity stated that, among other things, this sixth extinction event unleashed by humanity could annihilate many current life forms and consign them to extinction by
8379-632: The extinction of species at an alarming rate. Humans are the cause of the current mass extinction , called the Holocene extinction , driving extinctions to 100 to 1000 times the normal background rate. Though most experts agree that human beings have accelerated the rate of species extinction, some scholars have postulated without humans, the biodiversity of the Earth would grow at an exponential rate rather than decline. The Holocene extinction continues, with meat consumption , overfishing , ocean acidification and
8526-524: The extinction of wildlife; and pollution. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. As indicated by the I=PAT equation, environmental impact (I) or degradation is caused by the combination of an already very large and increasing human population (P), continually increasing economic growth or per capita affluence (A), and the application of resource-depleting and polluting technology (T). According to
8673-572: The 1960s, increasing economic expansion again led to rising injury rates, and the resulting political pressures led Congress to establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on April 28, 1971, the date that the Occupational Health and Safety Act became effective. The new agency incorporated much of what had been the original Bureau of Labor Standards. George Guenther was appointed by Labor Secretary James D. Hodgson as
8820-538: The 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by IPBES also warns that ever increasing land use for meat production plays a significant role in biodiversity loss. A 2006 Food and Agriculture Organization report, Livestock's Long Shadow , found that around 26% of the planet's terrestrial surface is devoted to livestock grazing. Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil, found in oil palm trees, which are native to West and Central Africa. Initially used in foods in developing countries, palm oil
8967-497: The 25 statutes. WPP Investigators act as neutral fact-finders; they do not work for either the Complainant or Respondent. A WPP Investigator's job is to impartially gather and analyze all relevant evidence to determine whether unlawful whistleblower retaliation has occurred. Over the years, OSHA's WPP has been responsible for enforcing these laws that protect the rights of workers to speak up without fear of retaliation, regardless of
SECTION 60
#17328550333499114-660: The Blue Sky Defence War released by the State Council in July 2018 creates an action plan to reduce 2015 VOC emissions 10% by 2020. The Central Pollution Control Board of India released the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act in 1981, amended in 1987, to address concerns about air pollution in India . While the document does not differentiate between VOCs and other air pollutants,
9261-504: The CPCB monitors "oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), fine particulate matter (PM10) and suspended particulate matter (SPM)". The definitions of VOCs used for control of precursors of photochemical smog used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies in the US with independent outdoor air pollution regulations include exemptions for VOCs that are determined to be non-reactive, or of low-reactivity in
9408-432: The Department of Labor has worked on some work safety issues since its creation in 1934. Economic boom and associated labor turnover during World War II worsened work safety in nearly all areas of the United States economy, but after 1945 accidents again declined as long-term forces reasserted themselves. Additionally, new and powerful labor unions played an increasingly important role in worker safety post- World War II . In
9555-595: The FAO estimated that 18% of global anthropogenic GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions (estimated as 100-year carbon dioxide equivalents) are associated in some way with livestock production. FAO data indicate that meat accounted for 26% of global livestock product tonnage in 2011. Globally, enteric fermentation (mostly in ruminant livestock) accounts for about 27% of anthropogenic methane emissions , Despite methane's 100-year global warming potential , recently estimated at 28 without and 34 with climate-carbon feedbacks, methane emission
9702-844: The UN Environment Programme) estimated that 6 million hectares of agricultural land per year had been lost to soil degradation since the mid-1940s, and she noted that this magnitude is similar to earlier estimates by Dudal and by Rozanov et al. Such losses are attributable not only to soil erosion , but also to salinization, loss of nutrients and organic matter, acidification, compaction, water logging and subsidence. Human-induced land degradation tends to be particularly serious in dry regions. Focusing on soil properties, Oldeman estimated that about 19 million square kilometers of global land area had been degraded; Dregne and Chou, who included degradation of vegetation cover as well as soil, estimated about 36 million square kilometers degraded in
9849-680: The US Environmental Protection Agency, among others, which can help reduce livestock damage to streamwater quality and riparian environments. Changes in livestock production practices influence the environmental impact of meat production, as illustrated by some beef data. In the US beef production system, practices prevailing in 2007 are estimated to have involved 8.6% less fossil fuel use, 16% less greenhouse gas emissions (estimated as 100-year carbon dioxide equivalents), 12% less withdrawn water use and 33% less land use, per unit mass of beef produced, than in 1977. From 1980 to 2012 in
9996-743: The US, sampling for erosion estimates by the US NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) is statistically based, and estimation uses the Universal Soil Loss Equation and Wind Erosion Equation . For 2010, annual average soil loss by sheet, rill and wind erosion on non-federal US land was estimated to be 10.7 t/ha on cropland and 1.9 t/ha on pasture land; the average soil erosion rate on US cropland had been reduced by about 34% since 1982. No-till and low-till practices have become increasingly common on North American cropland used for production of grains such as wheat and barley. On uncultivated cropland,
10143-627: The US, while population increased by 38%, the small ruminant inventory decreased by 42%, the cattle-and-calves inventory decreased by 17%, and methane emissions from livestock decreased by 18%; yet despite the reduction in cattle numbers, US beef production increased over that period. Some impacts of meat-producing livestock may be considered environmentally beneficial . These include waste reduction by conversion of human-inedible crop residues to food, use of livestock as an alternative to herbicides for control of invasive and noxious weeds and other vegetation management, use of animal manure as fertilizer as
10290-520: The United States — just a fraction of the nation's worksites. According to a report by AFL–CIO , it would take OSHA 129 years to inspect all workplaces under its jurisdiction. Enforcement plays an important part in OSHA's efforts to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Inspections are initiated without advance notice, conducted using on-site or telephone and facsimile investigations, performed by trained compliance officers and scheduled based on
10437-529: The VOCs emitted from the product, including some chemical compounds that may be relevant for indoor air quality. Each ounce of colorant added to tint paint may contain between 5 and 20 grams of VOCs. A dark color, however, could require 5–15 ounces of colorant, adding up to 300 or more grams of VOCs per gallon of paint. VOCs are also found in hospital and health care environments. In these settings, these chemicals are widely used for cleaning, disinfection, and hygiene of
10584-472: The Voluntary Protection Programs in 1982, which allow employers to apply as "model workplaces" to achieve special designation if they meet certain requirements. The OSH Act covers most private-sector employers and their workers, in addition to some public-sector employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal authority. Those jurisdictions include
10731-405: The abundant new materials (building materials, fittings, surface coverings and treatments such as glues, paints and sealants) exposed to the indoor air, emitting multiple VOC gases. This off-gassing has a multi-exponential decay trend that is discernible over at least two years, with the most volatile compounds decaying with a time-constant of a few days, and the least volatile compounds decaying with
10878-427: The adsorbing properties of materials like Tenax. In most countries, a separate definition of VOCs is used with regard to indoor air quality that comprises each organic chemical compound that can be measured as follows: adsorption from air on Tenax TA, thermal desorption, gas chromatographic separation over a 100% nonpolar column ( dimethylpolysiloxane ). VOC (volatile organic compounds) are all compounds that appear in
11025-701: The agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. OSHA's mission is to "assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance." The agency is also charged with enforcing a variety of whistleblower statutes and regulations. OSHA's workplace safety inspections have been shown to reduce injury rates and injury costs without adverse effects on employment, sales, credit ratings, or firm survival. The Bureau of Labor Standards of
11172-530: The agency's first director. OSHA has run a number of training, compliance assistance, and health and safety recognition programs throughout its history. The OSHA Training Institute, which trains government and private sector health and safety personnel, began in 1972. In 1978, the agency began a grant-making program, now called the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, to train workers and employers in reducing workplace hazards. OSHA started
11319-483: The air. Employers must also: Workers have the right to: Temporary workers must be treated like permanent employees . Staffing agencies and host employers share joint accountability for temporary workers. Both entities are therefore obligated to comply with workplace health and safety requirements and ensure worker safety and health. OSHA could hold both the host and temporary employers responsible for any violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Act grants OSHA
11466-506: The amount of water use assignable to such production is seldom estimated. For example, "green water" use is evapotranspirational use of soil water that has been provided directly by precipitation; and "green water" has been estimated to account for 94% of global beef cattle production's " water footprint ", and on rangeland, as much as 99.5% of the water use associated with beef production is "green water". Impairment of water quality by manure and other substances in runoff and infiltrating water
11613-438: The authority to issue workplace health and safety regulations. These regulations include limits on hazardous chemical exposure, employee access to hazard information, requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, and requirements to prevent falls and hazards from operating dangerous equipment. The OSH Act's current Construction, General Industry, Maritime, and Agriculture standards are designed to protect workers from
11760-549: The body." And it appears that VOC compounds in the body "may be either produced by metabolic processes or inhaled/absorbed from exogenous sources" such as environmental tobacco smoke . Chemical fingerprinting and breath analysis of volatile organic compounds has also been demonstrated with chemical sensor arrays , which utilize pattern recognition for detection of component volatile organics in complex mixtures such as breath gas. To achieve comparability of VOC measurements, reference standards traceable to SI units are required. For
11907-417: The changes in quantity and quality of soil and water as a result of irrigation and the ensuing effects on natural and social conditions at the tail-end and downstream of the irrigation scheme. The impacts stem from the changed hydrological conditions owing to the installation and operation of the scheme. An irrigation scheme often draws water from the river and distributes it over the irrigated area. As
12054-710: The citation, including whether a violation actually exists. Workers only have the right to challenge the deadline by which a problem must be resolved. Appeals of citations are heard by the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused about 1,300 workers and their families to contract the virus, with four deaths, at the Smithfield Foods packing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . The governor, Kristi Noem , resisted initiating and enforcing measures to protect workers and
12201-414: The common use of cleaning agents, sprays and fresheners. In one study, more than 200 chemicals were identified, of which 41 have adverse health effects, 37 of them being VOCs. The health effects include skin sensitization, reproductive and organ-specific toxicity, carcinogenicity , mutagenicity , and endocrine-disrupting properties. Furthermore, in another study carried out in the same European country, it
12348-784: The community. The plant was fined $ 13,494 – the maximum allowed at the time – by OSHA for what was considered a single violation. OSHA carries out its enforcement activities through its 10 regional offices and 85 area offices. OSHA's regional offices are located in Boston , New York City , Philadelphia , Atlanta , Chicago , Dallas , Kansas City , Denver , San Francisco , and Seattle . Tracking and investigating workplace injuries and illnesses play an important role in preventing future injuries and illnesses. Under OSHA's Recordkeeping regulation, certain covered employers in high-hazard industries are required to prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses. This information
12495-491: The concentrations found in indoor air, benzene , toluene , and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were found in samples of human milk and increase the concentrations of VOCs that we are exposed to throughout the day. A study notes the difference between VOCs in alveolar breath and inspired air suggesting that VOCs are ingested, metabolized, and excreted via the extra-pulmonary pathway. VOCs are also ingested by drinking water in varying concentrations. Some VOC concentrations were over
12642-498: The consequences of habitat fragmentation is important for the preservation of biodiversity and enhancing the functioning of the ecosystem. Both agricultural plants and animals depend on pollination for reproduction. Vegetables and fruits are an important diet for human beings and depend on pollination. Whenever there is habitat destruction, pollination is reduced and crop yield as well. Many plants also rely on animals and most especially those that eat fruit for seed dispersal. Therefore,
12789-459: The consultation program, certain exemplary employers may request participation in OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Eligibility for participation includes, but is not limited to, receiving a full-service, comprehensive consultation visit, correcting all identified hazards, and developing an effective safety and health management program. Worksites that receive SHARP recognition are exempt from programmed inspections during
12936-661: The country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Each year, responding to requests from small employers looking to create or improve their safety and health management programs, OSHA's On-site Consultation Program conducts over 29,000 visits to small business worksites covering over 1.5 million workers across the nation. On-site consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing safety and health management programs. Under
13083-451: The destruction of habitat for animal severely affects all the plant species that depend on them. Biodiversity generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth, and is represented by the number of different species there are on the planet. Since its introduction, Homo sapiens (the human species) has been killing off entire species either directly (such as through hunting) or indirectly (such as by destroying habitats ), causing
13230-408: The determinations essential to rulemaking." Though it found that OSHA's findings and estimates are "subject to vigorous review and challenge", it stated that this is natural because "interested parties and experts involved in rulemakings have differing visions." OSHA has come under considerable criticism for the ineffectiveness of its penalties, particularly its criminal penalties. The maximum penalty
13377-413: The different areas. Thus, health professionals such as nurses, doctors, sanitation staff, etc., may present with adverse health effects such as asthma ; however, further evaluation is required to determine the exact levels and determinants that influence the exposure to these compounds. Concentration levels of individual VOCs such as halogenated and aromatic hydrocarbons vary substantially between areas of
13524-525: The emission limit values set out in the Directive or with the requirements of the so-called reduction scheme. Article 13 of The Paints Directive, approved in 2004, amended the original VOC Solvents Emissions Directive and limits the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and in vehicle finishing products. The Paints Directive sets out maximum VOC content limit values for paints and varnishes in certain applications. The Solvents Emissions Directive
13671-530: The end of this century. A 2022 scientific review published in Biological Reviews confirms that a biodiversity loss crisis caused by human activity, which the researchers describe as a sixth mass extinction event, is currently underway. A June 2020 study published in PNAS argues that the contemporary extinction crisis "may be the most serious environmental threat to the persistence of civilization, because it
13818-590: The environment (or anthropogenic environmental impact ) refers to changes to biophysical environments and to ecosystems , biodiversity , and natural resources caused directly or indirectly by humans . Modifying the environment to fit the needs of society (as in the built environment ) is causing severe effects including global warming , environmental degradation (such as ocean acidification ), mass extinction and biodiversity loss , ecological crisis , and ecological collapse . Some human activities that cause damage (either directly or indirectly) to
13965-468: The environment on a global scale include population growth , neoliberal economic policies and rapid economic growth , overconsumption , overexploitation , pollution , and deforestation . Some of the problems, including global warming and biodiversity loss, have been proposed as representing catastrophic risks to the survival of the human species. The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity . The term
14112-457: The environment, and its effects on food security . It is estimated that up to 40% of the world's agricultural land is seriously degraded. Biomass of mammals on Earth Environmental impacts associated with meat production include use of fossil energy , water and land resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and in some instances, rainforest clearing, water pollution and species endangerment, among other adverse effects. Steinfeld et al. of
14259-430: The eventual loss of resource bases. Humanity's overall impact on the planet is affected by many factors, not just the raw number of people. Their lifestyle (including overall affluence and resource use) and the pollution they generate (including carbon footprint ) are equally important. In 2008, The New York Times stated that the inhabitants of the developed nations of the world consume resources like oil and metals at
14406-475: The extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known about what health effects occur from the levels of organics usually found in homes. While null in comparison to
14553-408: The findings, although the debate continues. Many countries, such as Tonga, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and international management bodies have taken steps to appropriately manage marine resources. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released their biennial State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2018 noting that capture fishery production has remained constant for
14700-595: The first major pieces of legislation signed by President George W. Bush , is the first instance that Congress has successfully used the Congressional Review Act to block regulation. Since 2001, OSHA has issued the following standards: OSHA is responsible for enforcing its standards on regulated entities. Compliance Safety and Health Officers carry out inspections and assess fines for regulatory violations. Inspections are planned for worksites in particularly hazardous industries. Inspections can also be triggered by
14847-613: The following modalities are employed for sampling: gas sampling bags, syringes, evacuated steel and glass containers. In the U.S., standard methods have been established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and another by U.S. OSHA. Each method uses a single component solvent; butanol and hexane cannot be sampled, however, on the same sample matrix using the NIOSH or OSHA method. VOCs are quantified and identified by two broad techniques. The major technique
14994-405: The following priorities [highest to lowest]: imminent danger; catastrophes – fatalities or hospitalizations; worker complaints and referrals; targeted inspections – particular hazards, high injury rates; and follow-up inspections. Current workers or their representatives may file a complaint and ask OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe that there is a serious hazard or that their employer
15141-597: The form of VOCs. The majority of VOCs are produced by plants, the main compound being isoprene . Small amounts of VOCs are produced by animals and microbes. Many VOCs are considered secondary metabolites , which often help organisms in defense, such as plant defense against herbivory . The strong odor emitted by many plants consists of green leaf volatiles , a subset of VOCs. Although intended for nearby organisms to detect and respond to, these volatiles can be detected and communicated through wireless electronic transmission, by embedding nanosensors and infrared transmitters into
15288-729: The formation of tropospheric ozone and smog . Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation ; headaches , loss of coordination, nausea, hearing disorders and damage to the liver , kidney, and central nervous system . Some VOCs are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea , declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, vomiting, nose bleeding, fatigue, dizziness. The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic to those with no known health effects. As with other pollutants,
15435-566: The funding for each program. State-run safety and health programs are required to be at least as effective as the federal OSHA program. The following 22 states or territories have OSHA-approved state programs: Alaska , Arizona , California , Hawaii , Indiana , Iowa , Kentucky , Maryland , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada , New Mexico , North Carolina , Oregon , Puerto Rico , South Carolina , Tennessee , Utah , Vermont , Virginia , Washington , and Wyoming . Federal OSHA provides coverage to certain workplaces specifically excluded from
15582-623: The gas chromatogram between and including n -hexane and n -hexadecane . Compounds appearing earlier are called VVOC (very volatile organic compounds); compounds appearing later are called SVOC (semi-volatile organic compounds). France , Germany (AgBB/DIBt), Belgium , Norway (TEK regulation) and Italy (CAM Edilizia) have enacted regulations to limit VOC emissions from commercial products. European industry has developed numerous voluntary ecolabels and rating systems, such as EMICODE , M1, Blue Angel , GuT (textile floor coverings), Nordic Swan Ecolabel, EU Ecolabel , and Indoor Air Comfort . In
15729-422: The global population rises to more than 9 billion, which will be a significant driver of further biodiversity loss and increased Greenhouse gas emissions. Some scholars, environmentalists and advocates have linked human population growth or population size as a driver of environmental issues, including some suggesting this indicates an overpopulation scenario. In 2017, over 15,000 scientists around
15876-533: The hazard. In its first year of operation, OSHA was permitted to adopt regulations based on guidelines set by certain standards organizations, such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, without going through all of the requirements of a typical rule-making. OSHA is granted the authority to promulgate standards that prescribe the methods employers are legally required to follow to protect their workers from hazards. Before OSHA can issue
16023-535: The hyphenated technique of GC-MS. Direct injection mass spectrometry techniques are frequently utilized for the rapid detection and accurate quantification of VOCs. PTR-MS is among the methods that have been used most extensively for the on-line analysis of biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs. PTR-MS instruments based on time-of-flight mass spectrometry have been reported to reach detection limits of 20 pptv after 100 ms and 750 ppqv after 1 min. measurement (signal integration) time. The mass resolution of these devices
16170-438: The impact of fishing on other elements of the environment, such as by-catch and destruction of habitat such as coral reefs . According to the 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report , overfishing is the main driver of mass species extinction in the oceans. These conservation issues are part of marine conservation , and are addressed in fisheries science programs. There
16317-481: The industry; thus, the vast majority of PELs have not been updated since 1971. The agency has issued non-binding, alternate occupational exposure limits that may better protect workers. Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. This clause requires employers to keep their workplaces free of serious recognized hazards and is generally cited when no specific OSHA standard applies to
16464-715: The lacking standard gas mixtures at trace level concentration, minimising adsorption processes, and improving the zero gas. The final scopes are for the traceability and the long-term stability of the standard gases to be in accordance with the data quality objectives (DQO, maximum uncertainty of 20% in this case) required by the WMO / GAW program. Human impact on the environment 1800s: Martineau · Tocqueville · Marx · Spencer · Le Bon · Ward · Pareto · Tönnies · Veblen · Simmel · Durkheim · Addams · Mead · Weber · Du Bois · Mannheim · Elias Human impact on
16611-526: The large-scale depletion of fresh water resources such as aquifers, lakes, and rivers. As a result of this massive diversion of freshwater, lakes, rivers, and creeks are running dry, severely altering or stressing surrounding ecosystems, and contributing to the extinction of many aquatic species. Lal and Stewart estimated global loss of agricultural land by degradation and abandonment at 12 million hectares per year. In contrast, according to Scherr, GLASOD (Global Assessment of Human-Induced Soil Degradation, under
16758-517: The last two decades but unsustainable overfishing has increased to 33% of the world's fisheries. They also noted that aquaculture, the production of farmed fish, has increased from 120 million tonnes per year in 1990 to over 170 million tonnes in 2018. Populations of oceanic sharks and rays have been reduced by 71% since 1970, largely due to overfishing. More than three-quarters of the species comprising this group are now threatened with extinction. The environmental impact of irrigation includes
16905-422: The main drivers of eye and upper respiratory tract irritation while cancer risks were driven by chloroform and formaldehyde. Some solvent-based products have also been shown to cause damage to the kidneys and reproductive organs. One study showed that the star rating of the hotel may influence VOC exposure, as hotels with lower star ratings tend to have lower quality materials for the furnishings. Additionally, due to
17052-561: The many sources. VOCs are emitted by thousands of indoor products. Examples include: paints, varnishes, waxes and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning and personal care products, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper , graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions. Human activities such as cooking and cleaning can also emit VOCs. Cooking can release long-chain aldehydes and alkanes when oil
17199-953: The most common VOC found in hospitality settings are alkanes, which are a major ingredient in cleaning products (35%). Other products present in hospitality that contain alkanes are laundry detergents, paints, and lubricants. Housekeepers in particular may also be exposed to formaldehyde, which is present in some fabrics used to make towels and bedding, however exposure decreases after several washes. Some hotels still use bleach to clean, and this bleach can form chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Fragrances are often used in hotels and are composed of many different chemicals. There are many negative health outcomes associated with VOC exposure in hospitality. VOCs present in cleaning supplies can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation, which can develop into dermatitis. VOCs in cleaning supplies can also cause more serious conditions, such as respiratory diseases and cancer. One study found that n-nonane and formaldehyde were
17346-444: The national average for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor, and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through a system focused on: hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, and management commitment and worker involvement. OSHA's On-site Consultation Program offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across
17493-407: The needs of local communities. It also calls for a reduction in pesticides and fires, along with several rules for ensuring the social wellbeing of workers and the local communities. Human activity is causing environmental degradation , which is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction ;
17640-445: The number of the sample's molecules in the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility . Diverse definitions of the term VOC are in use. Some examples are presented below. Health Canada classifies VOCs as organic compounds that have boiling points roughly in the range of 50 to 250 °C (122 to 482 °F). The emphasis is placed on commonly encountered VOCs that would have an effect on air quality. The European Union defines
17787-572: The period that the SHARP certification is valid. OSHA also provides compliance assistance through its national and area offices. Through hundreds of publications in a variety of languages, website safety, and health topics pages, and through compliance assistance staff, OSHA provides information to employers and workers on specific hazards and OSHA rights and responsibilities. A 2012 study in Science found that OSHA's random workplace safety inspections caused
17934-448: The planet's landmass remains as wilderness . Habitat fragmentation is the reduction of large tracts of habitat leading to habitat loss . Habitat fragmentation and loss are considered as being the main cause of the loss of biodiversity and degradation of the ecosystem all over the world. Human actions are greatly responsible for habitat fragmentation, and loss as these actions alter the connectivity and quality of habitats. Understanding
18081-429: The plant diversity seen in natural forests, and 47–90% less mammal diversity. This is not because of the oil palm itself, but rather because the oil palm is the only habitat provided in the plantations. The plantations are therefore known as a monoculture , whereas natural forests contain a wide variety of flora and fauna, making them highly biodiverse. One of the ways palm oil could be made more sustainable (although it
18228-481: The plant materials themselves. Emissions are affected by a variety of factors, such as temperature, which determines rates of volatilization and growth, and sunlight, which determines rates of biosynthesis . Emission occurs almost exclusively from the leaves, the stomata in particular. VOCs emitted by terrestrial forests are often oxidized by hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere; in the absence of NO x pollutants, VOC photochemistry recycles hydroxyl radicals to create
18375-404: The recent average total soil loss has been 2.2 t/ha per year. In comparison with agriculture using conventional cultivation, it has been suggested that, because no-till agriculture produces erosion rates much closer to soil production rates, it could provide a foundation for sustainable agriculture. Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by
18522-732: The relationship of these laws to occupational safety and health matters. OSHA has developed several training, compliance assistance, and health and safety recognition programs throughout its history. The OSHA Training Institute, which trains government and private sector health and safety personnel, began in 1972. In 1978, the agency began a grant-making program, now called the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, to train workers and employers in identifying and reducing workplace hazards. The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) recognizes employers and workers in private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management programs and maintain injury and illness rates below
18669-460: The same effect on compliance as 210 inspections. Much of the debate about OSHA regulations and enforcement policies revolve around the cost of regulations and enforcement, versus the actual benefit in reduced worker injury, illness, and death. A 1995 study of several OSHA standards by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) found that OSHA relies "generally on methods that provide a credible basis for
18816-429: The same hospital. Generally, ethanol , isopropanol , ether , and acetone are the main compounds in the interior of the site. Following the same line, in a study conducted in the United States, it was established that nursing assistants are the most exposed to compounds such as ethanol, while medical equipment preparers are most exposed to 2-propanol . In relation to exposure to VOCs by cleaning and hygiene personnel,
18963-401: The same standards as private employers. OSHA issues “virtual fines” to federal agencies – following an inspection where violations are found, OSHA issues a press release stating the size of the fine would be if the federal agency were a private sector employer. Under a 1998 amendment, the OSH Act covers the U.S. Postal Service the same as any private sector employer. The OSH Act does not cover
19110-1050: The self-employed, immediate family members of farm employers, or workplace hazards regulated by another federal agency (for example, the Mine Safety and Health Administration , the Department of Energy , or Coast Guard ). Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. By law, employers must provide their workers with a workplace that does not have serious hazards, and they must follow all OSH Act safety and health standards. Employers are obligated to identify and rectify safety and health problems. The OSH Act further requires that employers must first attempt to eliminate or reduce hazards by making feasible changes in working conditions, rather than relying solely on personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, or earplugs. Examples of effective ways to eliminate or reduce risks include switching to safer chemicals, enclosing processes to trap harmful fumes, or using ventilation systems to clean
19257-633: The size of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania , is estimated to emit 3.4 million kg (7.5 million lb) of terpenes on a typical August day during the growing season. Maize produces the VOC (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and other plant hormones. Anthropogenic sources emit about 142 teragrams (1.42 × 10 kg, or 142 billion kg) of carbon per year in the form of VOCs. The major source of man-made VOCs are: Due to their numerous sources indoors, concentrations of VOCs indoors are consistently higher in indoor air (up to ten times higher) than outdoors due to
19404-469: The skin like cathelicidin LL-37, human β-defensin 2 and 3. Xylene and formaldehyde worsen allergic inflammation in animal models. Toluene also increases the dysregulation of filaggrin : a key protein in dermal regulation. this was confirmed by immunofluorescence to confirm protein loss and western blotting to confirm mRNA loss. These experiments were done on human skin samples. Toluene exposure also decreased
19551-638: The smog formation process. Prominent is the VOC regulation issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California and by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). However, this specific use of the term VOCs can be misleading, especially when applied to indoor air quality because many chemicals that are not regulated as outdoor air pollution can still be important for indoor air pollution. Following
19698-534: The sustainable capacity of the ecosystem. It can be measured by the ecological footprint , a resource accounting approach which compares human demand on ecosystems with the amount of planet matter ecosystems can renew. Estimates by the Global Footprint Network indicate that humanity's current demand is 70% higher than the regeneration rate of all of the planet's ecosystems combined. A prolonged pattern of overconsumption leads to environmental degradation and
19845-410: The task. One study found that workers were exposed to peak total VOC concentrations when they were removing the plastic film off of new products. This peak was 7 times higher than total VOC concentration peaks of all other tasks, contributing greatly to retail workers’ exposure to VOCs despite being a relatively short task. One way that VOC concentrations can be kept minimal within retail and hospitality
19992-481: The types depend on the type of store, but common sources of VOCs in retail spaces include motor vehicle exhaust, building materials, cleaning products, products, and fragrances. One study found that VOC concentrations were higher in retail storage spaces compared to the sales areas, particularly formaldehyde. In retail spaces, formaldehyde concentrations ranged from 8.0 to 19.4 µg m compared to 14.2 to 45.0 µg m in storage spaces. Occupational exposure to VOCs also depends on
20139-461: The use of nitrogenous fertilizers, growing of nitrogen-fixing legume vegetation and manure management. Management practices that can mitigate GHG emissions from production of livestock and feed have been identified. Considerable water use is associated with meat production, mostly because of water used in production of vegetation that provides feed. There are several published estimates of water use associated with livestock and meat production, but
20286-496: The vicinity of the root zone. Irrigation can also be done extracting groundwater by (tube)wells . As a hydrological result it is found that the level of the water descends. The effects may be water mining , land/soil subsidence , and, along the coast, saltwater intrusion . Irrigation projects can have large benefits, but the negative side effects are often overlooked. Agricultural irrigation technologies such as high powered water pumps, dams, and pipelines are responsible for
20433-432: The water in the trans-epidermal layer allowing for vulnerability in the skin's layers. Limit values for VOC emissions into indoor air are published by AgBB , AFSSET , California Department of Public Health , and others. These regulations have prompted several companies in the paint and adhesive industries to adapt with VOC level reductions their products. VOC labels and certification programs may not properly assess all of
20580-490: The whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and 24 other statutes protecting workers who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, maritime and securities laws. Unlike OSHA's Safety Enforcement complaints (or referrals) being completely anonymous, OSHA's whistleblower investigations can not be anonymous as
20727-425: The wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the world. Ultimately, the environmental impact depends on the production practices of the system used by farmers. The connection between emissions into the environment and the farming system is indirect, as it also depends on other climate variables such as rainfall and temperature. There are two types of indicators of environmental impact: "means-based", which
20874-672: The workplace. Volatile organic compounds that are classified as hazardous materials are regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration while being transported. Most VOCs in Earth's atmosphere are biogenic, largely emitted by plants. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) encompass VOCs emitted by plants, animals, or microorganisms, and while extremely diverse, are most commonly terpenoids , alcohols, and carbonyls (methane and carbon monoxide are generally not considered). Not counting methane , biological sources emit an estimated 760 teragrams of carbon per year in
21021-529: The world issued a second warning to humanity which asserted that rapid human population growth is the "primary driver behind many ecological and even societal threats." According to the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services , released by the United Nations ' Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in 2019, human population growth
21168-439: The world's dry regions. Despite estimated losses of agricultural land, the amount of arable land used in crop production globally increased by about 9% from 1961 to 2012, and is estimated to have been 1.396 billion hectares in 2012. Global average soil erosion rates are thought to be high, and erosion rates on conventional cropland generally exceed estimates of soil production rates, usually by more than an order of magnitude. In
21315-461: Was first used in the technical sense by Russian geologist Alexey Pavlov , and it was first used in English by British ecologist Arthur Tansley in reference to human influences on climax plant communities . The atmospheric scientist Paul Crutzen introduced the term " Anthropocene " in the mid-1970s. The term is sometimes used in the context of pollution produced from human activity since the start of
21462-425: Was found that there is a significant association between breathlessness in the elderly population and elevated exposure to VOCs such as toluene and o-xylene , unlike the remainder of the population. Workers in hospitality are also exposed to VOCs from a variety of sources including cleaning products (air fresheners, floor cleaners, disinfectants, etc.), building materials and furnishings, as well as fragrances. One of
21609-509: Was replaced by the Industrial Emissions Directive from 2013. The People's Republic of China defines a VOC as those compounds that have "originated from automobiles, industrial production and civilian use, burning of all types of fuels, storage and transportation of oils, fitment finish, coating for furniture and machines, cooking oil fume and fine particles (PM 2.5)", and similar sources. The Three-Year Action Plan for Winning
#348651