Environmental Health: Zoonotic Diseases, Toxic Metals, Pesticides, and Radiation

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, toxic metals and elements, pesticides and toxic organic chemicals, and ionizing/non-ionizing radiation.

Malaria is caused by which pathogen category?

Parasite (Plasmodium)

Malaria is transmitted by which vector and affects which primary host?

Vector: Mosquito (Anopheles mosquito); Host: Humans

Malaria infection can lead to which characteristic pediatric kidney syndrome?

Nephrosis (accompanied by edema)

Leishmaniasis is caused by which pathogen category?

Parasite (protozoa)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is transmitted by which vector and maintained in which hosts?

Vector: Sand fly (Phlebotomus); Hosts: Wild rodents, domestic dogs, and humans

Cutaneous leishmaniasis presents with which characteristic clinical lesion?

Skin ulcers / cutaneous sores

Plague is caused by which pathogen category?

Bacteria (Yersinia pestis)

Plague is transmitted by which vector and harbored in which western U.S. reservoir host?

Vector: Flea; Reservoir host: Wild rodents (ground squirrels)

Plague characteristically produces which condition in the lymph nodes near the bite site?

Lymphadenitis (swollen, tender lymph nodes / buboes)

Lyme disease is caused by which pathogen category?

Bacteria (spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi)

Lyme disease is transmitted by which vector and harbored in which primary host?

Vector: Black-legged tick (deer tick); Host: Wild rodents

Tularemia (rabbit fever) is caused by which pathogen category?

Bacteria (Francisella tularensis)

Tularemia is transmitted by which vectors and maintained in which animal hosts?

Vectors: Ticks and deer flies; Hosts: Wild rodents and hares

Anthrax is caused by which pathogen category and primarily affects which animal hosts?

Bacteria (spore-forming Bacillus anthracis); Hosts: Herbivores (cattle and sheep)

Psittacosis (parrot fever) is caused by which pathogen category and conveyed by which route?

Bacteria; conveyed by inhalation of dry bird droppings

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is caused by which pathogen category and can cause which severe syndrome?

Bacteria; causes Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and acute kidney failure

Arboviral encephalitis is caused by which pathogen category?

Virus

Arboviral encephalitis is transmitted by which vector and maintained in which reservoir host?

Vector: Mosquito; Reservoir host: Wild birds

West Nile fever is caused by which pathogen category and manifests most severely as which condition?

Virus (West Nile virus); severe manifestation: Neuroinvasive disease

Zika fever is caused by which pathogen category and transmitted by which vector?

Virus (Zika virus); Vector: Mosquito (Aedes)

Maternal infection with Zika virus during pregnancy causes which adverse fetal outcome?

Microcephaly

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is caused by which pathogen category, vector, and domestic animal hosts?

Virus (Phlebovirus); Vector: Mosquito; Hosts: Domestic animals (cattle, sheep, and goats)

Dengue fever is caused by which pathogen category and transmitted by which vector?

Virus (flavivirus); Vector: Aedes aegypti mosquito

Severe progression of Dengue fever causes which life-threatening syndromes?

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Dengue shock syndrome (DSS)

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is caused by which pathogen category and transmitted by which host/route?

Virus; Vector/Host: Deer mouse; Route: Inhalation of aerosolized droppings and urine

Rabies is caused by which pathogen category and presents with which clinical syndromes?

Virus; Vector/Host: Dogs, bats, raccoons, and skunks; Syndromes: Hydrophobia, hallucinations, and paralysis

Ebola virus disease is caused by which pathogen category and presents with which primary syndrome?

Virus; Hosts: Bats and non-human primates; Syndrome: Severe viral hemorrhagic fever (bleeding)

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is caused by which pathogen category and transmitted by which vector?

Rickettsial agent (Rickettsia rickettsii); Vector: Tick (American dog tick or Rocky Mountain wood tick)

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE / Mad Cow Disease) is caused by which infectious agent and causes which syndrome?

Prion (misfolded protein); Syndrome: Dementia, memory loss, and loss of coordination

Chronic low-level ingestion of Arsenic (As) causes which skin condition and vascular disease?

Melanosis (skin darkening) and Blackfoot disease

Exposure to Arsenic (As) is linked to which specific cancers?

Skin, bladder, kidney, liver, and lung cancers

Occupational inhalation of Beryllium (Be) causes which disease and cancer?

Berylliosis (chronic beryllium disease) and lung cancer (probable carcinogen)

Environmental exposure to Cadmium (Cd) causes which disease and skeletal effects?

"Itai-itai" disease, osteoporosis in women, and loss of height in men

Inhalation of Cadmium (Cd) is linked to which cancers?

Lung, trachea, and bronchus cancers

High-concentration exposure to Hexavalent Chromium ($\text{Cr}^{+6}$) causes which localized tissue damage?

Skin ulcers and perforation of the nasal septum

Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium ($\text{Cr}^{+6}$) is linked to which cancers?

Lung cancer and gastrointestinal squamous cell carcinoma

Minamata disease and aquatic food chain bioaccumulation are caused by which metal?

Mercury ($\text{Hg}$ / Methylmercury)

Exposure to Methylmercury (Hg) causes which neurological and developmental effects?

Numbness, deafness, poor vision, severe neurologic/developmental impairment, and fetal brain damage

Childhood Lead (Pb) exposure causes which pediatric health effects?

Decreased cognitive abilities, learning impairments, and developmental/behavioral issues

Acute childhood blood Lead levels exceeding $\ge 70\,\mu\text{g/dL}$ cause which severe outcomes?

Encephalopathy, convulsions, coma, and death

Dermal contact and inhalation of Nickel (Ni) cause which non-cancer conditions?

Contact dermatitis (Nickel allergy) and fibrosis of the lungs

Occupational inhalation of Nickel (Ni) refinery dust is linked to which cancers?

Lung cancer and nasal cancer

Metal fume fever is caused by:

Inhalation of Zinc ($\text{Zn}$) dust and oxide fumes during welding

Excessive buildup of Iron (Fe) in the body and accidental pediatric supplement poisoning cause:

Hemochromatosis and acute accidental Iron toxicity

Acute toxicity from Organophosphate (OP) pesticides causes which physiological disruptions?

Anticholinesterase activity (disruption of neural impulses, seizures, and respiratory paralysis)

Severe poisoning from Organophosphate (OP) pesticides causes which irreversible long-term condition?

Organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDN)

Organochlorine pesticides are characterized by which environmental and chemical properties?

High environmental persistence (POPs), fat solubility, and high bioaccumulation in food chains

Exposure to DDT causes which reproductive effects and cancers?

Impaired lactation, lowered sperm counts, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Pyrethroids / Pyrethrins cause insect paralysis by which mechanism?

Attacking axonal sodium channels to disrupt neural transmission (derived from chrysanthemums)

Exposure to Agent Orange defoliant mixtures contaminated with dioxins is linked to which cancers?

Soft tissue sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chloracne is caused by:

Severe acute exposure to Dioxins (such as TCDD produced by combustion)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) exposure is linked to which cancers?

Malignant melanoma, liver cancer, biliary tract cancer, and intestinal cancer

Trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure causes which acute effects and cancer classification?

CNS depression (dizziness, headaches) and cancer (known human carcinogen)

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) occupational exposure in dry cleaning causes which cancers?

Liver cancer and kidney cancer (along with CNS depression)

Benzene exposure causes which specific hematologic cancer?

Myelogenous leukemia

Vinyl Chloride exposure during PVC manufacturing causes which cancers and physical deformities?

Angiosarcoma of the liver, poor circulation in hands, and damage to finger bones

Styrene exposure in polystyrene manufacturing causes which symptoms?

Central nervous system depression, muscle weakness, and loss of concentration

Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas release in Bhopal, India causes:

Severe respiratory failure, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and suffocation

Nonstochastic (acute/deterministic) effects of ionizing radiation are characterized by:

A threshold dose below which effects do not occur, with severity directly proportional to dose (e.g., tissue burns, radiation sickness)

Stochastic (delayed/probabilistic) effects of ionizing radiation are characterized by:

Occurring by chance without a threshold dose; probability increases with dose, but severity is independent of dose (e.g., carcinogenesis, DNA mutations)

Radiation hormesis is defined as:

The concept that low doses of ionizing radiation can stimulate beneficial biological defense mechanisms, whereas high doses are harmful

Exposure to radioactive Radon gas decay products causes which cancer and has which EPA classification?

Lung cancer (Radon is a Class A carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.)

Occupational ingestion of Radium ($^{226}\text{Ra}$) paint by watch-dial painters causes:

"Radium jaw" (bone cancer of the jaw)

Acute ocular exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes:

Photokeratitis (snow blindness / corneal burns)

Chronic dermal exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes which long-term effects and skin cancers?

Photoaging, nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), and malignant melanoma (MM)

Occupational exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from arc welding is linked to which rare ocular cancer?

Ocular melanoma

Excessive exposure to Infrared (IR) and visible light radiation causes which ocular injuries?

Cataracts (lens opacities), retinal burns, and corneal burns

Epidemiological studies on Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) power lines and radiofrequency (cell phones) show which findings?

No definitive association with brain tumors or childhood leukemia

A Dirty Bomb or Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) is primarily characterized as:

A weapon of mass disruption rather than destruction, where conventional explosives cause physical damage and radiation induces panic

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident was characterized by which impact and health outcome?

A Level 7 reactor explosion releasing massive radioactive particles, causing a statistically significant increase in cancer (especially thyroid cancer in children)

The Three Mile Island and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accidents had which post-accident cancer outcome?

A non-significant increase in estimated cancer rates after the accident

Radioactive fallout containing radioactive Iodine ($^{131}\text{I}$) causes which specific cancer?

Thyroid cancer (due to the bioaccumulation of iodine in the thyroid gland)