EPH Week 2 - Quiz Review

What are “Point Sources” ?

A single point where pollution comes in through. “Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged.” This can be a pipe, ditch, or ship.

What are two common types of Point Sources?

Factories and Sewage treatment plans.

What are “Non-Point Sources” ?

These refer to different sources over a wide area and are not easily attributed to a single source.

What pollutants could come from non-point sources on a farm?

Pesticides, Animal Manure, or Fertilizers.

What can you classify “Stormwater” as?

Both Point and Non-Point pollution.

What is “Stormwater” commonly referred to as…?

Non-Point Pollution

What are the classes/types of water pollutants?

• Toxic & Hazardous Substances

• Pathogens & Viruses

• Nutrients

• Particulates

• Oxygen Demand

Water Pollutant: ‘Toxic & Hazardous Substances’ come in what form, and what can they do?

Metals and Organics — can cause sickness or death.

Water Pollutant: ‘Pathogens & Viruses’ come in what form, and what can they do?

Fecal Coliform and E. Coli — can cause sickness or death.

Water Pollutant: ‘Nutrients’ come in what form, and what can they do?

P, N Compounds — only become a pollutant when used incorrectly.

Water Pollutant: ‘Particulates’ come in what form, and what can they do?

Suspended Solids, Turbidity, and Color — Sand with no nutrients, make water dirty and murky causing for lack of sunlight, meaning aquatic life can’t thrive.

Water Pollutant: ‘Oxygen Demand’ come in what form, and what can they do?

Biochemical Oxygen Demand, COD, effects on Dissolved Oxygen — organic compounds that decompose in water using oxygen, and requiring bacteria and other microorganisms.

What are “Natural Water Pollutants” ?

• Tree Pollen

• Algae Blooms/Die Offs

• Iron Bacteria

• Natural Dirt

Describe ‘Tree Pollen’ as a natural water pollutant.

Green and brown color in water, smells terrible, accumulates in water during the spring.

Describe ‘Algae Blooms/Die Offs’ as a natural water pollutant.

Green and brown color in water, with odor.

Describe ‘Iron Bacteria’ as a natural water pollutant.

Orange color in the water.

Describe ‘Natural Dirt’ as a natural water pollutant.

Water source is dirty.

Is it normal for a storm drain to be active if there is no rain?

A storm drain should not be running if there is no rain.

In what instance would a storm drain be running if there is no rain?

The pipes could be cracked due to infiltration.

How can you check water quality coming from a storm drain?

Pick up water in a glass jar, check for color and odor.

Describe a “Permit By Rule” …

You do not need to apply for this as long as you follow the ‘BMP’ (Best Practice Management') and send a letter describing your actions.

What can be considered a pollutant?

A pollutant can be anything that changes natural constituency.

Can ‘heat’ be considered a pollutant?

Heat can be a pollutant.

How is “Agricultural Runoff” handled?

This is exempt from NJPDES Permitting, and handled by the USDA, through their Natural Conservation Service.

Are ‘pollen’ and ‘irons’ truly pollutants?

These are not true pollutants, they are considered “natural pollutants.”

What are “Combined Sewer Overflow Points” ?

These are pressure points, and considered one of the largest sources of contaminations.

What is considered “Domestic Waste” ?

Kitchen and Bathroom waste are considered ‘domestic waste'.’

How does the DEP calculate penalties under the policies?

They consider conduct and seriousness (ranging from low, medium, or high.)

What is a “Watershed” ?

A watershed is all of the land that due to local topography drains water into a discrete surface water system.

Describe a “Watershed.”

• Mostly made up of land, not just water.

• Separated by drainage divides, like mountain ranges.

• Includes all of the ground water in the surface water basin.

What’s a way to care and manage a “Watershed” ?

Holistic planning to maintain and enhance water quality, quantity, and ecosystem health.

What’s a way to care and manage a “Watershed” ?

Uniquely tailor treatment for it, based on it’s location and system of operation.

What’s one way the NJDEP cares for and manages a “Watershed” ?

The NJDEP’s role is to be a trustee of the State, and provider of education and direction in regards to management.

What is a step in producing “Watershed Planning” ?

Establish the existing water quality, and what quality we want to achieve.

What is a step in producing “Watershed Planning” ?

What assets and uses will the system have; Farmers, Residential, or Industrial Use.

What is a step in producing “Watershed Planning” ?

Identify crucial open space, somewhere near a water source.

What is a step in producing “Watershed Planning” ?

Identify “Action Now” projects.

What is a step in producing “Watershed Planning” ?

Develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads for impaired waters.

What kind of pollution might we expect from a basic neighborhood?

Pet residue, Car exhaust, or Domestic waste.

What might help improve water quality in a watershed?

Holistic Planning

What would you expect to find in municipal storm water?

Whatever may run off lawns, streets, and septic tanks.

What is TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads)?

A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterway can accept and still meet the state’s water quality standards for public health and healthy ecosystems.

What are the types of “Toxicology” ?

• Descriptive

• Mechanistic

• Informational

• Regulatory

Describe ‘Descriptive’ toxicology…

This assesses toxicity lab on animals.

Describe ‘Mechanistic’ toxicology…

Experiments at organism, cellular biochemical, and molecular level.

Describe ‘Informational’ toxicology…

Collects and disseminates information on hazards.

Describe ‘Regulatory’ toxicology…

Assesses toxicity and epidemiology to establish STD’s.

What are the types of “Toxicologists” ?

• Forensic

• Ecological

• Medical

• Occupational

• Veterinary

Describe a ‘Forensic’ toxicologist…

Determines if poison was involved in a death.

Describe a ‘Ecological’ toxicologist…

Determines impacts on non-human organisms.

Describe a ‘Medical’ toxicologist…

Determines the chemicals used in treatments.

Describe a ‘Occupational’ toxicologist…

Checks for substances of concern in the workplace.

Describe a ‘Veterinary’ toxicologist…

Checks effects on farm animals and pets.

What are the four routes of exposure?

• Inhalation

• Ingestion

• Injection

• Dermal

What are the real world interactions of toxicity…?

• Synergism

• Antagonism

• Potentiation

• Physiological

• Media

Describe “Synergism” as a real world interaction of toxicity…

Comes in the form of asbestos and smoking.

Describe “Antagonism” as a real world interaction of toxicity…

Comes in the form of supplemental vitamins and antibiotics.

Describe “Potentiation” as a real world interaction of toxicity…

Isopropanol and carbon tetrachloride coalitive interaction.

Describe “Physiological” as a real world interaction of toxicity…

Age and exercise and physical stress, and health status.

Describe “Media” as a real world interaction of toxicity…

Air, water, soil, and food.

Describe what happens the process of the body once it’s exposed to a Toxin…

• Absorbed (by body & blood)

• Distributed (from blood to various agents)

• Metabolized (bio-transformation)

• Stored (in bone, fat, kidney, lung)

• Excretion (leaving from the body)

What is “Toxicokinetics” ?

The science that includes the process of, ‘EADME.’

• Exposure

• Absorption

• Distribution

• Metabolism/Storage

• Excretion

What are the two types of exposure?

• Acute Exposure

• Chronic Exposure

Describe ‘acute’ exposure…

Exposure to a significant amount of a toxic substance either in a single dose or in a brief period of time.

Describe ‘chronic’ exposure…

Exposure to lower concentrations of a toxic substance either in repeated doses or over an extended period of time.

What does “Dose Response” refer to?

The relationship between the amount of a poisonous substance absorbed to the corresponding range of harmful effects.

What does “Threshold” refer to?

Lowest dose at which a particular response may occur. (Remember the chart)

What is an “Insecticide” ?

A pesticide compound specifically used to kill or prevent the growth of insects.

What is a “Pesticide” ?

Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating pests. (Insects, Rodents, Weeds, Various Unwanted Organism)

What is a “Herbicide” ?

A chemical pesticide designed to control or destroy plants, weeds, or grasses.

What is a “Fungicide” ?

A pesticide that is used to control, deter, or destroy fungi.

What is a “Rodenticide” ?

A chemical or agent used to destroy rats or other rodent pests, used to prevent them from damaging food, crops, etc…

What sources does ‘lead’ come from?

• Leaded Gas

• Soldered Pipes

• Paint

• Imported Pottery

• Kitchenware, Cosmetics

What is the “Risk Assessment Paradigm” ?

• Hazard Identification

• Exposure Assessment

• Dose-Response Assessment

• Risk Characterization

• Risk Management/Communication

What is “Teratogen” ?

Any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy.

What do we call the fate of toxins?

We call them EADME.

What does LD50 refer to…?

Used to compare toxicity of different chemicals. The dosage (mg/kg body weight) causing death in 50 percent of exposed animals.

What is a “Certification Order” ?

Each county CEHA Agency gets its delegation authority to conduct NJDEP program investigation and enforcement by a document called…

T/F : Municipal Health Departments in the state do not have oversight for NJDEP programs through CEHA.

True

What does ‘Title 26’ handle?

Deal with public health law.

What are the four NJ Public Health Laws?

• NJSA Title 24

• NJSA Title 26

• NJAC Title VII

• NJAC Title VIII

What is an “executive” order?

A declaration by the president or a governor which has the force of a law.

T/F : Laws are written because there is a defined need.

True

T/F : Citizens have personal rights as defined in the constitution. A public health concern must be defined if they are asked to comply with health related regulations.

True

What is an “infection” ?

Any situation in which an microorganism is established and growing in a host, whether or not the host is harmed.

T/F : Most viruses are bacteriophages.

True

T/F : Viruses leave genetic material behind.

True

T/F : Consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat and liver is a common cause of hepatitis E infection.

True

Who are the main carriers of hepatitis E in the EU?

Pigs are the main carriers.

Why are viruses not classified as “living” ?

This is because they lack a metabolic system and are dependent on the host cells.

Describe a genetic element of a virus…

All are obligated intracellular parasites.

Describe a genetic element of a virus…

Contain either DNA or RNA genomes. Almost all viruses are RNA.

Describe a genetic element of a virus…

Genome surrounded by a protein coat.

Describe a genetic element of a virus…

Some viruses have outer envelope of lipoprotein, however it is not present in all viruses.

What are “Prions” ?

A type of protein that can trigger normal proteins in the brain to misfold. Misfolded proteins.

What are ‘Human Prion Diseases’ ?

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD)

What is a ‘Animal Prion Diseases’ ?

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

T/F : A prokaryotic divides by binary fission.

True

What does “Pleomorphic” refer to?

Variability in the size and shape of cells.

What does “Dimorphic” refer to?

The existence of two different form (as of color or size) of a species especially in the same population.