APES vocab ch. 17 & 19

carbon capture and storage (CCS)

Process of removing carbon dioxide gas from coal-burning power and industrial plants and storing it somewhere (usually underground or under the seabed) so that it is not released into the atmosphere, essentially forever.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. An example is Freon-12 (CCl2F2), used as a refrigerant in refrigerators and air conditioners and in making plastics such as Styrofoam. Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they slowly rise into the stratosphere and their chlorine atoms react with ozone molecules.

climate tipping point

Point at which an environmental problem reaches a threshold level where scientists fear it could cause irreversible climate disruption.

Temperature

measure of the average speed of motion of the atoms, ion, or molecules in a substance or combination of substances at a given moment

Cancer

group of more than 120 different diseases, one for each type of cell in the human body. each type of cancer produces a tumor in which cells multiply uncontrollably and invade surrounding tissue

Carcinogen

Chemicals, ionizing radiation, and viruses that cause or promote the development of cancer.

dose

Amount of a potentially harmful substance an individual ingests, inhales, or absorbs through the skin.

dose-response curve

Plot of data showing effects of various doses of a toxic agent on a group of test organisms.

Epidemiology

study of the patterns of disease or other harmful effects from exposure to toxins and diseases caused by pathogens within defined groups of people to find out why some people get sick and some do not

hazard

Something that can cause injury, disease, economic loss, or environmental damage.

hazardous chemical

Chemical that can cause harm because it is flammable or explosive, can irritate or damage the skin or lungs (such as strong acidic or alkaline substances), or can cause allergic reactions of the immune system (allergens).

infectious disease

Disease caused when a pathogen such as a bacterium, virus, or parasite invades the body and multiplies in its cells and tissues. Examples are flu, HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and measles.

median lethal dose (LD50)

Amount of a toxic material per unit of body weight of test animals that kills half the test population in a certain time.

metastasis

Spread of malignant (cancerous) cells from a tumor to other parts of the body.

Mutagen

Chemical or form of radiation that causes inheritable changes (mutations) in the DNA molecules in genes.

Neurotoxins

Chemicals that can harm the human nervous system (brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves).

nontransmissible disease

Disease that is not caused by living organisms and does not spread from one person to another. Examples include most cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and malnutrition.

Pathogen

living organism that can cause disease in another organism (bacteria, viruses, parasites)

poison

A chemical that adversely affects the health of a living human or animal by causing injury, illness, or death.

response

Amount of health damage caused by exposure to a certain dose of a harmful substance or form of radiation.

risk

Probability that something undesirable will result from deliberate or accidental exposure to a hazard.

risk analysis

Identifying hazards, evaluating the nature and severity of risks associated with the hazards (risk assessment), ranking risks (comparative risk analysis), using this and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks (risk management), and communicating information about risks to decision makers and the public (risk communication).

risk assessment

Process of gathering data and making assumptions to estimate short- and long-term harmful effects on human health or the environment from exposure to hazards associated with the use of a particular product or technology.

risk communication

Communicating information about risks to decision makers and the public.

Risk Management

Use of risk assessment and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks.

Teratogen

Chemical, ionizing agent, or virus that causes birth defects.

Toxicity

Measure of the harmfulness of a substance.

Toxicology

Study of the adverse effects of chemicals on health

transmissible disease

Disease that is caused by living organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms) and can spread from one person to another by air, water, food, or body fluids (or in some cases by insects or other organisms).