Chapter 14 apes

threshold dose

the amount of a toxicant a subject must be exposed to for a negative effect

LD50

amount of a particular toxicant to kill half the population

risk management

making decisions and designing strategies to minimize risk

aromatase

an enzyme converts testosterone into estrogen

asbestos

a mineral that forms long, thin microscopic fibers used in fire retardants hurts lungs

toxicant

any poisonous substance

OSHA

This federal agency, works to minimize risk in the workplace

acute exposure

exposed to a high dose of toxicant for short period of time

epidemiological study

A long-term study comparing exposed and unexposed groups to track outcomes.

eutrophication

water acquires a high concentration of nutrients(nitrogn & phopurus) . promotes excessive growth of algae. algae die and decompose, aerobic bacteria deplete oxygen source, causing hypoxia

endocrine disruptors

toxicants that interfere with hormone system

TSCA

gives the EPA the right to regulate all synthetic substances

toxicology

the science that examines the effects of poisonous substances on organisms

respiratory infections

the leading cause of death

Love Canal

the site of the worst environmental disaster involving chemical wastes in U.S. history.

cultural health hazards

the category of hazards to human health (smoking)

atrazine

the most widely used herbicide in the Unites States

global distillation

Pollutants travel to the poles via air and ocean currents, concentrating

environmental health

environmental factors influence human health

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson's book artificial pesticides were hazardous to human health,

infectious disease

illness that can be spread from one person to another.

teratogens

harm to developing embryos

chronic exposure

exposed to a low dose of a toxicant over long period of time

radon

highly toxic gas seeps up through the ground

"dirty dozen"

the most dangerous (POPs) according to the Stockholm Convention

mutagens

chemicals that cause mutations in the DNA

dose-response curve

A graph showing test animals' reactions to varying toxicant doses.

synergistic effects

the toxicants may increase or cancel each other out.

PBDEs

used as a fire-retardant in household furniture.

thalidomide

originally marketed as a sleeping pill but later found to be a teratogen

pesticide drift

when pesticides become airborne

lead

this heavy metal is human health hazard

anthropogenic

human-caused

physical health hazards

natural disasters and UV-radiation

FIFRA

EPA the legal right to regulate pesticides.

biological health hazards

the category of hazards to human health that includes malaria, tuberculosis and the flu

carcinogens

toxicants that cause cancer

AIDS

the second-leading cause of death

West Nile Virus

This Old World virus transmitted by mosquitoes.

BPA

suspected endocrine disruptor found in plastics

chemical health hazards

Lysol, bleach and Round-Up

risk assessment

refers to the quantitative process of determining the potential risks of substances and activities that may pose a threat to people or wildlife

bioaccumulation

the buildup of toxic substances in an organism over its lifetime

neurotoxins

toxicants that attack the nervous system

DDT

the focus of Rachel Carson's 1962 book