Exam 1 Flashcards
Who is considered the father of toxicology, and what were his contributions to the field?
Paracelsus is considered the father of toxicology. He emphasized that “the dose makes the poison,” and pioneered the idea that substances can be toxic or therapeutic depending on the dosage.
What historical examples demonstrate the toxic effects of chemicals (e.g., hemlock, Egyptian poisons)?
Examples include the use of hemlock to execute Socrates (containing the toxin coniine) and ancient Egyptian records documenting poisons like lead and arsenic.
What philosopher was sentenced to death and what plant did it?
Socrates with hemlock. He made it an activist show.
Who was Dioscorides?
He was a greek physician who traveled alot and write the book with plants to classify poisons.
How did Dioscorides classify poisons?
plants, animals, and minerals.
What was the mad hatter’s disease?
Mercury poisoning
Who was medici and borgia
Medici was a noble woman who gifted posioned gloves with arsenic to people she didnt like and she liked to experiment on the poor ans sick to make sure the gloves worked.
Borgia was a bitch who serves poison to the people’s ocurt to secure/benefit her place in society.
Who was monvoisin and Toffana?
Monvoisin was a very good french fortune teller who was burned at the stake after her services were requested at the royal court LOL.
Toffana sold arsenic elixar to italian women to kill people (seduction), she had a deal with nobles.
Who was Ramazzini
italian physician who published “Disease of workers”; is the father of occupational medicine and PPE (masks).
Orfila
Spanish physician who established toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline–> Father of forensic toxicology.
- came up with technique to determine if cause of death was form arsenic via marsh test.
What was the marsh test?
a very good test that was named after James Marsh (poisoned by wife); take fluid in stomach –> combine it with hydrogen sulfide in presence of hydrochloric acid–> yes yellow precipitate= arsenic present!
- could detect a v small amt for back then: 0.02mg
church event
sad ass event where people drank coffee out of old pot with arsenic in it.
Percival pott
orthopedic surgeon that found scrotal cancer in chimney sweepers (men) bc the soot is a PAH- induced cancer and these men were bringing soot with them everywhere= lots of exposure to themselves and their families. –> why you should change your work clothes.
What developed the FDA?
The mass poisoning that happened with sulfanilamide (antifreeze! makes things sweet, in cough syrup and toothpaste in china).
Thalidomide
the morning sickness drug that causes birth defects (tiny arms). Women would go overseas to get prescription.
- not tested during pregnancy.
- crosses the BBB and intercalates with DNA sequencing –> this is how it offsets stuff like arm growth.
- resulted in the 1968 medicines act
Rachel Carson and DDT
DDT is a GREAT pesticide but causes bad issues for people–> used in africa for mosquitoes but caused illnesses but the mosquitoes caused more deaths.
Rachel carson alarmed the public about the dangers of pesticides in the envionment with her book “silent spring” =movement!
How did the events of Love Canal and the development of Superfund legislation influence environmental toxicology?
The Love Canal disaster, where hazardous waste was improperly disposed of, led to public outcry and the creation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), which facilitates the cleanup of hazardous waste sites.
- schools and homes were built here while dioxin was in the soil and other nasty chemicals that caused leukemia in kids.
regulatory agencies
EPA, OSHA, NRC, ATSDR, CDC
EPA: clean air act, clean water act
OSHA: occupational health
NRS: regualtes use of nuclear materials
ATSDR: provides health-based info in support of clean up for chemical waste.
CDC: hazards associated with chemical exposure.
What are the key differences between risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication?
Risk assessment: ID and evaluating the potential harm of hazards.
Risk management: about decision-making to control or mitigate risks.
Risk communication: the exchange of info about risks between authorities and the public.
How are contaminants regulated in drinking water, particularly PFAS?
PFAS are regulated by the EPA, with advisory
What are the challenges associated with managing environmental risks?
uncertainties in predicting long-term effects, multiple exposure pathways, vulnerable populations needing special protection, gaps in regulatory frameworks, and the high costs associated with risk mitigation efforts.
clean air act
regulated by the EPA (so is clean water).
- law does not allow EPA to consider cost in setting standards
- EPA required to re-eval standards every 5 years
clean water act
make waters fishable and swimmable
- applies to surface waters- lakes + rivers
-EPA
equation fo risk
risk = exposure = toxicity
what is moly
Molybdenum
- it is naturally occurring and WILL appear in water.
EPA authority:
clean water and safe drinking water
What are the benefits and challenges of federal regulations?
benefits: uniformity, social equity
challenges: cost, diff water sources/ diff info.
What are the benefits and challenges of state regulations?
benefits: more tailored to state water quality
cons: might not be the most protective, optics of public perception.
uncertainty factors
10, 3, and 1
10= lots of uncertainty and 1= no uncertainty
how do we extrapolate to a human dose?
extrapolating to a human dose involves adjusting animal data through scaling, using NOAEL values, applying uncertainty factors, and utilizing mathematical models.
define environmental justice
The fair treatment and meaninful involvement of ALL people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. It seeks to ensure that NO group of people disproportionately bears the burden of environmental hazards while ensuring equitable access to environmental benefits.
Explain how the movement started
The environmental justice movement began in the 1980s in the United States, sparked by concerns about the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on marginalized communities, particularly low-income and minority populations. A pivotal moment came in 1982, when residents of Warren County, North Carolina, protested the siting of a toxic PCB landfill in their predominantly African American community. This protest was one of the first to combine environmental and civil rights issues, leading to a broader recognition of environmental inequality and the birth of the environmental justice movement
Explain why certain populations are vulnerable.
Vulnerable populations remain at risk due to economic, geographic, and political factors.
morals vs ethics
moral: subjective, personal.
ethic: shared principles promoting fairness in social and business practices.
Three Main Movements of Environmental Justice
- silicosis in the hawk’s nest tunnel where 700 workers died and 500 of them were black.
- Cesar Chavez: 40 cents –> 1.25/hr; National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) + AWOC = UFW (United Farm Workers of America);highlighted dangers of pesticides on workers and children
- Warren County protest: Government wanted to dump 60 k tons PCBs here (black dominant)–> laid down in front of trucks–> bill Clinton executive order.
What are the different types of waste?
- municipal solid waste (MSW)- any common waste
- Hazardous waste- 500 chemicals or ignitable, reactive, or carcinogenic.
- Specialized waste- medical waste + construction waste
Identify the waste management strategies
2 main ones are ignition and landfill.
or avoidance and reduction AND proper handling and disposal of waste
Describe ways to mitigate waste accumulation
The best way is to not produce waste to begin with.
What do we do within our sanitary landfills?
Must be graded, use of liners, application of a daily covering of soil, soil/erosion control, adequate space between surface and groundwaters and adjacent populations.
What are the 3 Ts of combustion?
- time: length of time that solids and combustion gases are in the ignition and burn zones.
- temperature: indication of the amt of heat energy in the combustion chambers to break molecular bonds and facilitate oxidation to get to the end product: CO2, water vapor, and inorganic ash.
- turbulence: agitation of both the solids and the combustible by products in order to have complete oxidation happen (needs movement of air in cylinder)
what are the source of air pollutions?
methane, hydrogen sulfide, VOC
Describe the properties of chemicals that determine their behavior
There are 7 that we discussed. (MRPPDSV)
Molecular size, physical state, vapor pressure, solubility, partition behavior, density, and reactivity
Explain how molecular structures are responsible for those chemical properties.
The molecular structure of a chemical, including its size, shape, polarity, and the presence of functional groups, determines key chemical properties like solubility, vapor pressure, partitioning behavior, and reactivity. These properties influence how chemicals behave in both the environment and the body.
Explain how chemicals behave in the environment and in the body with respect to the chemical properties.
Molecular size- heavier, larger, and bulkier= hard move and may stay around more.
Reactivity- chemical reaction with other molecules.
Partition behavior- K = Cnp/Cwater–> high K= non polar and low k= polar
Physical state- have to protect ourselves and environment from these; solid, liquid, gas.
Density- more dense= easier to pollute water.
Solubility- water soluble = get in ground water and moves whereas oil soluble = persistent and tends to hang around environment and in us.
Vapor pressure- tendency of particles to escape from liquid and cause toxicity.
What is the partition behavior and its equation?
it is the equilibrium between 2 phases: relative solubility and water vs non polar liquid.
K= C np /C water
High K= more non polar
Low K= more polar
Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation: takes place in a SINGLE organism over its lifetime –> higher concentration in older animals. (ex: fish)
Biomagnification: takes place as chemicals transfer from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels–> higher concentration in apex predators. (ex: fish–> seal–> bear)
What chemical properties would be important in order for bioaccumulation to occur?
What factors of the organism would be important?
- large size so it can stick around, halogenation, solubility.
- metabolism, genders, diet and lifestyle
What are POPs?
- Persistent organic pollutants (POP’s)
- PDBE: fire retardants, carpet
- PFOS and PFOA: nonstick stuff
- Phthalates (PCPs): endocrine disruptors, in personal care stuff.
- BPA: plastic
- Atrazine: pesticide, feminization of fish
- Polychlorinated compounds
What are the interactions between toxicants?
there are 4!
- Additive: 2+2 = 4 (combined response of 2 chemicals is equal to the sum of the responses to each given alone)
- Synergistic: 2+2= 10 (combined response of 2 chemicals are MUCH greater than the sum of each chemical given alone).
- Antagonistic: 2+4= 1 (2 chemicals interfere with each other’s actions).
- Potentiation: 2+0= 10 (when one substance doesn’t produce a toxicity but when added with another chemical, to makes that chemical MUCH more toxic).
define exposure, dose, and response.
exposure: contact with toxicant. acute or chronic.
Dose: amount of toxicant that reaches a target tissue over a defined time span and is available for interactions with metabolic processes.
Response: how a body reacts to a toxicant. depends on chemical prop, dose, and route of exposure.
fate and transport
-fate: what eventually happens to contaminants released into environment. (move around, change, or accumulate)
- Transport: movement of gasses, liquids, solids in a given medium and cross interfaces between water, soil, sediment, air, plants, and animals.
exposure pathways
air, water, soil, food, surface contact
What happens to pollutants in the environment?
transports, dispersion (dilution), transformation, deposition
- What determines the exposure pathway?
- What characteristics makes them “bad”?
- Nature of the source (released into air or water), use of chemical, chemical characteristics.
- toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation.
What does soil do with contaminants?
contaminants can bind to soil which is a good things bc the binding limits its mobility (clay)–> doesn’t get to plants or us.
How do contaminants transport in air?
gasses, particulates, liquids (as aerosols)
Understanding a contaminant’s _____________ can provide insights into its behavior in the environment and _____________.
physical, chemical, and biological properties
help you focus on transport mechanisms that are significant.
frozen ground water can ____ run off and ___ groundwater recharge. frozen soil acts as a ___ and ___ lateral spread of soil gas.
- increase
- inhibit
- cap
- increase
what climate are chemicals more likely to evaporate in?
warmer climates
ID different types of transport mechanisms
Which gets the most blood perfusion vs which gets the least: organs vs bones?
Which type of transport requires ATP?
Which type of molecules are most likely to cross membranes? hydrophillic or lipophillic?
Explain how bones act as a “sink”
Explain metabolism
ID metabolizing enzymes for phase 1 and 2
Describe excretion
- ID various pathways
