Exam 2 Flashcards
What is morbidity referencing
Illness form environmental health
What is mortality referencing
Death, from environmental health
What is the distinction between hazardous substances and toxins
Hazardous substances- dangerous but not toxic, they can be flammable, explosive, irritant, acid, or caustic
Toxin- know poisons that damage or kill cells/tissues
What do allergens do
Substances that activate the immune system
What do neurotoxins do to an organism
They are metabolic poisons that specifically attack nerve cells, they are extremely toxic and fast acting
Give examples of some neurotoxins
Heavy metals Anesthetics Chlorinated hydrocarbons Organophosphate a Carbamates
What is a mutagen and give examples
Agents that damage or alter genetic material. Can lead to birth defects or tumors .
Examples: nicotine, alcohol
What is a teratogen and what is an example
A toxin which specifically causes abnormalities during embryonic growth and development
Example- alcohol and fetal alcohol syndrome
How do water soluble and fat soluble contaminants differ in organisms
Water soluble- move rapidly through the environment and have ready access to cells via tissue fluid
Fat soluble- need a carrier to move through the environment, but once in the body can penetrate tissues easily. Can be stored in body fat for many years, very persistent
What is bio magnification and what is an example
Biomagnification is the toxic burden of a large number of organisms at a lower tropic lever is accumulated and concentrated by a predator at a higher trophic level
Example- DDT toxic to bugs eaten by fish and small animals birds who eat those, like Eagles, have their egg shell walls thin
What is LD 50 in regard to a toxic chemical
LD50 is the does at which 50% of the animal test population who was exposed to a toxic chemical dies
What is the difference between a chronic and acute response to a toxic substance
Acute- cause by single exposure and results in immediate health problems
Chronic-long lasting, perhaps permanent. Can be a result of a single large dose or repeated smaller doses. Can refere to long lasting exposure. Difficult to study because of aging and other disease interference
What causes malaria
A mosquito infecting a person with the malaria pathogen
What causes anemia
An iron deficiency which causes insufficient hemoglobin in the blood
What enables high responder crops to produce tremendous yields
Fertilizers and protection from pests
What are the concerns regarding genetically modified animals for human consumption
They will escape captivity and outcompete their wild relatives
What is topsoil
The first player under the surface in which organic matter, living organisms, and inorganic material resides. In the a-horizon
What are the stratified horizontal layers of soil
O horizon- organic layer, leaf litter, soil organisms, and partially decomposed organisms,
A-horizon- surface soil, mineral partials with organic material
E-horizon- washed out, depleted or nutrients
B-horizon- subsoil, dense
C-horizon- weathered rock w/fragments of organic material
Parent material- mineral material in which soil can be built on, can be bedrock
What three crops deliver the majority of needed nutrients to humanity
Wheat, rice, and corn
What is rill erosion, sheet wash, and gullying
Rill erosion- small rivulets of running water gather together and cut small channels
Sheet erosion- a thin layer of the surface is removed
Gully erosion- fills enlarge to form bigger channels too large to be removed by normal tillage
Where is wind erosion most serious
Africa and China
What special characteristics do legumes possess regarding their root system
Nitrogen fixing roots
Roots have bulb things
What is a broad spectrum biocides
Kills a wide variety of living organisms
In what activity are most of the pesticides in the United States applied
Agriculture or food storage and shipping
