Chapter 15 Midterm 2 Flashcards
environmental health
a branch of public health focused on identifying, understanding, and mitigating environmental hazards that affect human health and well-being
Leading causes of human mortality
cardiovascular, disease, cancer, respiratory disease, dementia
Leading causes of death in developed countries
non-communicable diseases
Developing countries suffer more from plus examples
communicable diseases- HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID b/c of lack of access to PPE, ventilators, and intensive-care beds
Types of Environmental Hazards
Chemical, biological, physical, sociocultural
Toxicology
the study of the adverse effects of chemical, biological, and physical agents on living organisms
Chemical Hazards
hazards that threaten human health, exposed to at home, work, products we hands, air we breathe, water we drink, fod we consume, we all have toxins in our tissues
Examples of chemical hazards
mercury, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Biological Hazards
Biologics, in whole or part that threaten human health; viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, poisonous plants and animals
Physical Hazards
Physical agents that compromise human health (ex. Flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, noise)
Sociocultural Hazards
Sociological practices that threaten human life and place humans at greater risk of experiencing chemical, biological or physical hazards (ex. Smoking, lack of access to clean water)
Types of toxic agents
carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors
Carcinogens + examples
Cancer-causing agents. (perfluorooctanoic acid in Teflon, benzene in crude oil, arsenic in rice formaldehyde in particleboard, PCBs in old transformers, and radon gas, biological agents, physical agents)
cancer
generic term to describe a group of over 100 diseases commonly defined by uncontrolled division of malfunctioning cells
teratogen
agents that cause physical or functional defects of the human embryo or fetus
Ex. thalidomide, lead
neurotoxins
Natural or synthetic chemical that alters the structure and/or function of the nervous system
Pufferfish, agricultural insecticides
mutagen
A physical or chemical agent that alters a cell’s DNA.
endocrine disruptors
Chemicals that mimic or interfere with our body’s hormones. Ex. dioxins, bisphenol A, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, PFAS
Dioxin
A group of polychlorinated organic molecules produced by waste incineration, bleaching of paper, and manufacturing of pesticides. An example of an endocrine disruptor.
bisphenol A (BPA)
A plasticizer, an ingredient of plastic containers including beverage bottles; a component in metal can coatings.
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Long-lasting (persistent), chlorine-containing compounds found in electrical equipment, lubricants, old televisions, refrigerators and other electrical appliances, plasticizers, and pesticides. PCBs are endocrine disruptors.
perfluoroalkyl and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFAs)
Synthetic, persistent chemicals that occur in food packaging and various commercial household products (i.e., nonstick products and paints); endocrine disruptors that are widespread contaminants of drinking water supplies and animal tissues.
airborne toxins
carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals (such as mercury), dioxins, and PCBs
the process of waterborne toxins
atmospheric polllutants mix with water, then fall to earth in precipitation
surface runoff from precipitation carries pesticides, fertilizers, and various household and industrial chemicals into storm drains that connect to waterways.
travel up food chains/ecosystems
mercury, lead, cadmium, PCBs and other organochlorides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and DDT
Types of Biological hazards(3)
hepatitis (inflammation of the liver caused by viral agents), malaria (a disease caused by a protozoan (plasmodium) and transmitted to humans by a mosquito vector; widespread in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, fever, chills), dengue fever (transmitted by mosquitos, agent of disease is a virus, fever)
causes of infectious diseases
caused by pathogens—disease-causing microscopic organisms such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi
examples of infectious diseases
rotavirus - Salmonella typhi, Shigella bacteria, Vibrio cholerae, victims suffer from loose stools/severe dehydration
Foodborne illnesses- Salmonella, Listeria, Toxoplasma (No symptoms, unless weakened immune systems), outbreaks result from eating raw/undercooked meat, fruits/veggies irrigated with contaminated water, improper handling of food, poor hygiene
Zoonotic diseases- those that can spread from animals to humans- rabies
antibiotic resistance
Our advances in the development of new antibiotics and vaccines and the overuse of antibiotics are pushing pathogens to evolve and to become resistant
risk assessment
process used to evaluate risks associated with a hazard or activity
risk management
the process of identifying, evaluating, selecting, and implementing actions to reduce risks
Parts of risk assessment
1) determination of whether a stressor has the potential to cause health problems, 2) determination of dose response (health response to different doses), 3) determination of exposure, and 4) risk characterization ( the risk is evaluated based on dose-response assessment and exposure assessment data for a specific situation)
What does the EPA do?
EPA reviews National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for recognized pollutants, including lead
What is risk assessment used in?
vaccine development
Why is it a challenge to assess hazards?
Lack of knowledge of, cost of assessment, products and chemicals in need of vetting, restriction s and ethic of testing, complexities of dosages, exposure time, synergistic effects of multiple hazards
Perceived Risk versus Actual Risk
When judgements are not based on valid info/undue human irrationality creeps in- chance of making poor decisions increases
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976
Federal law, passed in 1976 that authorizes the EPA to regulate new and existing chemicals.
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
A federal law passed in 1938. Together with its thirty amendments, the Act gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the responsibility of overseeing the safety of food, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices.
Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (LCSA)
Federal act, passed in 2016; requires the EPA to evaluate existing chemicals with clear, enforceable deadlines; supports transparency of information about chemicals for the public and risk-based assessments.
surface barriers
barriers that keep foreign substances/particles out of body- skin, antimicrobial proteins, extreme pH, waving action of cilia protruding from membranes of interior surfaces help protect
Second part triggered by
trauma, toxic chemics, heat, microorganisms that enter body’s interal env.
Blood flow increases, speeding delivery of phagcytic cells that engulf/dismantle invading microorganisms or particles
Redness/swelling outward signs of process, called inflammation
Detection triggers another level of vertebrae defense, triggered by anything (antigen)
Two parts: humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity
Humoral
B-cells (special white blood cells) produce antibodies taht specifically bind to invading antigen, facilitates uptake of antigen by phagocytic cells, neutralizes some antigens
cell-mediated
special immune cells produced that targe/kill infected or ailing body cells, some are long-lived, can mount a faster, stronger response if same antigen is detected in the body again (immunological memory)
Body’s other defenses
liver/kidneys
