AP environmental science Unit 7

area source

Locations that give off air pollutants from several sources within a well-defined area (ex. small urban communities)

asbestos

A fireproof material; , A fibrous incombustible mineral known to cause fibrosis and scarring in the lungs. Also a known carcinogenic material (lung cancer, mesothelioma).

toxicology

Analyzes poison levels of drugs and poisons

toxicity

Chemicals that are gases, liquids, or solids that, through their chemical properties, can produce injurious or lethal effects on contact with body cells

point source

Pollutants discharged from a single identifiable location (e.g., pipes, ditches, channels, sewers, tunnels, containers of various types).

heavy metals

metallic elements with a high density that are toxic to organisms at low concentrations

bioaccumulation

An increase in the concentration of a chemical in specific organs or tissues at a level higher than would normally be expected.

biomagnification

Increase in concentration of certain stable chemicals (for example, heavy metals or fat-soluble pesticides) in successively higher trophic levels of a food chain or web

body burden

the accumulation of hundreds of persistent toxins in our bodies

hazardous chemicals

Acids, caustics, irritants, etc. Many are hazardous in high concentrations but harmless when diluted.

organic compounds

Compounds that contain carbon

synergism

A drug interaction that occurs when drugs produce an effect that is greater than the sum of their separate actions.

particulates

Small particles of dust released into the atmosphere by many natural processes and human activities

tolerance

A progressive decrease in a person's responsiveness to a drug.

acute effects

immediate or rapid harmful reaction to an exposure ranging from dizziness or rash, to death

chronic effects

long-lasting results of exposure to a toxin; can be a permanent change caused by a single, acute exposure or a continuous, low-level exposure

thermal pollution

A temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water to support life

toxic

of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison

dose

A prescribed amount

risk

A potential event, occurrence or result that can have positive or negative consequences.

societal risk

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mutagens

A chemical or physical agent that interacts with DNA and causes a mutation.

teratogens

Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

carcinogens

Cancer-causing substances

pathogens

Agents, especially microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi, that infect a host and cause disease

contamination

A type of human presence that includes pollution.

persistent organic pollutants

chemical compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for long times

dose-response curve

A curve that plots the response of test animals to different does of a toxicant. The response is generally quantified by measuring the proportion of animals exhibiting negatives effects.

LD-50

the amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population

Ed-50

the dose that causes an effect in 50% of the population

TD-50

the dose that is toxic to 50% of the population

threshold concentration

the critical concentration at which the stimulus will evoke a perception of taste

epidemology

Study of frequency, distribution, and causes of different diseases with a focus on physical/social environment.

noise pollution

any unwanted, disturbing, or harmful sound that impairs or interferes with hearing, causes stress, hampers concentration and work efficiency, or causes accidents

endocrine system

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

immune system

A system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response

ionizing radiation

Bystander effect to innocent cells (radiation can harm cells that are in the same location or around it)

risk assessment

Helps create cost effective ways to protect health and environment

risk management

A systematic and structured approach to managing the potential for loss that is related to a threat.

electromagnetic fields

the effect that electrically charged objects have on the surrounding space. fills the space around every electically charged object and exists everywhere that a charged object would feel an elecctromagnetic force if such an object was present

synthetic organic compounds

Compounds of cardon produced synthetically by human industrial processes, as for example pesticides and herbicides.