Deck 8: Environmental Health and Toxicology

Question 1

Which of the following factors would 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).

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) All of these factors can lead to the relatively irrational behavior demonstrated by the father.

Answer 1

All of these factors can lead to the relatively irrational behavior demonstrated by the father.

Question 2

Most people do their own personal risk assessments based upon

A) scientific data.
B) whimsical preference devoid of logic.
C) logical reasoning about relative risks.
D) personal biases and preferences as well as logic.
E) statistical probabilities.

Answer 2

personal biases and preferences as well as logic.

Question 3

The World Health Organization regards health as primarily a matter of ________ well being.

A) physical
B) mental and physical
C) social and mental
D) physical, mental, and social
E) physical and social

Answer 3

physical, mental, and social

Question 4

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

A) most serious.
B) easiest to clean up.
C) most well publicized and frightening.
D) statistically more likely to occur.
E) All of these receive equal money and attention.

Question 5

An advantage of testing for toxicity by exposing animals to chemicals is that using animals is

A) cheaper than other methods.
B) faster than other methods.
C) usually quite humane.
D) easier than using computer models.
E) a trusted and usually reliable way to get results.

Question 6

Among the most important characteristics of chemicals in determining their environmental risks is/are

A) solubility.
B) reactivity.
C) persistence.
D) toxicity
E) All of these are correct.

Question 7

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

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 8

An LD50 is a dose of a toxic chemical that

A) is an acceptable level of risk for most individuals.
B) all individuals react to.
C) kills individuals 50 years old and over.
D) is 50 times less than the minimal dose.
E) kills half of the population.

Question 9

The cutting of rainforests causes a lack of normal water flow into the soil. Puddles of water can stand for long periods. Which of the following statements best explains how rainforest destruction is closely tied with human morbidity and mortality?

A) The elimination of top consumers can favor disease-carrying organisms.
B) Mosquitoes with an aquatic larval form spread many highly contagious diseases.
C) The standing water is used for drinking and disease organisms in the water cause diarrhea.
D) Mice populations increase because of a higher access to water and spread many highly contagious diseases.
E) All of these explain the connection between rainforest destruction and human morbidity and mortality.

Question 10

Highly persistent toxic chemicals

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 11

Hazardous substances ______________ while toxins are ______________.

A) react with specific cell components to kill cells; poisonous substances
B) are dangerous substances; poisonous substances
C) are usually of concern at all concentrations; are dangerous substances
D) are poisonous substances; also poisonous substances
E) All of these are true.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true?

A) If a substance is toxic, its toxicity is highly dependent on its form and where it is present in the environment.
B) If a substance is toxic, it is equally toxic regardless of its form or where it is present in the environment.
C) The most important factor in the toxicity of a substance is the route by which it enters our bodies.
D) The most important factor in the toxicity of a substance is its persistence in the environment.
E) None of these statements are true.

Question 13

Detection of toxic chemicals depends upon

A) how many chemicals are present.
B) how many individuals respond to them at a certain dosage.
C) the sensitivity of measuring techniques and how many chemicals are present.
D) whether or not individuals or groups of individuals are sensitive to them.
E) whether or not groups of individuals are sensitive to them.

Question 14

Historically, the greatest threats to human health came from

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

Question 15

Toxic substances are dangerous because they

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.

Question 16

Diseases such as the recent outbreak of cholera and Ebola are

A) caused by pathogenic organisms.
B) called communicable diseases.
C) called emergent diseases.
D) happening more often in the past 20 years.
E) All of these are characteristics of diseases such as cholera and Ebola.

Question 17

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

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) Individuals in the human population have been exposed to many different kinds of toxins that may have additive or synergistic effects.
E) All of these considerations have been used and are important in setting policy.

Question 18

The biomagnification of DDT demonstrates that

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 19

Parasitic worms are very common in areas where

A) the climate is dry.
B) the climate is hot.
C) sanitation is poor.
D) urban development has been too rapid.
E) the climate is humid.

Question 20

Infectious diseases such as diarrhea are closely linked to

A) emotional stress.
B) malnutrition.
C) toxicity effects.
D) the over consumption of fats.
E) All of these exacerbate infectious diseases such as diarrhea.

Question 21

Two problems encountered in human health risk assessment are _______________________ and ___________________.

A) use of chemical mixtures; lack of knowledge about synergistic effects
B) lack of funding for federal mandates; lack of public support
C) extrapolation of data to low doses; extrapolation of data from non-human species to humans
D) lack of planning; the involvement of politics
E) There are no inherent problems in human health risk assessment.

Question 22

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

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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

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.

Question 25

SARS is thought to have been spread to 160 people in seven countries by a single flight attendant.

Question 26

A factor responsible for the fast spread of emergent diseases is high population density.

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

With respect to exposure to toxins which statement is correct?

A) Acute effects are much worse than chronic effects.
B) Acute effects are not as bad as chronic effects.
C) Acute effects are the immediate results of a single exposure, chronic effects are those that are long-lasting.
D) Acute effects are permanent, chronic effects may be short or long term but go away over time.
E) none of these are correct.

Question 30

Pathogenic organisms are those that are susceptible to diseases.

Question 31

SARS and Ebola fever are examples of emergent diseases.

Question 32

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