B7.5 Alcohol and other carinogens Flashcards
What can alcohol do?
Make you feel addictive
Damage livers
How can alcohol make your reaction time much slower?
Ethanol is absorbed into the blood from the gut and passes easily into the body tissues - including the brain - affects the nervous system making people feel relaxed - however in large amounts lead to lack of self control
What is cirrhosis?
A disease that destroys the liver tissue - active liver cells are replaced with scar tissue that cannot carry out vital functions
What can alcohol do to pregnant woman?
Can pass across placenta into the developing baby causing still births due to developing liver not being able to cope with alcohol
What is a carcinogen?
Risk factor for cancer
How can mutations occur from ionising radiation?
Radiation penetrates the cells and damages the chromosomes causing mutations in the DNA
What can ultraviolet from the sun do?
Increases the risk of skin cancers
What are some sources of ionising radiation?
Radioactive material found in the soil
Medical and dental X-rays
Accidents in nuclear power stations
