Environmental Diseases

Question 1

Lead Poisoning

Answer 1

Lead inhibits ferrochetalase and ALA dehydrates –> dec heme synthesis and ^RBC protoporphyrin.
Microcytic anemia.
Inhibits rRNA degradation –> rRNA retained in RBCs –> basophilic stippling.

LEAD:
Lead lines on gingival and metaphyses of long bones.
Encephalopathy and Erythrocyte basophilic stippling.
Abdominal colic and sideroblastic Anemia.
Drops of wrist and foot. Dimercaprol and eDta are tx.

Succimer used for chelation in kids.

Question 2

Chemical exposure

Answer 2

Most common organophosphates in human poisoning = parathion and malathion.
Irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylating enzyme’s active site.
Symptoms = excessive cholinergic stimulation.
Long term is neuromuscular damage.
Antidote is pralidoxime (removes phosphate) and symptom tx is atropine.

Question 3

Cadmium

Answer 3

obstructive lung disease, renal tubular damage

Question 4

Polycyclic hydrocarbons

Answer 4

potent carcinogen

Question 5

Dioxin, PCBs

Answer 5

skin folliculitis and chloracne

Question 6

Vinyl chloride

Answer 6

liver angiosarcoma

Question 7

Organochlorines

Answer 7

endocrine disruption:

anti-estrogenic or anti-androgenic

Question 8

Arsenic

Answer 8

highly fatal
GI, cardiovascular, CNS
interferes with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation