u8 Apes Quiz 1

8.1, 8.3, 8.7, 8.12 &8.13, 8.15, 8.15, & toxins

Point sources

pollutants that enter the environment from easily identifiable sources/places

Examples of point source pollution

Animal waste runoff, smokestack emissions, and BP oil spill

Examples of nonpoint pollution

Urban runoff (motor oil, road salt, sediment) and pesticides

Nonpoint sources

pollutants entering the env from many places so hard to pinpoint source of origin to one place

Toxicology

The study of chemicals that cause temporary or permanent harm to living organisms.

Mutagens

Chemicals that damage DNA, increasing the frequency of mutations (e.g., radiation, benzene).

Allergens

Substances that trigger immune responses like inflammation and fatigue (e.g., pollen, pet dander).

Carcinogens

Chemicals, radiation, or viruses that increase cancer risk (e.g., asbestos, formaldehyde).

Teratogens

Chemicals that cause birth defects in developing fetuses (e.g., thalidomide, alcohol).

Neurotoxins

Chemicals that disrupt brain, spinal cord, and nervous system function (e.g., lead, mercury).

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormonal (endocrine) systems, altering development and reproduction (e.g., atrazine, DDT, phthalates).

Atrazine

A herbicide that disrupts hormone function, leading to feminization in male amphibians.

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

A pesticide that disrupts reproductive hormones and persists in the environment.

Phthalates

Chemicals used in plastics and cosmetics that mimic hormones, disrupting reproductive health.

Heavy Metals (Lead, Arsenic, Mercury)

Toxic metals that cause neurological and endocrine disruption.

Lead

Found in old paint, pipes, and contaminated soil; damages the nervous system.

Mercury

Released from coal combustion; bioaccumulates in fish, causing neurological harm.

Arsenic

Naturally found in groundwater and linked to cancer and endocrine disruption.

Coal Ash

source of mercury, lead, and arsenic

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Synthetic, long-lasting chemicals that bioaccumulate in fat tissues and persist in the environment.

Fat-Solubility

POPs dissolve in fat, accumulating in organisms over time instead of being excreted in urine.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of POPs at higher trophic levels in a food web.

Bioaccumulation

The gradual buildup of POPs in an organism’s fat tissues over time.

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

A pesticide that persists in ecosystems, leading to biomagnification in predatory birds.

PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)

Industrial chemicals used in plastics and electrical equipment, toxic to aquatic life and linked to cancer.

PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers)

Fireproofing chemicals found in furniture and electronics, linked to neurological damage.

BPA (Bisphenol A)

A plastic additive that mimics estrogen, disrupting endocrine function.

Dioxins

Toxic byproducts from combustion and industrial processes that bioaccumulate in fatty tissues.

Perchlorates

Chemicals from rocket fuel and explosives that contaminate groundwater and affect thyroid function.

LD50

the dose or concentration of the chemical that kills 50% of the population being studied

How is LD50 data usually expressed?

mass (g,mg)/body unit (kg), ppm, or mass/volume

Toxicity threshold

lowest dose where an effect starts to occur

ED50

this refers to the dose concentration of a chemical that causes a desired effect in 50% of the pop being tested

Acute Studies

most dose response studies; done in short periods of time

Chronic Studies

dose response studies over long periods of time

Routes of exposure

ways a pollutant enters the human body

How does lead enter the human body?

water pipes & paint chips

How does mercury enter the human body?

seafood (tuna)

How does CO enter the human body?

indoor biomass comb

How does PM enter the human body?

pollen, dust, etc

How does arsenic enter the human body?

rice, groundwater

Synergism

the interaction of two or more substances to cause ann effect greater than by themselves

Example of synergism

Asthma caused by PM from coal and Covid-19 damaging lungs

Dysentery

bacterial infection caused by food or water being contaminated with feces (often from sewage -> drinking water)

The effects of dysentery

intestinal swelling, blood in feces, severe dehydration bc of diarrhea

How can dysentery be treated?

antibiotics

Mesothelioma (asbestos)

type of cancerous tumor caused by exposure to asbestos

How do u get exposed to asbestos?

old insulation materials in attics, ceiling and flooring boards, and asbestos particles released into the air & inhaled

How should asbestos be removed?

good ventilation, professionals, or removing asbestos-contaninf insulation material

Tropospheric Ozone

worst type of ozone, worsens respiratory conditions like asthma & bronchitis

Where tropospheric ozone comes from

photochemical breakdown of NO2

Pathogen

a living organism (virus, bacteria, fungus, protsist, worm) that causes an infectious disease

Infectious disease

diseases that are capable of being spread of transmitted (HIV, coivd)

Vectrors

living organism (rat, mosquito) that carries and transmits infectious pathogens to other organisms

How does climate change affect vectors?

warmer temperatures in places that used to be cold, making these places easier to be in, then they spread into there parts north and south

What is the vector for dengue fever, Zika virus, yellow fever?

mosquito

Plague

bacterial (pathogen) infection trasmitted by fleas (vector) that attach to mice & rats (vectors as well), aka bubonic or black plague

Tuberculosis (TB)

Bacterial (pathogen) infection that targets the lungs

What causes tuberculosis?

breathing bacteria from body fluids from an infected person

Effects of tuberculosis

night sweats, fever, coughing blood, and leading cause of death by disease in developing world

Malaria

parasitic protist (pathogen) infection caused by bite from infected mosquitoes (vector)

Where is malaria common?

sub-saharan africa and other tropical regions

How can malaria be dealt with?

insecticide (kills the mosquitoes)

West Nile

Virus (pathogen) infection caused by bite from infected mosquiotes (vector)

How is West Nile transmitted?

birds are the main host but mosquitoes infected by bird

Effects of West Nile

brain inflammation

Zika Virus

Virus (patogen) infection caused by bite from infected mosquitoes (vector) & sexual contact

Effects of Zika Virus

babies born with abnormally small heads and damaged brains

How to treat Zika Virus?

no known treatment but deal with it by focusing on mosquito population elimination

SARS (Severse Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

coronavirus (pathogen) infection caused by respiratory droplets from an infected person

How is SARS transmitted?

touching or inhaling fluids from an infected person

Effects of SARS

form of pneumonia

Where was initial outbreak of SARS?

southeast asia

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

Virus (pathogen) respiratory infection transmitted from animals to human

Origin of MERS

Arabian peninsula

Cholera

bacterial (pathogen) infection caused by drinking infected water

Effects of Cholera

vomiting, muscle cramps and diarrhea

How is cholera spread?

contaminated water with human feces or undercooked seafood

Arsenic

A naturally occurring element found in the earth’s crust, often combined with other elements to form inorganic and organic arsenic compounds.

Effects of arsenic

High levels can cause death, while long-term exposure can lead to skin discoloration, warts, nausea, blood cell reduction, and cancer (lung, liver, bladder, and skin).

How arsenic spreads

Enters air, water, and land from natural sources and industrial activities. Found in contaminated food, water, and air, particularly in workplaces and near hazardous waste sites.

Asbestos

A group of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals known for heat resistance and durability.

Effects of asbestos

Can cause lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma after prolonged inhalation.

How asbestos spreads

Released into the air from disturbed asbestos-containing materials, industrial workplaces, and building demolitions.

Atrazine

A synthetic herbicide used primarily in agriculture to control weeds.

Effects of atrazine

Can cause birth defects, organ damage (liver, kidney, heart), and hormonal imbalances.

How atrazine spreads

Enters the environment through agricultural spraying, water runoff into rivers and groundwater, and air drift from treated areas.

Cadmium

A naturally occurring metal found in the earth’s crust, often used in batteries, coatings, and plastics.

Effects of cadmium

Can damage kidneys, lungs, and bones; long-term exposure can lead to cancer.

How cadmium spreads

Released into air, water, and soil through mining, industrial processes, and cigarette smoke; accumulates in food and the human body.

Cyanide

A toxic chemical found in some plants and industrial processes, including metal extraction and manufacturing.

Effects of cyanide

High exposure can cause breathing difficulties, heart failure, unconsciousness, and death; low levels can cause headaches, nausea, and thyroid issues.

How cyanide spreads

Found in industrial emissions, cigarette smoke, and some foods like cassava and almonds; can enter air, water, and soil through natural and human activities.

Formaldehyde

A colorless, flammable gas with a strong odor, used in building materials, household products, and preservatives.

Effects of formaldehyde

Causes eye, nose, and throat irritation, lung damage, neurological effects, and increased cancer risk.

How formaldehyde spreads

Released into indoor air from furniture, plywood, carpets, cigarette smoke, and industrial processes.

Lead

A heavy metal used in batteries, paints, and pipes, once widely used in gasoline.

Effects of lead

Affects the nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system; especially harmful to children, causing developmental issues and brain damage.

How lead spreads

Found in contaminated water, soil, dust, paint chips, and industrial emissions.

Mercury

A naturally occurring metal that exists in various forms, including methylmercury, which accumulates in fish.