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4B0X1 - Bioenvironmental Engineering - BEA2023B > BLOCK 2: CHEMICAL HAZARDS - Unit 3: Basic Toxicology (complete) > Flashcards

BLOCK 2: CHEMICAL HAZARDS - Unit 3: Basic Toxicology (complete) Flashcards

1
Q

The study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical substances on living organisms.

A

TOXICOLOGY

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2
Q

A substance is such when it contains or is a poisonous (synonym) material capable of causing death or serious debilitation. The natural ability of a substance to be poisonous.

A

TOXIC

All chemicals can be toxic under the right conditions.

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3
Q

The capacity of a substance to produce injury or illness or the capacity of a chemical to harm or injure a living organism. It is the degree of harm possibly inflicted by a toxic substance.

A

TOXICITY

Paracelsus expressed the classic toxicology maxim “All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison.” This is often condensed to: “The dose makes the poison” or in Latin, “Sola dosis facit venenum”.

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4
Q

Any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death to personnel or
damage to the environment.

A

HAZARD

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5
Q

Toxic substances that cause immediate illness or death when experienced in very small amounts.

A

POISON

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6
Q

The probability a substance will cause harm under specific conditions of use.

A

RISK

The presence of a risk does NOT mean there is always a hazard, only a risk that one must be aware of. The hazard needs SPECIFIC conditions.
Think ‘shark in the ocean’ or ‘lead bullet hazard’.

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7
Q

The quantity or amount of a substance that is absorbed into the body. (200mg vs. 800mg Ibuprofen)

A

DOSE

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8
Q

The effect of the substances on the body or organ.

A

RESPONSE

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9
Q

The science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population.

A

EPIDEMIOLOGY

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10
Q

Any substance that damages specific organs or organ systems of the body.

Say “specific organs… __________”

A

SYSTEMIC POISON

Carbon tetrachloride and nitrosamines are an example of systemic poisons that severely
damage the liver, giving them the name hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) substances. Uranium exerts its effects on the kidneys, so it is considered a nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidney)
substance.

“__________ systemic poison”.

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11
Q

A substance that affects the genetic material of the exposed person by altering their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
Key term/idea is ‘at the DNA level’.

A

MUTAGEN

These mutations may not present symptoms in the exposed individual, but may be passed to future generations. It may cause cancer, birth defects, or other undesirable effects.

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12
Q

An agent or substance that may cause physical defects in the developing embryo or fetus when a pregnant female is exposed to the substance.

A

TERATOGEN

Teratogenesis results from
interference with normal embryonic development by a biological, chemical, or physical agent.
For example, in the late 1950s, Thalidomide was prescribed to treat morning sickness during
pregnancy, causing an estimated 10,000 cases of phocomelia (infants born with malformed
limbs), with a survival rate of about 50%.

KEY ROOTS:

terat- “marvel; wonder (like a baby!)
-gen “make or produce

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13
Q

A substance that is capable of causing cancer.

A

CARCINOGEN

Cancer is any disease in which
normal cells are damaged and do not undergo cell death as fast as they divide. Carcinogens
may increase the risk of cancer by altering cellular metabolism or damaging DNA directly in
cells, which interferes with biological processes, and induces the uncontrolled, malignant division, ultimately leading to the formation of tumors.

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14
Q

The amount of substance absorbed in a unit volume of an organ or an individual dose that caused death in a given percentage of test animals.

A

LETHAL DOSE (LD)

LD is determined from the exposure to the substance by any route other than inhalation.

Compare to definition of ‘dose’.

The following are examples of lethal doses:

  • LD0 indicates a dose that does not produce any deaths (rarely to never used)
  • LD50 indicates a dose that kills half of a group of test animals.
  • LD100 indicates a dose that kills all test animals
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15
Q

The amount of a given substance per volume of air that was lethal to a given percentage of test animals.

A

LETHAL CONCENTRATION (LC)

It may be expressed, for example, as LC50, LC10, etc; these would represent the concentrations producing deaths in 50%, 10%, etc., of the exposed animals.
Typically speaking of airborne substances.

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16
Q

The dose which produces the chosen (whether it is good or bad) response in a given percentage of the test subjects.

A

EFFECTIVE DOSE (ED)

It is mostly used for a criterion other than death. It may be written as ED50 which means 50% of the population shows some effect.

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17
Q

Effect in which the combined health effect of the simultaneous exposures is equal to the sum of the effects of each individual substance (1 + 1 = 2).

A

ADDITIVE EFFECTS

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18
Q

Effect in which the combined effect of the exposures is greater than the sum of the individual effects (1 + 1 = 3).

A

SYNERGYSTIC EFFECTS

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19
Q

The way a chemical enters the body.
How a hazardous source reaches a receptive population.

A

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

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20
Q

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

Exposure that can result from breathing air that is contaminated with a chemical.

A

INHALATION EXPOSURE

These are the most common workplace exposures and have the potential to be the highest risk, as the lungs provide a direct pathway to the blood stream.

21
Q

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

The second most frequent route of chemical exposure. Many materials are absorbed through the skin and may cause systemic poisoning. The main routes of entry for chemicals through the skin are the hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands.

A

ABSORBTION EXPOSURE VIA DERMAL CONTACT

derm- “skin”

22
Q

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

When a chemical is swallowed when eating, drinking, or smoking with chemically-contaminated hands or in chemically-contaminated workplaces.

A

INGESTION EXPOSURE

It should be standard practice for workers to wear gloves when required and to wash hands after removing gloves and leaving the work area.

23
Q

ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

Occurs when a contaminated object breaks the skin, leaving the contaminant beneath
the surface. This route of entry is particularly effective in allowing less soluble chemicals entry
into the body, which could not otherwise occur through other routes of exposure.
THINK NEEDLES/CONTAMINATED BLOOD

A

INJECTION EXPOSURE

24
Q

active recall

Toxic materials may be categorized as __________, __________, __________, or __________ if they cause a specific physiological action.

A

IRRITANTS, SENSITIZERS, ASPHYXIANTS, or ANESTHETICS

25
Q

Causes inflammation (reaction of body tissue to injury or trauma) or aggravation of the
tissue the substance contacts.

A

IRRITANTS

There are 2 kinds:

A primary irritant is a material that exerts little systemic (spread throughout the body, not
localized in one spot or area) toxic action, either because the products formed on the tissues of
the respiratory tract are nontoxic, or because the irritant action at the contact site is far greater than any systemic toxic action. In other words, the material reacts on contact. Examples include acids, riot control agents, Pine-Sol, bleach, most cleaning products.

A secondary irritant irritates mucous membranes, but this effect is overshadowed by systemic effects resulting from absorption, for example, alcohols.

26
Q

A foreign agent or substance that is capable of causing an immune response in an individual.

A

SENSITIZER

In most cases, initial exposure results in a normal response, but repeated exposures lead to progressively stronger and abnormal responses. For example, western red cedar wood can cause occupational asthma over time.

27
Q

Substances that interfere with oxygenation of tissues and cause suffocation.

A

ASPHYXIANTS

28
Q

Inert gases that dilute or displace oxygen from the breathing zone or air supply. Examples include argon, carbon dioxide, ethane, and helium.

A

SIMPLE ASPHYXIANTS

29
Q

Inert gases that allow oxygen to be inhaled but prevent the uptake of oxygen by the blood, interfere with the transportation of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, or prevent normal oxygenation of tissues. In other words, these do not allow the body to use the oxygen breathed into the lungs. Examples are carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

A

CHEMICAL ASPHYXIANTS

30
Q

Prevent the central nervous system from doing its normal job. Symptoms vary – the person may become dizzy, sleepy, or unconscious and may even lead to death depending on the concentration.

A

ANESTHETICS

31
Q

Toxic materials that present an inhalation hazard can be in one of three physical forms or
states: __________, __________, or ________.

A

GASES, VAPORS, or AEROSOLS

32
Q

Has no definite shape or volume; it expands indefinitely to fill a space or enclosure.

A

GAS

Gases can be changed to the liquid or solid state by the effect of increased pressure and/or decreased temperature. Examples include oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane.

33
Q

The gaseous form of a substance that is in a liquid or solid state at normal temperature and pressure.

A

VAPOR

Examples include methylene chloride, toluene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, gasoline, and TNT.

34
Q

Solid or liquid particles dispersed in a gaseous medium (typically air).

A

AEROSOL

35
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Solid particles generated by mechanical processes such crushing, sawing,
sanding, or grinding materials such as rock, metal, or wood.

A

DUSTS

36
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Solid particles condensed from the gaseous state after metal is heated. Usually
less than 1 micrometer (μm) in diameter. An example is during a welding process.
During welding, metal is melted and vaporized. As this gaseous metal condenses, it creates fine solid particulates suspended in air.

A

FUMES

37
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Spherical droplets produced from a liquid by a mechanical process such as splashing, bubbling, or spraying. Droplets are chemically unchanged from the parent liquid and rand in size from a few microns to over 100 μm.

A

MISTS

38
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Droplet aerosols that are produced by condensation from the vapor phase. The
particles are typically smaller than mists, with particle sizes of 1 – 10 μm. Pesticides are a common example.

A

FOGS

39
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Complex mixtures of solid and liquid particles, gases, and vapors resulting from incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. Particles typically range from 0.01 – 1 μm.

A

SMOKES

40
Q

TYPES OF AEROSOLS

Elongated particles with a length several times greater than their diameter.

A

FIBERS

Fibers can be natural (plant fibers) or synthetic (vitreous or graphite fibers).

41
Q

The correlation between the amount of exposure to a toxic chemical and the resulting effect on the body.

A

DOES-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP

42
Q

The smallest dose capable of eliciting a response.

A

THRESHOLD

At doses below the threshold, exposure will not result in an increase in the probability of occurrence of an adverse health effect.

43
Q

Indicates that an exposure at any level will increase the probability of having a negative effect.

A

NON-THRESHOLD DOSE-RESPONSE CURVE

44
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

The way each person responds to an exposure varies based on four factors: __________, __________, __________, and __________.

A

RATE OF ENTRY; TOLERANCE AND SENSITIVITY; ROUTES OF EXPOSURE; and INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

45
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

The time over which the dose was received.

A

RATE OF ENTRY

Exposures are classified into two categories based on the rate of entry: acute and chronic.

a. Acute: Acute exposures generally involve short-term, high concentration exposures with immediate health effects (illness, irritation, or death). An example
is inhaling a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

b. Chronic: Chronic exposures involve repeated exposures at lower concentrations over long periods. An example is working with benzene for 15 minutes every day for 20 years. Small exposures for 15 minutes a day may not seem like much but could eventually lead to a life-threatening disease such as leukemia.

46
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Occurs when the body adapts to exposures over time and begins to show less response to the same dose. It eventually takes more and
more of the chemical to produce the original response, OR when a person displays greater adverse effects to the same dosage of achemical.

A

TOLERANCE AND SENSITIVITY

47
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

How the substance enters the body has a great deal to do with which organs will be affected and how severe the response will be. For example, a chemical that is inhaled will likely have a faster reaction than one that is absorbed through the skin.

A

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

48
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Age, sex, nutrition, state of health,
individual sensitivity, and exposure to other chemicals.
(REMEMBER this is a variable in exposure response!)

A

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

49
Q

Any exposure will increase the probability of a negative effect.

A

NON-THRESHOLD EXPOSURE

4B0X1 - Bioenvironmental Engineering - BEA2023B (59 decks)

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