CHAPTER 17

Biological chemical natural cultural lifestyle

5 major types of hazards:

Mutagens

Includes chemicals or forms of radiation that cause or increase the frequency of mutations, or changes, in the DNA molecules found in cells. (Ex: HNO2)

Dose response curve

Plot of data showing the effects of various doses of a toxic agent on a group of test organisms

Response

The health damage resulting from exposure to a chemical is called the ______. (2 types: Acute and chronic)

Teratogens

are chemicals that harm or cause birth defects in a fetus or embryo (Ex: Ethyl alcohol/angel dust/PCB's)

Carcinogens

are chemicals, some types of radiation, and certain viruses that can cause or promote cancer. Examples: arsenic, BZ, COH2, PCB's, UV radiation, radon

Parasites

are organisms that live on or inside other organisms and feed on them.

Bacteria

are single-celled organisms that are found everywhere and can multiply very rapidly on their own

Viruses

are smaller than bacteria and work by invading a cell and taking over its genetic machinery to copy themselves and then spreading throughout the body

Risk management

involves deciding whether and how to reduce a particular risk to a certain level and at what cost.

Risk analysis

involves identifying hazards and evaluating their associated risks, ranking risks, determining options and making decisions about reducing or eliminating risks.

Infectious disease

is a disease caused by a pathogen such as a bacterium, virus or parasite invading the body and multiplying in its cells and tissues

toxic chemical

is an element or compound that can cause temporary/permanent harm or death to humans and animals. Top 5 are: Arsenic, lead, mercury, vinyl chloride, and PCB's

Transmissible disease

is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another. AKA: contagious

Nontransmissible disease

is caused by something other than a living organism and doesn't spread from one person to another.

Risk assessment

is the process of using statistical methods to estimate how much harm a particular hazard can cause to human health or to the environment

pathogens

organisms that can cause disease in other organisms

Dose

the amount of a harmful chemical that a person has ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin at any one time

Toxicity

the measure of the harmfulness of a substance

Risk

the probability of suffering harm from a hazard that can cause injury, disease, death, economic loss, or damage.

Toxicology

the study of the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and other organisms