Quiz 4: Chapter 10

Question 1

Agent (p.222)

Answer 1

Part of epidemiologic triangle. Can include chemical mixtures (multiple agents).

Question 2

Biomonitoring (p.221)

Answer 2

The testing of human fluids and tissues for the presence of potentially toxic chemicals. Started by the CDC as part of its National Health and Nutrition Exam Study.

Question 3

Climate Change (p.223)

Answer 3

Significant and emerging threat to public health, and changes the way we must look at protecting vulnerable populations.

Question 4

Compliance (p.236)

Answer 4

Refers to the processes for ensuring that permit/standard/regulatory requirements are met.

Question 5

Consumer Confidence Reports (p.228)

Answer 5

Nurses can access drinking water consumer confidence reports, AKA right to know reports, to determine what pollutants have been found in the drinking water.

Question 6

Environment (p.222)

Answer 6

Part of epidemiologic triangle. May include dynamic factors like air, water, soil, food, temp, humidity, wind.

Question 7

Environmental Justice (p.236)

Answer 7

Campaigns to improve the unequal burden of environmental risks in communities of color and in poor communities are striving to achieve environmental justice or environmental equity.

Question 8

Environmental Standards (p.236)

Answer 8

May describe a permitted level of emissions, a maximum contaminant level (MCL), an action level for environmental clean-up, or a risk-based calculation; environmental standards are required to address health risks.

Question 9

Epidemiological Triangle (p.222)

Answer 9

Made up of agent, host, and environment. Simple model that relies the complex relationships between these things.

Question 10

Epidemiology (p.222)

Answer 10

Science that helps us understand the strength of the association between exposures and health effects.

Question 11

Epigenetics (p.221)

Answer 11

New field of biological study. (b/c toxins can cause damage to not only cells/tissues but make changes to DNA and change gene expression. Can help predict disease).

Question 12

Geographic Information Systems (p.222)

Answer 12

Research tool for environmental health studies. Requires the coding of data so that it is related spatially to a place on earth.

Question 13

Host (p.222)

Answer 13

Part of epidemiologic triangle. May refer to a community with people of multiple ages, genders, ethnicities, cultures, and diseases.

Question 14

Indoor Air Quality (p.227)

Answer 14

Growing public health concern in office buildings, schools, and homes and is reflected in the alarming rise in asthma incidence in the United States, particularly among children.

Question 15

Industrial Hygiene Hierarchy of Controls (p.232)

Answer 15

Once it is established that a human health threat exists, develop a plan of action—a way of eliminating or managing (reducing) the risk. (danger in the workplace).

Question 16

Methylmercury (p.236)

Answer 16

When the airborne mercury lands on water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, or oceans), it is converted by the microorganisms in the water to methylmercury, which is highly toxic to humans. It is then bioaccumulated in the fish. As arger fish eat smaller ones, the body burden of methylercury increases significantly.

Question 17

Monitoring (p.236)

Answer 17

Public information and involvement processes, such as citizen advisory panels or community forums, are integral to the development of standards, on-going monitoring, and remediation.

Question 18

Non-point Sources (p.226)

Answer 18

Come from more diffuse exposures. For instance, the largest non–point source of air pollution is from mobile sources such as cars and trucks, which are the greatest single source of air pollution in the United States.

Question 19

Permit (p.236)

Answer 19

A legally binding contract.

Question 20

Permitting (p.234)

Answer 20

Important step in the process of controlling pollution. The government places limits on the amount of pollution emitted into the air or water.

Question 21

Persistant Bioaccumulative toxins (p.236)

Answer 21

Many synthetic chemicals that contaminate the environment.

Question 22

Persistent Organic Pollutants (p.236)

Answer 22

Many synthetic chemicals that contaminate the environment. Thses are chemicals that do not break down in air,water, or soil or in bodies.

Question 23

Point Sources (p.226)

Answer 23

Individual, identifiable sources such as smokestacks. They are sometimes referred to as fixed sites.

Question 24

Precautionary Principle (p.231)

Answer 24

The basic tenet on which to guide its environmental advocacy work.

Question 25

Right to Know (p.228)

Answer 25

Right of the public to know about hazardous chemicals in the enviroment. Under one law: health professionals and community members can easily access key information by ZIP code regarding major sources of pollution that are being emitted into the air or water in their community.

Question 26

Risk Assessment (p.228)

Answer 26

Refers to a process to determine the probability of a health threat associated with an exposure.

Question 27

Risk Communication (p.233)

Answer 27

Is both an area of practice and a skill. We counsel patients about the risks etc.

Question 28

Risk Management (p.232)

Answer 28

Should be informed by the risk assessment process and involves the selection and implementation of a strategy to eliminate or reduce risks.

Question 29

Route of Exposure (p.233)

Answer 29

Potential exposure pathway.

Question 30

Toxicants (p.229)

Answer 30

While infants’ lungs are developing they are particularly susceptible to environmental toxicants.

Question 31

Toxicology (p.221)

Answer 31

The basic science that contributes to our understanding of health effects associated with chemical exposures. “Study of poisons” studies poisonous effects of chemicals.