Assessment of exposure

Question 1

Describe the difference between Hazard and Risk and define Risk

Answer 1

Hazard - something that has potential to harm
Risk - likelihood of a hazard causing harm

Risk = hazard x exposure

Question 2

Define Exposure:

Answer 2

Intensity x frequency x duration

Question 3

Describe the 5 step exposure pathway

Answer 3

1. Source of exposure (spilled truck)
2. Environmental media/transport mechanism (air)
3. Point of exposure (house)
4. Route of exposure (breathing)
5. receptor population (person/group actually exposed)

Question 4

List the 5 levels/types of exposure data in decreasing level of validity

Answer 4

1. quantitative personal dosimiter measurements
2. Quantitative ambient measurements in vicinity of residense
3. Quantitative surrogates of exposure (e.g. estimates of drinking water)
4. Residence or employment in proximity of source of exposure
5. Residence or employment in general geographic area e.g. country

Question 5

Three basic steps in identification and quantification of environment chemicals.

Answer 5

1. Sample
2. Measure
3. Evaluate data

Question 6

Types of involuntary exposure

Answer 6

• Environmental (place or residence, leisure, work)

- Poisoning (by an animal, food, or another person)

Question 7

Types of voluntary exposure

Answer 7

• Drug addiction
• Performance enhancement
• Suicide Attempt

Question 8

4 Exposure pathways for human beings and their route

Answer 8

Air (via lungs)
Water (via GI tract/skin)
Soil (via GI tract/skin)
Food (via GI tract)

Question 9

What year was PCB made illegal in Canada?

Answer 9

1997

Question 10

Define TDI

Answer 10

Tolerable Daily Intake, estimated quality of a contaminant (in environment of food) that a person can be exposed over a lifetime without posing a significant health risk

Question 11

Why does Italy have more strict coffee regulations?

Answer 11

Cause they drink more coffee

Question 12

What is the context of the SML?

Answer 12

Specific Migration Limit,

the maximum permitted amount of a substance migrating from the packaging into food.

Question 13

Difference between medical and forensic tissue sampling”

Answer 13

Medical: 
Patient consent not required
Identity of specimen is presumed
Screening result is sufficient for medical decision
Results are used for medical evaluation

Forensic:
Subject must consent to be tested
Identity of specimen must be proved
Only confirmed results can be considered positive
Results are used for legal action

Question 14

Define Forensic toxicology and its 3 major types

Answer 14

The study of foreign substances in the body and how their presence relates to the law

• Postmortem
• Workplace
• Human performance

Question 15

When did Marie Lafarge become the first person convicted on direct legal forensic toxicological evidence?

Answer 15

1840

Question 16

First coroners in britain circa ____?

Answer 16

900 AD

Question 17

Med examiners position created in ____

Answer 17

1877 in Boston

Question 18

What are the 5 drug groups that NIDA tests for?

Answer 18

Cocaine
Opiates
Marijuana
PCP
Amphetamines

Question 19

Court of Arbitration for Sport founded in ____

Answer 19

1984, switzerland

Question 20

What does the CAS test for?

Answer 20

Anabolic-ANdrogenic Steroids
Human Growth Hormone
Erythropeietin
Blood Transfusions

Question 21

What are the main drugs that remain in the urine (and how long do they reside in the body?)

Answer 21

Phencyclidine (1 week)
Marijuana (3-30 days)
Methadone (3 days)
Opiates (2 days)
Cocaine metabolites (2-4 days)
Inhalants or LSD (undetectable)

Question 22

What are the four issues in measuring exposure?

Answer 22

Factors influencing biodistribution
Homogenous vs heterogenous
Time activity patterns
Mixtures

Question 23

3 steps in measuring samples?

Answer 23

Extraction (homogenize)
Chromatographic separation
Identification with Mass Spec