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