The Categorization of Chemicals As Safe Or Dangerous

The Categorization of Chemicals As Safe Or DangerousWhen talking about the chemical and biological toxicity of pesticides, chemicals and any chemical for that matter, the chemical classification is often referred to as cis or trans. The cis label refers to the chemical class that is composed of substances that are naturally occurring and therefore can be said to be 'safe' to be used, while the trans classification refers to a chemical class that is created by man and is deemed unsafe to be used.The cis classification refers to substances that are produced by plants and animals and found in their natural environment. These substances are toxic to humans and can cause diseases, allergies and cancer. Common examples of the cis classifications are arsenic, bromine, chlorine, dioxins, lead, mercury, nickel, nitrates, pesticides, herbicides, vinyls, solvents, and others.In contrast, the trans classification refers to substances that are created by man and are found in man-made sources. Exa mples of the trans classifications are industrial chemicals, prescription drugs, prescription drugs that were taken by humans in large quantities, a small number of compounds within an industrial plant, pharmaceutical drugs, herbicides, fungicides, herbicides that are the synthetic variety, preservatives, many prescription medications, some antidepressants, and certain types of drugs. These are substances that pose little risk to human health because they are not naturally occurring and therefore the only risk is that the humans ingesting them might suffer from adverse reactions.One of the important features of the cis classification is that humans can metabolize these chemicals to a degree in their bodies. Many scientists believe that since the toxic effects of a chemical compound are determined by how it is metabolized and eliminated, that chemicals which are classified as cis are safer than those which are classified as trans. This is especially true for toxic chemical mixtures, as the amount of a substance that can be eliminated or metabolized is limited.There are numerous reasons why a chemical is classified as cis. For example, if a chemical is classified as cis, then the likelihood of a large percentage of humans consuming it will limit its potential harm to the individual's health and also limit the impact of the resultant damage on the environment as well.In addition, the cis classification refers to the class of chemical that is as safe as it can possibly be and the trans classification refers to the class of chemical that is considered to be a carcinogen, a cancer causing agent. The role of cis chemicals in relation to toxic chemical mixtures is so significant that several organizations have banned or are currently considering banning the use of chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dye and other toxic chemical mixtures. This in turn has led to a need for more research to be conducted.It is important to note that while the cis clas sification is more desirable than the trans classification, the truth is that many chemicals are in the cis classification, such as organophosphates, which are a group of insecticides and pesticides commonly used to control pests. While they are considered 'safe' for humans to consume, they are thought to be harmful to children and for animals, in which case they are usually classified as trans.