Enviro Flashcards
Environmental diseases are NOT?
genetic
Environmental injuries are often causes by ____ and _____ agents?
chemical and physical
4 types of physical agents that cause injury
mechanical
thermal
electrical
radiation
environmental diseases definition
study of diseases not entirely genetic
- caused by:
1) air/water pollution of the enviro
2) use/abuse of drugs and physical agents (radiation)
3) over/under nutrition
define pollutanta
an agent in the environment which can cause disease if exposure to it occurs
examples of outdoor air pollutants?
ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead particulates
examples of indoor air pollutants
carbon monoxide, wood smoke, formaldehyde, bioaerosols
define smog
visible accumulation of air pollutants
–result of coal combustion produces sulfur oxides
air pollution causes increased morbidity and mortality especially among those with pre-existing ____?
lung disease
define “photochemical oxidant” smog
incompletely burned hydrocarbons release CO, CO2 and nitrogen oxides which are primary pollutants
what does sunlight do in regards to air pollution? example?
sunlight acts on primary pollutants to form secondary pollutants
**ozone and free radicals with oxidizing properties as afflicts Los Angeles
Bhopal disaster
in 1984 a lot of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas was released in India; still having cancer, respiratory, blindness and birth-defects
what are the factors that affect environmental injury?
1) solubility in water
2) particle size and airway anatomy
3) concentration and chemical reactivity
4) rate, depth, and type (oral or nasal) of respirations
5) duration of exposure
6) host clearance mechanisms
describe how solubility in water affects enviro injury?
*scrubbing?
- more soluble = more dissolvable in upper airway secretions
- scrubbing action of the upper airway passages results in the lower airway passages being protected, for example from SO2
scrubbing action of the upper airway passages does what?
results in the lower airway passages being protected, for example from SO2
describe particle size and airway anatomy and it’s affect on enviro injury
- > 5-10 um doesn’t reach distal airway because it’s too large to fit
- <0-0.5 um gas goes in and out of airway with affect or deposition because so small
- 1-5 um are the most dangerous because they lodge at bifurcations of the distal airways!!!
describe concentration and chemical reactivity and it’s affect on enviro injury
- low (<0.1 ppm) = eye irritation only
- moderate (2-5 ppm) overcome scrubbing action of nose causing increased airway resistance
- very high (> 20 ppm) result in decreased mucociliary clearance and pulmonary edema = MOST problamatic
describe rate, depth, and type (oral or nasal) of respirations and it’s affect on enviro injury? Coal miner example?
Not breathing properly OR the way you breath in your environment
**coal miners breathing is fast and deep due to physical
excursion leading to increased exposure of lower airways to pollutants
describe duration of exposure and it’s affect on enviro injury?
more exposure = more intake of pollution
describe host clearance mechanisms and it’s affect on enviro injury?
decreased capacity to clear inhaled particles
–lung diseases decrease clearance; such as: emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis
What are some NON-therapeutic agents that can cause injury
1) lead
2) carbon monoxide
lead is dangerous principally to?
infants and children
sources of lead?
are numerous; leaded gasoline, old paints, soil contamination
lead is mostly absorbed by the body where?
80-85% is absorbed lead is taken up by BONES
T or F… lead lines are radiodense
true
what are the principle outcomes of lead poisoning?
anemia and brain damage
symptoms of chronic lead poisoning resemble many complaints such as?
headaches, fatigue, abdominal pain
affects of lead toxicity is?
- peripheral and central nervous systems
- RBCs; heme synthesis
- metabolism of Vit. D and calcium
- reproductive system
sources of carbon monoxide?
cars, industry and cigarettes
carbon monoxide acts as a systemic _____?
asphyxiant
define asphyxiant
is a substance that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation
Does hemoglobin have greater affinity for CO or O2?
hemoglobin has 200x greater affinity for CO than O2
acute CO poisoning
Fast, sit in garage with car running
- morphologic changes resemble hypoxia
- cherry red color of skin and mucous membrane – causes brain to hemorage
chronic CO poisoning
Slow, during winter
- smoking
- persistent low dose exposure leads to carboxyhemoglobin accumulation (very stable)
- slowly developing hypoxia; body can handle it for a time
define hypoxia
oxygen deficiency in a biotic environment (not enough oxygen reaches tissues)
list commonly used and abused substances
- alcohol
- cocaine
- amphetamines
- heroin
- morphine
- marijuana
- hashlish
- inhalents (aerosol sprays and glues)
- nonprescription drugs
why is it important to know if patients use/abuse cocaine (for example)?
lidocaine WILL NOT work the same way, they will still feel pain. must wait for it to leave system
*** lidocaine add to toxicity
cocaine on cardiovascular system?
** big one concerning heart attacks?
- acts as a sympathomimetic – excess stimulation
- tachycardia and hypertension
- myocardial ischemia due to coronary vasoconstriction
- *promotes thrombus formation and premature atherosclerosis
cocaine on central nervous system
- inhibits reuptake of dopamine (neurotransmitter) leading to stimulation of presynaptic neurons
- euphoria, paranoia, hyperthermia
- lidocaine add to toxicity
meth mouth is mainly caused by
Xerostomia aka dry mouth
two most commonly used nonprescription drugs causing toxicity?
acetaminophen
aspirin
acetaminophen toxic dose?
toxic dose, 15-25g, causes hepatic necrosis and may show concurrent renal and myocardial damage
aspirin toxic dose?
toxic dose is 2-4g in children OR 10-30g in adults causing chronic o or acute toxicity
*blue coloration may result in bone
define abrasion
wound produced by scrapping or rubbing
*most commonly caused by falling
signs of inflammation
warm red swelling pain loss of function
proper word for bruise?
contusion
define contusion/bruise
produced by blunt object resulting from damage to blood vessels and extravasation of blood into tissues
define laceration
a tear or disruptive stretching of tissue caused by a blunt object
define incised wound
inflicted by a sharp instrument
define puncture wound
- caused by a long narrow instrument
- penetrating instrument pierces the tissue
- perforating wound with an exit
does a laceration or puncture wound cause LESS damage to surrounding tissue?
puncture wound
