envr 1000 - unit 8, ecotoxicology, pt 1
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39 Terms
What is risk?
The probability of harm occurring under certain circumstances
What two factors characterize risk?
Severity and probability
What is risk analysis?
An approach to determine which threats are most significant
What is risk management?
Process of identifying, assessing, and reducing risks
Why do people fear small risks more than large ones?
Perception, habit, culture, and lack of control
Give an example of a large vs small risk
Smoking (large) vs chemicals in drinking water (small)
Why might people choose bottled water over quitting smoking?
Misperception of risk and habits
What is risk assessment?
Process of evaluating and comparing risks
What are the four steps of risk assessment?
Hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization
What is an environmental hazard?
A situation that poses risk to humans or ecosystems
What is a toxicant?
A harmful chemical released into the environment
What is toxicology?
The study of toxicants and their effects
What is acute toxicity?
Harm from short-term exposure to high doses
What is chronic toxicity?
Harm from long-term exposure to low doses
What happened in Grassy Narrows?
Mercury contamination caused serious health effects
How were people exposed in Grassy Narrows?
Through contaminated fish (walleye)
Why are many toxicants persistent?
They are chemically stable and resist breakdown
What are persistent toxicants?
Chemicals that do not easily degrade in the environment
What are environmental reservoirs?
Places where chemicals accumulate like air water and soil
What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
Toxic chemicals that persist bioaccumulate and travel long distances
Give examples of POPs
DDT PCBs dioxins
What are heavy metals?
Toxic elements like mercury and lead
What are microplastics?
Tiny plastic particles in the environment
What effects can toxicants have?
Disease immune damage developmental issues reproductive problems
Is dilution an effective solution to pollution?
No chemicals persist and cycle through ecosystems
What is long-range transport?
Movement of toxicants over large distances via air or water
Where do toxicants often accumulate globally?
Polar regions
Why is there no true end for toxicants?
They continuously cycle through ecosystems
What is bioaccumulation?
Buildup of toxicants in an organism over time
What is biomagnification?
Increasing concentration of toxicants up the food chain
Why do top predators have highest toxicant levels?
They consume many contaminated organisms
Explain biomagnification simply
Toxicants increase at each trophic level
What caused biomagnification in Grassy Narrows?
Mercury buildup in fish consumed by humans
List four key toxicant processes
Persistence long-range transport bioaccumulation biomagnification
What are PFAs?
Synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment
Why are PFAs called forever chemicals?
They do not break down easily
Where are PFAs found?
Soil water and living organisms
What is the Stockholm Convention?
A UN treaty to eliminate harmful POPs
Why is DDT still used in some places?
To control malaria when alternatives are unavailable