Question 1

Toxic substances are dangerous because they

Accepted Answer

A)  react or interfere with specific cell functions. 
B)  can physically remove or tear tissues. 
C)  are usually synthetic. 
D)  cause debilitating, parasitic diseases. 
E)  cause excessive water accumulation in tissues. 
A)  react or interfere with specific cell functions. 
B)  can physically remove or tear tissues. 
C)  are usually synthetic. 
D)  cause debilitating, parasitic diseases. 
E)  cause excessive water accumulation in tissues. A

Question 2

Organisms are physiologically able to minimize some of the effects of toxins if

Accepted Answer

A)  a minimal amount is taken into the body. 
B)  there is no exposure. 
C)  chemists develop vaccines and antibodies 
D)  DNA technology is used to change the individual's susceptibility. 
A)  a minimal amount is taken into the body. 
B)  there is no exposure. 
C)  chemists develop vaccines and antibodies 
D)  DNA technology is used to change the individual's susceptibility. A

Question 3

Historically, which of the following considerations in setting standards for toxic exposure has been emphasized the least?

Accepted Answer

A)  Information about how toxins affect natural ecological systems. 
B)  Different members of the population have different sensitivities to toxins. 
C)  Information about both chronic and acute exposures to a toxin. 
D)  The bioaccumulation potential of the toxin. 
A)  Information about how toxins affect natural ecological systems. 
B)  Different members of the population have different sensitivities to toxins. 
C)  Information about both chronic and acute exposures to a toxin. 
D)  The bioaccumulation potential of the toxin. A

Question 4

A chemical that causes abnormalities in a growing fetus is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  teratogen. 
B)  mutagen. 
C)  carcinogen. 
D)  endocrine disruptor. 
A)  teratogen. 
B)  mutagen. 
C)  carcinogen. 
D)  endocrine disruptor.

Question 5

Policy makers should utilize a(n) ____________ approach to setting environmental risk standards.

Accepted Answer

A)  zero tolerance 
B)  precautionary 
C)  case-by-case 
D)  restrictive 
A)  zero tolerance 
B)  precautionary 
C)  case-by-case 
D)  restrictive

Question 6

Highly persistent toxic chemicals

Accepted Answer

A)  retain their toxicity as they cycle through the food chain and environment. 
B)  lose their toxicity once released in the environment. 
C)  accumulate within one organism but break down at higher trophic levels. 
D)  are highly unusual among artificial chemicals. 
E)  are usually not that toxic in their life span. 
A)  retain their toxicity as they cycle through the food chain and environment. 
B)  lose their toxicity once released in the environment. 
C)  accumulate within one organism but break down at higher trophic levels. 
D)  are highly unusual among artificial chemicals. 
E)  are usually not that toxic in their life span.

Question 7

In 1918 a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Based on what you know of risk assessment, which of the following factors would not explain the seemingly irrational behavior of a father who smokes (high risk factor for baby) throwing away his baby's teething rings that may contain phthalates (seemingly low risk factor for baby).

Accepted Answer

A)  People tend to downplay risks that are associated with activities they are committed to or enjoy. 
B)  Most people do not understand the concepts of probability. 
C)  News media can give a biased view of hazards. 
D)  People tend to have an irrational fear of certain technologies that are not as well understood. 
E)  People recognize the risk of man-made objects but not those of natural (tobacco) objects. 
A)  People tend to downplay risks that are associated with activities they are committed to or enjoy. 
B)  Most people do not understand the concepts of probability. 
C)  News media can give a biased view of hazards. 
D)  People tend to have an irrational fear of certain technologies that are not as well understood. 
E)  People recognize the risk of man-made objects but not those of natural (tobacco) objects.

Question 9

Pathogenic organisms are those that are susceptible to diseases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The biomagnification of DDT demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

A)  higher trophic level organisms can concentrate toxins in a type of "inverse biological pyramid." 
B)  birds should not depend on fish for food. 
C)  DDT is easily metabolized and excreted by most organisms. 
D)  DDT is an extremely water-soluble material. 
E)  water-soluble toxins are widespread. 
A)  higher trophic level organisms can concentrate toxins in a type of "inverse biological pyramid." 
B)  birds should not depend on fish for food. 
C)  DDT is easily metabolized and excreted by most organisms. 
D)  DDT is an extremely water-soluble material. 
E)  water-soluble toxins are widespread.

Question 11

As a society, we usually focus money and attention on health risks that are

Accepted Answer

A)  most serious. 
B)  easiest to clean up. 
C)  most well publicized and frightening. 
D)  easiest to research. 
A)  most serious. 
B)  easiest to clean up. 
C)  most well publicized and frightening. 
D)  easiest to research.

Question 12

Which would not be characteristic of a disease such as the recent outbreak of cholera and Ebola

Accepted Answer

A)  They are caused by pathogenic organisms. 
B)  They are called communicable diseases. 
C)  They are called emergent diseases. 
D)  They are happening more often in the past 20 years. 
E)  They are becoming resistant to antibiotics. 
A)  They are caused by pathogenic organisms. 
B)  They are called communicable diseases. 
C)  They are called emergent diseases. 
D)  They are happening more often in the past 20 years. 
E)  They are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Question 13

An allergen

Accepted Answer

A)  is a toxic substance. 
B)  is a natural pathogen. 
C)  over-stimulates the immune system. 
D)  attacks the nervous system. 
A)  is a toxic substance. 
B)  is a natural pathogen. 
C)  over-stimulates the immune system. 
D)  attacks the nervous system.

Question 14

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Ebola fever are examples of emergent diseases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism is defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  Bioaccumulation 
B)  Body Burden 
C)  Mutagen 
D)  Biomagnification 
E)  Carrying Capacity 
A)  Bioaccumulation 
B)  Body Burden 
C)  Mutagen 
D)  Biomagnification 
E)  Carrying Capacity

Question 16

When comparing the toxicity of natural and synthetic chemicals, natural chemicals are ________ synthetic chemicals.

Accepted Answer

A)  nearly always less toxic than 
B)  nearly always more toxic than 
C)  on average, just as toxic 
D)  much safer 
E)  more difficult to detect 
A)  nearly always less toxic than 
B)  nearly always more toxic than 
C)  on average, just as toxic 
D)  much safer 
E)  more difficult to detect

Question 17

Infectious diseases such as diarrhea are closely linked to

Accepted Answer

A)  emotional stress. 
B)  malnutrition. 
C)  toxicity effects. 
D)  emotional stress 
A)  emotional stress. 
B)  malnutrition. 
C)  toxicity effects. 
D)  emotional stress

Question 18

The EPA usually assumes an acceptable risk for environmental hazards is about 1 in

Accepted Answer

A)  100 
B)  1000 
C)  10,000 
D)  100,000 
E)  1 million 
A)  100 
B)  1000 
C)  10,000 
D)  100,000 
E)  1 million

Question 19

Historically, the greatest threats to human health came from

Accepted Answer

A)  carcinogenic or toxic chemicals. 
B)  psychological stress factors due to crowding. 
C)  pathogenic organisms. 
D)  teratogenic chemicals. 
E)  injuries (intentional and unintentional). 
A)  carcinogenic or toxic chemicals. 
B)  psychological stress factors due to crowding. 
C)  pathogenic organisms. 
D)  teratogenic chemicals. 
E)  injuries (intentional and unintentional).

Question 20

Which of the following presents the greatest lifetime risk of death to people in the US?

Accepted Answer

A)  poisonous snakes 
B)  dog bites 
C)  plane crashes 
D)  lightning 
E)  drowning 
A)  poisonous snakes 
B)  dog bites 
C)  plane crashes 
D)  lightning 
E)  drowning

Toxic substances are dangerous because they

Organisms are physiologically able to minimize some of the effects of toxins if

Historically, which of the following considerations in setting standards for toxic exposure has been emphasized the least?

A chemical that causes abnormalities in a growing fetus is called a(n)

Policy makers should utilize a(n) ____________ approach to setting environmental risk standards.

Highly persistent toxic chemicals

In 1918 a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people.

Based on what you know of risk assessment, which of the following factors would not explain the seemingly irrational behavior of a father who smokes (high risk factor for baby) throwing away his baby's teething rings that may contain phthalates (seemingly low risk factor for baby).

Pathogenic organisms are those that are susceptible to diseases.

The biomagnification of DDT demonstrates that

As a society, we usually focus money and attention on health risks that are

Which would not be characteristic of a disease such as the recent outbreak of cholera and Ebola

An allergen

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Ebola fever are examples of emergent diseases.

The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism is defined as

When comparing the toxicity of natural and synthetic chemicals, natural chemicals are ________ synthetic chemicals.

Infectious diseases such as diarrhea are closely linked to

The EPA usually assumes an acceptable risk for environmental hazards is about 1 in

Historically, the greatest threats to human health came from

Which of the following presents the greatest lifetime risk of death to people in the US?

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Matter and Energy of Life

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

Biomes and Biodiversity

Environmental Conservation: Forests, Grasslands, Parks, and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

Climate

Air Pollution

Water: Resources and Pollution

Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Energy

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Economics and Urbanization

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

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Exam 8: Environmental Health and Toxicology

Toxic substances are dangerous because they

Organisms are physiologically able to minimize some of the effects of toxins if

Historically, which of the following considerations in setting standards for toxic exposure has been emphasized the least?

A chemical that causes abnormalities in a growing fetus is called a(n)

Policy makers should utilize a(n) ____________ approach to setting environmental risk standards.

Highly persistent toxic chemicals

In 1918 a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people.

Based on what you know of risk assessment, which of the following factors would not explain the seemingly irrational behavior of a father who smokes (high risk factor for baby) throwing away his baby's teething rings that may contain phthalates (seemingly low risk factor for baby).

Pathogenic organisms are those that are susceptible to diseases.

The biomagnification of DDT demonstrates that

As a society, we usually focus money and attention on health risks that are

Which would not be characteristic of a disease such as the recent outbreak of cholera and Ebola

An allergen

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Ebola fever are examples of emergent diseases.

The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism is defined as

When comparing the toxicity of natural and synthetic chemicals, natural chemicals are ________ synthetic chemicals.

Infectious diseases such as diarrhea are closely linked to

The EPA usually assumes an acceptable risk for environmental hazards is about 1 in

Historically, the greatest threats to human health came from

Which of the following presents the greatest lifetime risk of death to people in the US?

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Systems: Matter and Energy of Life

Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Human Populations

Biomes and Biodiversity

Environmental Conservation: Forests, Grasslands, Parks, and Nature Preserves

Food and Agriculture

Climate

Air Pollution

Water: Resources and Pollution

Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Energy

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Economics and Urbanization

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

Filters