Toxicology and Human Health Exam Review

This flashcard set covers key concepts related to toxicology and human health, focusing on partition coefficients, exposure routes, the effects of heavy metals, and important definitions in the field.

Partition Coefficient, Kow

The octanol-water coefficient used to estimate how much a chemical prefers to stay in organic matter versus water.

High Kow indicates that a chemical is __.

Less soluble in water and prefers the organic fraction.

Soil distribution coefficient, Kd

A measure of how readily a chemical adheres to soil instead of moving into groundwater.

Organic carbon partition coefficient, Koc

The tendency of a chemical to stick to the organic fraction of soil.

The formula for Kd is __.

Kd = Koc × foc where foc is the fraction of organic carbon in soil.

Retardation factor (DR) measures __.

The relative contaminant velocity compared to groundwater.

Mercury is known to cause __.

Neurotoxicity and is associated with Minamata disease.

Volatilization refers to __.

The transfer of a chemical from solid or liquid phase to the gaseous phase.

Chronic exposure is defined as __.

Exposure to low concentrations of a chemical for a long duration.

Acute exposure is defined as __.

Exposure at high concentrations for a short duration.

NOAEL stands for __.

No Observed Adverse Effect Level.

LOAEL stands for __.

Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level.

A biomarker is __.

An indicator of the status of a biological system in relation to exposure to a toxicant.

Density is determined by __.

A chemical’s mass per unit volume.

The maximum concentration of a substance that can dissolve in a solvent is called __.

Solubility.

Heavy metals are known for being __.

Non-biodegradable and bioaccumulating in the food chain.

Target dose is the amount that eventually reaches __.

A target organ.

Inhalation is considered the __ exposure route due to quick access to the circulatory system.

Most serious.

The target organs for toxicity generally require __ to observe effects.

High dose and sufficient duration.

Chemical with the highest partition coefficient moves __.

The slowest.

Halogens, such as chlorine and bromine, __ solubility in organic compounds.

Decrease.

The slope factor is determined using __.

The slope of the dose-response curve.

PCBs are used as a cooling medium in electrical transformers.

Polychlorinated biphenyls.

Chemical Solvent

Degreasing engines and fabricated metal parts; dry cleaning; removing caffeine from coffee. A substance used to dissolve other materials, often in chemical processes or industrial applications.

Chlorinated Solvents

are organic compounds that contain chlorine, commonly used in industrial applications for cleaning and degreasing.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)

are a group of organic compounds composed of large multiple aromatic rings, and used ton preserve wood. known for their potential carcinogenic effects and are typically produced from incomplete combustion of organic matter.

Pentachlorophend (PCP)

is a synthetic compound used as a pesticide, herbicide, to preserve wood, and biocide. It is known for its toxicity and persistence in the environment, often linked to adverse health effects.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

are a group of synthetic organic chemicals comprised of two benzene rings connected by chlorinated carbon chains. Once widely used as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment, they are carcinogens, and are fire resistant

trinitrotoluene (TNT)

is a chemical compound used as an explosive due to its stability and insensitivity to shock. It is also considered a hazardous material due to its toxicity and potential environmental impact.

DDT

is a synthetic organic pesticide known for its effectiveness in controlling insect populations. However, it has significant environmental persistence and is linked to adverse health effects in humans and wildlife.

Dioxin

refers to a group of chemically related compounds known for their high toxicity and environmental persistence. It is are often byproducts of industrial processes and can cause serious health effects, including reproductive and developmental issues.

Prechlorate

is a chemical compound often used in rocket propellant and explosives, known for its potential to contaminate drinking water and its harmful effects on human health.

Use specific gravity to classify NAPLs as dense (DNAPL) or light (LNAPL).

DNAPLs are non-aqueous phase liquids that are denser than water, while LNAPLs are lighter than water.

NAPLs

Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids, which are classified as either dense (DNAPLs) or light (LNAPLs) based on their specific gravity relative to water.

DNAPLs

are non-aqueous phase liquids that have a higher density than water, potentially leading to groundwater contamination.

LNAPLs

are non-aqueous phase liquids that have a lower density than water, often floating on the water surface and posing less threat to groundwater compared to DNAPLs.

Define solubility and the general rules related to solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous solution. Polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes.

Aliphatic

compounds are organic molecules that consist of carbon and hydrogen arranged in straight or branched chains, without aromatic rings.

Aromatic

compounds are organic molecules that contain one or more aromatic rings, characterized by the presence of conjugated pi electrons in a cyclic structure, often resulting in unique chemical stability and reactivity.

Isomer

A compound that has the same molecular formula as another but a different arrangement of atoms, resulting in distinct properties.