Unit 3 - Environmental and Disaster Flashcards
What is a disaster?
A serious disruption of the funcitoning of a community or society causing widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources
What are the types of disasters?
Natural - weather related, earthquake, fires, volcanic activit y
Man facilitated - algal blooms, botulism
Man-made - spills, nuclear incidents, fires, explosions
What harmful events are caused by tornadoes?
Blunt force trauma, few common toxicological issues, molds
What harmful events are caused by hurricanes?
Flooding/drowning
Contamination of drinking water
Localized chemical spills
What harmful events are caused by floods?
Similar to hurricanes
Contamination of drinking water - chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, mycotoxins
What harmful events are associated with droughts?
Increased risk of toxic plant ingestion
Stress on grain resulting in an increased mycotoxin risk
What harmful events are caused by blizzards?
The normal feed isn’t available so there is an increased risk of toxic plant ingestion
What is eutrophication?
The excessive concentration of nitrates and phosphates due to runoff from land
Why is eutrophication bad?
It increases algae growth/blooms
How has the zebra mussel introduction resulted in an animal welfare issue?
The mussel increased Cladophora growth resulting in the release of toxin and its enterance into the food chain. Birds get toxin and get botulism
T/F: Chemical spills are only harmful to animals.
False - there are human and animal concerns
What species are commonly affected by crude oil spills?
Invertebrates, fish, reptiles
What do crude oil spills do to reptiles?
Epidermal injury and respiration
What do crude oil spills do to birds and mammals?
Loss of thermoregulation and buoyancy
Alimentary tract irritation
Hypoglycemia
Aspiration
Hemolysis (birds only)
How do crude oil spills affect bird/reptile eggs?
Reduced hatching success
Teratogenic effects
How do you stabilize animals affected by crude oil spills?
correct hypothermia, correct nutritional & hydration imbalances, acclimate
How do you decontaminate animals after crude oil spills?
liquid dish detergent, minimize stress, avoid hypothermia
What is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients?
Smoke inhalation
What asphyxiant gases can be present in fires? What do they do?
CO2 and methane
Displace O2
What corrosive gases can be present in fires? What do they do?
NH3 and HCl
Proximal airway damage and oxidant injury in lung
What systemically toxic gases can be present in fires?
CO and cyanide
What size particulates are cleared by the nasopharynx?
> 5 micrometers
What does smoke inhalaiton do to the upper airway (MOA)?
Primarily thermal injury
Heat destroys epithelium - denatures proteins & activates complement
Production of ROS - inflammation, edema, further injury
Loss of cilia - infections
What clinical signs are associated with upper airway smoke inhalation? When?
Stridor, dyspnea
Can be delayed up to 18 hours
What lesions are associated with smoke inhalation of the upper airway?
Thermal injury of airways
Chemical irritation of RT
Systemic toxicosis
What does smoke inhalation do to the tracheobronchial tree?
Mostly chemical injury
Bronchoconstriction
What clinical signs are associated with smoke inhalation at the tracheobronchial tree?
Cough, wheezing, sooty secretions, dyspnea
What lesions are associated with smoke inhalation at the tracheobronchial tree?
High protein transudate
Airway casts
What clinical signs are associated with smoke inhalation at the lung level?
Delayed onset of dyspnea
What lesions does smoke inhalation cause in the lungs?
Alveolar collapse, edema, surfactant loss, fibrin deposition
Neutrophil activation results in further injury and neutrophil depletion (more infection)
What is the systemic response to smoke inhalation?
Onset - 24-48 hours
Hypermetabolic state from burns
Vascular leakage
Decreased O2 to GIT
Myocardial depression
Pro-inflammatory mediators
Antioxidant depression
What causes delayed posthypoxic leukoencephalopathy? When does it occur? What lesions are associated?
Can you tell I am getting tired of writing flashcards?
Smoke inhalation (CO)
Onset - 1-3 weeks post ‘recovery’
Die off of neurons - laminar cortical necrosis, reactive gliosis
What are the risk factors for working dogs?
Exposure to hazardous substances - illicit drugs, accelerants, contaminants
Environmental hazards - zootoxins, plant toxins
What are the risk factors for dogs at urban diseaster sites?
Low to ground
Lack of protective gear
Confined spaces
Highly contaminated environment
What are the sources of oral exposures in the environment?
Puddles, deposits, and inhaled particulates
Oral exposures can result in what?
Local injury and systemic absorption
What are the possible respiratory exposure methods that are of significant concern at urban disaster sites?
Dust, ash, gases, toxic fumes
What are the solid and liquid tox hazards at disaster sites?
Toxic metals
Soaps and detergents
Hydrocarbons
Glycols
Phenols
Alcohols
Drugs and medications
What are the particulate hazards at urban disaster sites?
Asbestos
Heavy metals
Mold spores
Hydrocarbons
Glycols and solvents
Nontoxic dust
What is key to reducing the exposure to toxic gases?
Ventilation
What are the sources of polychlorinated biphenyls?
Coolants for transformers
Extenders in paints and pesticides
Lubricants
What type of compounds are polychlorinated biphenyls?
Synthetic chlorinated organic compounds
What on site management needs to occur in disaster situations?
Know the expected toxicants
Frequent decontamination
Allow for downtime
I feel like everything else in this ppt is common sense….
I stopped on the ‘on-site’ management slide
