Toxicology Flashcards
toxicology
the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem
toxic chemical dangers
allergens, immune system depressants, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens, carcinogens
arsenic uses
wood preservative
lead uses
batteries, solder, ammunition
mercury uses
manometers, amalgams, switches
vinyl chlodride uses
intermediate used for polymer polyvinyl chloride
polychlorinated biphenyls uses
coolant fluids (banned in 1979(
benzene uses
component of gasoline
cadmium uses
batteries, electroplating
DDT uses
insecticide (banned in 1972)
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR): Substance Priority List
arsenic, lead, mercury, vinyl chloride, polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, cadmium, DDT
routes of exposure
inhalation, ingestion, dermal
“the dose makes the poison”
Paracelsus
what does a high number of revertants mean during an ames test?
the substance
being tested causes mutations
what are the axes of a dose response curve?
x axis: dose
y axis: number of individuals first responding
what does a dose response curve show?
the dose at which people begin to respond to a toxin
what is an LD 50
lethal dose 50% - the dose at which 50% of recipients die
risk
exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance
what to consider when setting standards for environmental toxins
- combined effects of exposure to many different sources of damage
- different sensitivities of members of the population
- effects of chronic and acute exposures
what is the foremost cause of death worldwide?
infectious diseases
how much have deaths from infectious diseases increased since 1980?
58%
ebola
vector: virus
symptoms: muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, severe bleeding, bruising
spanish flu
vector: virus
- overcrowding and unsanitary conditions, killed a large number of healthy adults
HIV
vector: virus
- leads to AIDS, can take up to 10 yrs to show symptoms
Hepatitis C
vector: virus, transmitted through blood
symptoms: abdominal pain, jaundice, liver failure and death
Hantavirus
vector: virus, aerosolized rodent feces
symptoms: fluid buildup in the lungs
Legionella- legionnaires disease
vector: bacteria, inhaling contaminated, aerosolized water from cooling and plumbing systems
symptoms: serious pnemonia
E. coli O157:H7 - shiga toxin producing
vector: bacteria, undercooked beef
symptoms: hemolytic uremic syndrome, destruction of red blood cells, causes kidney failure
Lyme disease
vector: bacteria, borrelia burgdorfeli, mice and deer are reservoir hosts
symptoms: fever, rash, facial paralysis, arthritis, depression, and anxiety
Heliobacter pylori
vector: bacteria, live in the lesions in your stomach, in milk and meat
symptoms: ulcers
MRSA- Methicillin resistant Staphlococcus aureus
vector: bacteria, resistant to commonly used antibiotics
symptoms: skin infections, can lead to blood or organ infections, sepsis
Cholera
vector: bacteria, vibrio cholerae (serotype 0139)
symptoms: diarrhea, dehydration, fever
Tuberculosis
vector: bacteria
symptoms: fever, a persistent cough that produces a bloody phlem, 80% death rate without treatment
Streptococcus Group A
vector: bacteria
symptoms: necrotizing “flesh-eating”
Cryptosporidium
vector: water-borne parasite, resistant to chlorine
- highly infectious, 10 oocyts can cause illness
Malaria
vector: plasmodium parasite
symptoms: anemia, jaundice, loss of red blood cells
Schistosomiasis
vector: larval forms of the parasite released by snails
symptoms: fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, 25% mortality without treatment
dengue fever
vector: virus, transmitted by mosquito
symptoms: bone crushing fever
influenza
- virus
- 20,000 deaths annually
- 30 pandemics
What are the two ways antibiotic resistance spreads?
- mutation and selection create drug-resistant strains
- conjugation transfers drug resistance from one strain to another
