ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 9

environmental health

the study of how environmental factors affect human health and quality of life

hazards

factors that threaten or are harmful to human health

pathogens

infect human and make us sick

epidemiology

the study of disease in human populations

toxicology

the study of how poisonuous substances affect an organism’s health

toxicity

a substance determines how harmful a substance is to an organism

dose

the amount of a substance an organism is exposed to

response

the effect an organism shows as a result of exposure

dose-response relationship

relationship between the different doses and the responses

risk

the chance that a hazard will cause harmful response

risk assessment

the process of measuring risk

infectious diseases

diseases case by a pathogen, like virus

emerging diseases

a disease that has appeared in human population

pollution

matter or energy that is released into the environment, causing negative impact

carcinogens

chemical that cause cancer

teratogens

chemical that harm embryos and fetuses

neurotoxins

chemicals affect the nervous systems

asbestos

mineral that form long, thin microscopic fiber

radon

colorless, odorless, highly toxic radioactive gas

bioaccumulation

organisms can build up large concentrations of toxic substance in their bodies

biomagnification

the increased concentration of toxic substances with each step in a food chain

earthquake

the energy causes the earth to shake

landslides

occur when rock and soil slide down a slope

tsunami

large ocean wave

volcano

opening in earth’s crust that eject molten lava and other materials

tornado

type of windstorm that rotating funnels of air that can travel over 400km/h

hurricane

powerful storm that forms over the ocean in the tropics , with winds over 119km/h

thunderstorm

a storm that produces both lightning thunder

avalanche

a mass of snow sliding down of slope