Outdoor Pollution Flashcards
what is the world’s single largest environmental health risk?
air pollution
what is NATA?
national air toxics assessment: estimates risk in terms of cancer “drivers” and non-cancer hazard drivers by geographic area
of the 139 air toxics, how many are carcinogenic?
80 of 139 of carcinogenic
what are the primary and secondary standards of the EPA?
Primary standards: to protect health
secondary standards: to protect public welfare
what are the major sources of air pollution?
transportation fuel consumption in stationary sources industrial processes forest fires solid waste disposal chemical dumps active volcanoes
what are the four major toxics we are worried about in regards to air pollution?
lead, CO, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide
what are some examples of stationary sources of air pollution?
oil or chemical refineries
power plants (NO, particulate matter, SO2)
incinerators (NO, CO)
smaller sources of stationary air pollution?
dry cleaners
nail salons
auto body shops
indoor pollutants from homes, schools, etc.
what does diesel combustion put into the air? gasoline emissions are made up of what?
diesel: particulate matter, nitrogen oxides
gasoline: CO, ozone, benzene, formaldehyde
primary and secondary methods of air pollution formation?
primary: emitted directly from a source
secondary: formed in atmosphere as result of interaction btw 2 or more existing chemicals in the air
what category is ozone?
secondary! b/c made via an interaction btw nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in presence of sunlight
two physical categories of air pollution?
gaseous
particulate: classified by size- smaller means it can penetrate deeper into branches of respiratory tract
ecological effects of air pollution?
acid rain (wet precipitation with pH below 5.6)
global warming
ozone depletion
smog
what is smog?
mixture of air pollutants including gases and fine particles often seen as a brownish-yellow or grayish-white haze in the air
components of smog?
ground level ozone, NOs VOCs, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter
routes of exposure to air pollution?
ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption
body systems air pollutants affect and diseases it can cause?
lungs (decreased lung fxn w/increased size of particulate matter)
reproductive/developmental
cardiovascular
immune (increased allergies)
neurological (higher particulate matter= decreased cognitive fxn over time)
cancer (esp lung cancer)
6 most common pollutants?
ground level ozone nitrogen oxides carbon monoxide particulate matter heavy metals (lead) sulfur dioxide
what is ground level ozone?
colorless, odorless gas composed of 3 oxygen molecules= ROS
created by chemical reaction btw nitrogen oxides and VOCs + sun
when do ozone levels tend to be highest?
increase during the day with peak level in early even
decline at night
lowest in the morning
sources of nitrogen oxides and VOCs?
industrial facilities electric utilities motor vehicle exhaust gasoline vapors chemicals solvents
main cause of concern with ground level ozone?
can be transported long distances by wind and therefore can be a problem even in rural settings
health problems associated with ozone exposure?
HEENT: eye irritation, throat irritation
respiratory: worsen asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
one of the primary causes of acid rain?
nitrogen dioxide
how are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons formed?
created when products like coal, oil, gas and garbage are burned but burning process not complete
from cigarettes, food from contaminated soil, grilling food, shampoos for dandruff, occupational exposure as well
target tissues for PAHs?
fat, KDs and liver
11 main air pollutants?
ground level ozone nitrogen oxides polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzene pesticides carbon monoxide particulate matter volatile organic compounds heavy metals sulfur dioxide chlorofluorocarbons + hydrochlorofluorocarbons
what is benzene?
colorless or light yellow at room temp w/sweet odor
form from both natural and human activities
indoor levels generally contain higher levels than outdoor air
health effects of exposure to benzene?
causes cells not to work effectively: bone marrow suppression, immune system suppression
acute toxicity sxs of benzene exposure?
drowsiness, dizziness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, H/As, tremors, confusion, unconsciousness, death (at very high levels)
sxs of ingestion of benzene?
vomiting, irritation to stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid or irregular heartbeat, death at high levels
long term sxs of benzene exposure?
bone marrow suppression!
reproduction concerns
leukemia
two pesticides we are concerned with in regards to being exposed to?
DDT
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
what is carbon monoxide? what can it cause?
odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death
health effects of CO?
RBCs pick up CO quicker than O2 so can lead to death via tissue necrosis
ssxs of CO poisoning?
dizziness, H/A, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pn, confusion, at high levels: LOC and death
what populations (diseases) are more at risk for adverse effects with CO exposure?
those w/chronic heart dz, anemia and respiratory problems
of particulate matter, what size is more concerning?
smaller= more concern b/c can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract and then go into the surrounding tissues
main health concerns of particulate matter exposure?
serious health effects: eye irritation, aggravates asthma, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung fxn, increased respiratory sxs, increased risk of MI, arrhythmia
harm ecosystems
acid rain
main heavy metals we are concerned about being exposed to?
mercury
lead
4 forms of mercury?
elemental mercury
methylmercury
inorganic mercuric compounds
which form of mercury bioaccumulates in fish?
methylmercury
which form of mercury is very toxic to the GI tract?
inorganic mercuric compounds (mercury mixed with another element)
which mercury can become an invisible, odorless, toxic vapor?
elemental mercury
health effects of mercury exposure?
primary negative health effects are when it is inhaled
ssxs: mad as a hatter- red as a beet, mad as a hare, dry as a bone- tremor, emotional changes, insomnia, neuromuscular changes, H/As, disturbances in sensations, changes in nerve responses
MOSTLY NEUROCOGNITIVE SXS!
how is lead stored in the body?
accumulates in the bone so really toxic with bone breakdown like experienced in menopause
depending on the of exposure, lead can adversely effect what body systems?
nervous KD immune reproductive and developmental cardiovascular displaces iron in Hgb
what is sulfur dioxide?
colorless gas, smells like burnt matches
one group of highly reactive sulfur oxide gases
main concern of sulfur dioxide?
primary cause of acid rain
health effects of sulfur dioxide exposure?
short term: bronchoconstriction, increased asthma sxs
what are CFCs and HCFCs?
chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
compound of chlorine, fluorine, carbon
chlorine atom that is released once in stratosphere is part which is detrimental to ozone layer
where do you find CFCs? HCFCs?
CFCs: refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents
HCFCs are replacing CFCs, deplete ozone less than CFCs
do we use organochlorine pesticides now?
not really, most have been removed from the market b/c of their health and environmental effects BUT they are persistent in the environment
ex: DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, hepatchlor
bioaccumulation vs biomagnification?
bioaccumulation: how much toxic chemicals there is in 1 organism
biomagnification: tendency of pollutants to concentrate as they move from one trophic level to the next
2 classes of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors? which has higher toxicity?
organophosphates - higher toxicity, used as a nerve gas in WWII
carbamates
toxicity of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?
can’t break down acetylcholine= stays in the synapse= over-stimulation of post-synaptic nerves, muscles and exocrine glands
4 major pathologies associated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor exposure?
cholinergic toxidrome
intermediate syndrome
organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy
organophosphorous ester-induced chronic neurotoxicity
what is cholinergic toxidrome?
mixed nicotinic (skeletal muscle and adrenal medulla effects) and muscarinic (sweat glands, heart, exocrine and smooth muscle effects)
what is intermediate syndrome?
delayed neuromuscular dysfxn occurring 24-96 hrs after a significant and usu severe case of poisoning
what is organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy?
delayed neuropathy w/onset 1-5 wks after recovery from acute cholinergic toxidrome
ssxs: sharp, cramp-like pain in calves, lower extremity parathesias
what is organophosphorous ester-induced chronic neurotoxicity?
chronic neurotoxicity that lasts for wks to yrs after acute exposure
ssxs: apathy, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue
what is the main cause of death in regards to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?
depression of respiratory drive: paralysis of respiratory muscles, bronchoconstriction, airway obstruction from profuse respiratory secretions
forms of fertilizers?
nitrates and nitrites
where can we get exposure to nitrates and nitrites?
vegetables! especially cruciferous veggies
water contaminated by run-off from nitrogen containing fertilizer
health concerns with nitrate/nitrite exposure?
nitrate alters iron in Hgb from ferrous to ferric state which forms methemoglobin and RBCs lose ability to carry O2 to tissues
ssxs of nitrate/nitrite exposure?
cyanosis CNS depression H/A dizziness fatigue difficulty breathing nausea anemia possibly can cause CA
