EHS Ch6

9. The symptoms of long-term exposure to lower levels of toxic metals include: a. Convulsions b. Vomiting and stomach pain c. Sudden onset of headaches d. Chronic illness effects e. All of the above

D. Chronic illness effects

13. The type of fish that has not been identified as having potentially dangerous levels of mercury is: a. Shark b. Swordfish c. Canned albacore d. Salmon e. King mackerel

D. Salmon

10. For fetuses, infants, and children, the hazards of heavy metals include: a. Impairment of physical and mental development b. Damage to internal organs c. Brain damage d. Some forms of cancer e. All of the above

E. All of the above

14. Lead exposure can arise from: a. Lead paint used in homes b. Certain types of pottery c. Lead dusts brought home from work d. Tap water from soldered pipes e. All of the above

E. All of the above

5. Substances on the National Priorities List (United States) have the following characteristics: a. They have known or suspected toxicity. b. They have potential for human exposure. c. They appear frequently in uncontrolled or abandoned waste sites. d. They are scheduled for possible remediation under Superfund. e. All of the above

E. All of the above

6. Possible methods for exposure to metals include: a. Inhalation of dusts b. Inhalation of metal fumes c. Skin contact with dusts d. Ingestion e. All of the above

E. All of the above

4. Which of the following metals is not classified as a major toxic metal with multiple effects? a. Arsenic b. Beryllium c. Chromium d. Mercury e. Silver

E. Silver

19. One of the most frequent methods of exposure to beryllium is: a. Workers' inhalation of beryllium in the meat packing industry b. Via wounds in the skin c. Via direct skin contact d. Through ingestion e. Workers' inhalation of beryllium in metal processing industries

E. Workers' inhalation of beryllium in metal processing industries

Essential metals

Metals (e.g., copper, zinc, manganese, and iron) necessary for human nutrition in trace amounts, but that can be toxic if ingested in excessive amounts.

Bioaccumulation

Occurs when trace amounts of substances (such as heavy metals) become more concentrated and potentially more harmful as they move up the food chain; sometimes called biomagnification

National Priorities List (NPL)

The EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term remedial action under Superfund legislation

3. Diffuse and spotted melanosis are associated with ingestion of: a. Lead b. Cadmium c. Mercury d. Arsenic e. None of the above

D. Arsenic

Itai-itai disease

A condition attributed to ingestion of cadmium and characterized by excruciating patin across the entire body.

Melanosis

A dermatologic condition that can cause the darkening of the skin of the entire body (diffuse melanosis) or spotted pigmentation of the skin or tissues inside the mouth (spotted melanosis); associated with chronic low-level arsenic exposure.

Heavy metal

A metal that has a high atomic weight with a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of water by five or more times. Examples include arsenic, lead, and mercury.

Minamata disease

A neurologic condition associated with ingestion of mercury; characterized by numbness of the extremities, deafness, poor vision, and drowsiness.

15. Excessively low intake of copper may be associated with: a. Dietary deficiency b. Normal health c. Toxicity d. Lethality e. None of the above

A. Dietary deficiency

16. Hemochromatosis is associated with excessive buildup of: a. Iron b. Mercury c. Copper d. Manganese e. None of the above

A. Iron

7. Which of the following statements about heavy metals is true? a. Their specific gravity exceeds that of water by five or more times b. None of them is necessary to sustain life. c. All of them are toxic even at trace levels. d. All of the above e. None of the above

A. Their specific gravity exceeds that of water by five or more times

2. Itai-itai disease was a form of poisoning associated with ingestion of: a. Lead b. Cadmium c. Mercury d. Arsenic e. None of the above

B. Cadmium

12. Erin Brockovich was a successful advocate against groundwater pollution from: a. Mercury b. Chromium c. Lead d. Arsenic e. None of the above

B. Chromium

18. Methylation is a process that involves which of the following metals? a. Iron b. Mercury c. Copper d. Manganese e. None of the above

B. Mercury

8. Bioaccumulation (biomagnification) of heavy metals is a particular hazard associated with: a. Iron b. Mercury c. Copper d. Manganese e. None of the above

B. Mercury

11. The EPA standard for the amount of arsenic permitted in drinking water is: a. 50 μg per liter b. 30 μg per liter c. 10 μg per liter d. 20 μg per liter e. 40 μg per liter

C. 10 per liter

20. Aluminum has been studied as a factor that may be linked to: a. Melanosis of the skin b. Chronic renal disease c. Alzheimer's disease d. Low blood pressure e. None of the above

C. Alzheimer's disease

17. A disease that causes the conjunctiva to appear white is: a. Jaundice b. Asthma c. Anemia d. Itai-Itai e. None of the above

C. Anemia

1. Minimata disease was associated with ingestion of seafoods tainted with: a. Lead b. Cadmium c. Mercury d. Arsenic e. None of the above

C. Mercury