Environmental Hazards & Human Health

These flashcards cover key concepts related to environmental hazards and their effects on human health based on the lecture notes.

Biological agents

Pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, protozoa, internal parasites, and viruses that affect human health.

Chemical agents

Chemicals not made by organisms that adversely affect human health, including heavy metals and industrial compounds.

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

A synthetic organic insecticide used to kill disease-spreading mosquitoes, known for its harmful environmental effects.

Rachel Carson

A biologist and writer who raised awareness about the dangers of synthetic pesticides and their impact on the environment.

Environmental health

The field of study focused on preventing disease and ensuring health by reducing exposure to environmental hazards.

Emerging diseases

Infectious diseases that have increased in occurrence or pose new threats to human health.

Pathogen

An infectious agent that causes illness or disease.

Zoonotic disease

An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Vector

An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Antibiotic resistance

A condition in which bacteria develop the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics, leading to treatment challenges.

Bioaccumulation

The gradual buildup of substances in the tissues of an organism over its lifetime.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of substances, such as toxins, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels of the food chain.

Carcinogen

A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

Neurotoxicant

A substance that can cause damage to the nervous system.

Bioremediation

The use of living organisms to remove or neutralize contaminants from a polluted environment.

Superfund

A program established to clean up hazardous waste sites in the United States.

Endocrine disruptor

Chemicals that can interfere with endocrine (hormonal) systems, potentially causing developmental, reproductive, and other health issues.

Chronic effect

Health effects that develop due to long-term exposure to low levels of a toxic substance.

Acute effect

Health effects that occur rapidly after exposure to a high dose of a toxic substance.