Environmental 2.7-2.8 Study Guide

You are told that Iodine-135 is a naturally radioactive element. You know that the _____ is unstable, and it spontaneously disintegrates or _____.

nucleus decays

The center of an atom is the ______. it is surrounded by small particles called______.

nucleus electrons

Rocks that contain Uranium-238 and radium are______.

radioactive

When a radium atom "decays" it becomes a ______ atom. The decay process produces particles and/or waves of energy called______.

radon radiation

The unit used to measure the amount of energy deposited in tissue by radiation is the ____.

rem

If asbestos is not in a friable condition it may be_____ or _______.

sealed or encapsulated

If a person is exposed to a large dose of radiation, the latent period is likely to be very______.

short

Children downwind from Chernobyl are at risk of developing_______.

thyroid cancer

Before cutting materials containing asbestos, it must be_______.

wet

A (vacuum/wet mop) should be used to clean the area after asbestos has been removed.

wet mop

An accident exposed workers to 100,000 millirems of radiation. Blood tests showed a decrease in the number of_____blood cells. The workers have an increased probability of developing________.

white leukemia

Which type of power plant releases more radiation during normal operation- a coal burning power plant or a nuclear power plant?

Coal burning

A dose of ten million millirems of radiation causes death due to damage to the ___________.

central nervous system

Human-made sources of radiation are more dangerous than natural sources because the radiation is more_________.

concentrated

A dose of one million millirems of radiation causes death due to the damage to the _____ system.

digestive

Naturally radioactive substances normally enter the body as a part of _____ or______.

food or air

Asbestos should be removed if it is in a _____ condition or if it is in areas where it will be________ or if the building will be _____ or ________.

friable disturbed remodeled or demolished

In the United States, the buildings where nuclear reactors are located are made of concrete that is several feet thick. The building is designed to protect organisms from______ radiation.

gamma

People are in danger if they_______ asbestos fibers.

inhale

The product most likely to contain asbestos that will escape into the air is one that is used for (insulation/flooring).

insulation

List 3 human activities that use concentrated radiation sources of energy.

1)Medical uses 2)Nuclear weapons 3)Nuclear power plants

Identify 3 places where a person might be exposed to asbestos.

1)Schools 2)Homes 3)Work

What 2 factors determine the level of radiation in your home?

1)Building materials 2)How well the house is constructed and sealed

List 3 ways in which the use of radiation has in some way improved the quality of your life.

1)Diagnose and treat diseases 2)LCD watches 3)Microwaves

Scientists find it difficult to determine the effects of low-level radiation on the human body. Give 2 reasons for this:

1)Experiments involve other species, not humans 2)All human are exposed to different amounts of radiation

Identify the properties of asbestos that made it an important material used in construction. (4)

1)Heat-resistant 2)Very durable 3)Resists corrosion 4)Insulates well

To insure safety of students and workers, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act required schools to: (5)

1)Inspect schools for friable ACMs 2)Require an analysis of any unknown composition 3)Develop a plan to manage the asbestos 4) Keep records 5) Notify parents and workers of anything related to asbestos

A patient receiving radiation therapy for cancer wears a hat or wig to hide the hair loss, is nauseous after each treatment, and is more suseptible to infections. Based on this information, the dose of radiation which the patient is receiving is greater than________ millirems.

350,000

Assuming someone was exposed to 350,000 millirems of radiation, what type of treatment allowed them to survive?

A bone marrow transplant

Which type of radiation would probably not damage the human body unless swallowed or inhaled?

Alpha

If materials contain asbestos what should you do?

Call a contractor who is licensed and trained in that area.

Who receives more cosmic radiation- a person living in Denver, Colorado, or a person living in Miami, Florida?

Denver, Colorado

The vinyl floor tile is very worn. What should be done?

Don't remove them, cover them with a new material.

Asbestos is not dangerous unless it is in this condition.

Friable

Which type of radiation is the most penetrating?

Gamma

(Ionizing/nonionizing) radiation causes the most damage in cells by affecting the position of the electrons.

Ionizing

You notice bags containing asbestos have been split open. What should you do?

Leave the bags and notify the EPA.

Is there a dose of radiation that is considered risk free?

No

You want to paint a new wall with textured paint. Do you need to be concerned that the paint you buy may contain asbestos?

No, because it was banned in 1975.

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Is a dose of 1,00 millirems dangerous for an adult?Explain.

Probably not May cause changes in cells and cause tumers after a long latent period.

What building materials in homes might contain asbestos?

Roofing, shingles, siding, ceiling insulation, and flooring.

What actions did the EPA take regarding asbestos in 1989?

The EPA issued the asbestos ban and phaseout rule.

(True/False) Humans are radioactive even if they haven't been treated with radiation for medical conditions.

True

(True/False) Schools that don't take steps to address potential asbestos problems can be fined by the EPA.

True

How should you dress when working with materials containing asbestos?

Wear protective gloves, hats, clothing, and an approved respirator.

You just purchased a home with a furnace that is insulated with asbestos. Should you consider replacing it?

Yes if it's in poor condition, if not you should get it inspected.

A radiation dose of 1,000-10,000 millirems is most likely to affect (an adult/a developing embryo)

a developing embryo

When asbestos is removed it must be placed in ___________________.

a plastic trash bag that is marked

Asbestos fibers that become lodged in the lungs make breathing difficult and cause a condition called_____________.

asbestosis

The basic building block of all matter is the____.

atoms

The amount of naturally occurring radiation is called the____________ level of radiation.

background

Asbestos is classified as a___________.

carcinogen

Radiation is classified as a______.

carcinogen

The period of time between exposure to radiation and the appearance of cancer is the ___________.

latent period

If a person is exposed to a small dose of radiation, the latent period is likely to be very______.

long

The health risk to people living or working in buildings with ACMs is (high/low).

low

Asbestos may also cause______ cancer and ___________, cancer in the lining of the chest or abdomen.

lung cancer and mesothelioma

The diameter of an asbestos fiber is__________ than a human hair.

much smaller

Asbestos refers to a group of_______ minerals. It must be______and ______ into fibers.

natural mined and processed