Deck 3: Information Literacy:toxic Bottles on the Trail of Chemicals in Our Everyday Lives- Human Populations and Environmental Health

Question 1

What is information literacy, and why is it important in cases like that of BPA?

Answer 1

Information literacy is the ability to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. It is the ability to find and evaluate the quality of information in order to be able to then draw reasonable, evidence-based conclusions about an issue or topic. It is especially important in the case of BPA, where misinformation or biased reports can create panic (or False security) in the public who are concerned about the effects of BPA, particularly in products for babies.

Question 2

During the peer-review process, what criteria do reviewers look for in papers to determine if the papers will be accepted or rejected?

A) quality of the design
B) quality of the data
C) statistical analysis
D) soundness of conclusion
E) all of the above

Answer 2

all of the above

Question 3

What is a toxin?

Answer 3

A toxin is something that causes damage after exposure. For example, arsenic can leach into ground water and cause cancer and damage the nervous system. Asbestos, another good example, is found in old building materials and affects the lungs after long exposure.

Question 4

Blogs, websites, and news shows that provide additional commentary on reports from the popular press are considered ________.

A) primary sources
B) secondary sources
C) tertiary sources
D) review sources
E) report sources

Question 5

In risk assessment, why is it not possible to carefully weigh all of the risks and benefits associated with a new chemical?

A) insufficient funding
B) not enough people power available
C) unknown synergistic interactions with other chemicals
D) the need for the chemical to be available immediately
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 6

The ability to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information is called __________.

A) information decoding
B) information literacy
C) information reasoning
D) information deduction
E) information analysis

Question 7

Why are water-soluble chemicals sometimes safer for humans but not for the environment?

A) They have a low persistence in the environment.
B) Humans can excrete water-soluble chemicals in their urine but environments are "stuck" with them.
C) Water soluble chemicals are stored in human fat and so they cannot harm organs.
D) Water soluble chemicals have a greater tendency to be biomagnified.
E) Water soluble chemicals have a greater tendency to be bioaccumulated.

Question 8

Which of the following LD50 score (dose in ppm) indicates the highest level of toxicity?

A) LD50 = 19
B) LD50 = 250
C) LD50 = 96
D) LD50 = 8
E) LD50 = 550

Question 9

Textbooks are examples of ________.

A) primary sources
B) secondary sources
C) tertiary sources
D) review sources
E) report sources

Question 10

Carefully weighing the risks and benefits associated with any chemical is known as _______.

A) innocent until proven guilty
B) guilty until proven innocent
C) the precautionary principle
D) do no harm
E) risk assessment

Question 11

Which is TRUE about the precautionary principle?

A) Regulators make educated guesses about safety based on how other similar compounds have fared.
B) Toxic products are often discovered only after reaching the marketplace.
C) Typically, many consumers are harmed by chemicals reaching consumers.
D) Products are recalled after they are shown to be harming consumers.
E) Harmful products are prevented from reaching store shelves.

Question 12

Which source is the most likely to perpetuate errors that have previously appeared?

A) primary source
B) secondary source
C) tertiary source
D) review source
E) report source

Question 13

Explain the differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary information sources. Provide an example of each type.

Question 14

Which of the following information sources is peer reviewed?

A) primary sources
B) secondary sources
C) tertiary sources
D) review sources
E) report sources

Question 15

Why is knowledge about the persistence of a chemical important when considering its toxicity?

A) Persistence is a direct measure of the toxicity of a chemical and so would determine whether it is toxic or nontoxic.
B) Persistence is an indirect measure of the toxicity of a chemical; that is, high persistence means low toxicity.
C) Persistence measures how long a chemical remains in its present state in an area and, therefore, how long it might be a health concern.
D) Persistence is a measure of the number of carbons in an organic molecule, which is a direct measure of toxicity.
E) Persistence is a measure of the amount of a chemical present in a particular food chain.

Question 16

A new drug has been successful in alleviating nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Many women also experience intense nausea at certain stages of pregnancy. First, as an FDA regulator, apply the precautionary principle to this new drug and describe what criteria must be met before it is made available to expectant mothers. Second, as a representative of the drug company who manufacturers the drug, apply the "innocent until proven guilty" approach to argue why this drug is likely safe and should be made available to all who need it.

Question 17

What is the rule of thumb that calls for leaving a safety margin when the data about a particular substance's potential for harm are uncertain, and where the substance may cause unexpected or unpredictable effects?

A) innocent until proven guilty
B) guilty until proven innocent
C) the precautionary principle
D) do no harm
E) risk assessment

Question 18

Papers that are published in scientific journals are examples of ______.

A) primary sources
B) secondary sources
C) tertiary sources
D) review sources
E) report sources

Question 19

A new drug has been developed to inhibit the replication of HIV, the retrovirus that causes AIDS. In studies using mice as a model organism, the drug showed amazing results: 60% of infected mice who received the drug did not go on to develop AIDS. This drug has the potential to help eradicate AIDS in humans, but it is unknown what possible side effects exist. As an FDA regulator, what are the pros and cons of applying the precautionary principle to this new drug?

Question 20

Individuals react differently to toxin exposures. Which of the following factors could affect an individual's reaction to toxin exposure?

A) route of exposure (inhalation or skin contact)
B) dose of toxin
C) age of the individual
D) genetics of the individual
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 21

Which of the following would be classified as an in vivo study?

A) an experiment using lab animals
B) an experiment using mitochondria
C) an experiment using cellular extracts
D) an experiment using cells in a petri plate
E) an experiment using cell tissue

Question 22

Toxicologists are scientists who study ________.

A) patterns of disease in a population
B) the degree of uncertainty in environmental policies
C) the interactions between organisms in their natural environment
D) secondary sources for accuracy as a public service
E) the specific properties of potential toxins

Question 23

Chemicals that can pass easily through cell membranes are called ________.

A) water soluble
B) fat soluble
C) fat insoluble
D) cell soluble
E) membrane insoluble

Question 24

The time it takes for a substance to decay in the environment is called ________.

A) accumulation
B) solubility
C) magnification
D) persistence
E) bioaccumulation

Question 25

Research has shown that children of migratory workers are more likely to be exposed to toxins than children of nonmigratory workers. How could you explain this?

Question 26

Ocean tuna eat smaller fish that consume material containing mercury. Mercury is a persistent toxin that builds up in higher amounts in the bodies of fish. The mercury in the smaller fish accumulates in the ocean tuna in higher amounts. When we consume tuna, the mercury in the tuna can accumulate in our bodies in higher amounts. This phenomenon is called _________.

A) bioaccumulation
B) biomagnification
C) solubility
D) secondary accumulation
E) None of the above is correct.

Question 27

Infographic 3.2.

Refer to Infographic 3.2. What is biomagnification? Use the figure to explain how predatory fish higher on the food chain are more likely to suffer health problems compared to organisms lower on the food chain.

Question 28

Infographic 3.5

Refer to Infographic 3.5. How do steroid hormones and their mimics do their work?

A) They change the cell membrane, thus allowing foreign chemicals to enter and damage the cell.
B) They enter the membrane, bind to a receptor, and activate a gene causing the production of a protein.
C) They enter a cell and directly cause proteins to be formed.
D) They bind to a receptor on the cell membrane, causing a messenger to change the cell's metabolism.
E) They alter the DNA of the cell, causing changes in the structures of the proteins being made by the cell.

Question 29

Why do they say that endocrine disruptors are the exception to the saying "the dose makes the poison"?

Question 30

The type of scientist that studies the cause and patterns of disease in human populations is a(n) ____________.

A) toxicologist
B) environmentalist
C) epidemiologist
D) chemist
E) lab rat

Question 31

Which endocrine organ secretes the hormone that BPA mimics?

A) testes
B) pancreas
C) ovaries
D) adrenal gland
E) pituitary gland

Question 32

Which of the following is the term for chemicals that work together in the body to produce toxic effects greater than the sum of their individual effects would predict?

A) additive
B) synergistic
C) antagonistic
D) disruptive
E) agonistic

Question 33

You have been assigned the task of investigating a case of mercury poisoning in a small fishing village in Japan. How would you go about looking for the cause of the mercury poisoning?

Question 34

What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

A) Bioaccumulation is mainly fat-soluble chemicals, while biomagnification involves mostly water-soluble chemicals.
B) Bioaccumulation is mainly water-soluble chemicals, while biomagnification involves mostly fat-soluble chemicals.
C) Bioaccumulation is predominantly an aquatic problem, while biomagnification is usually a terrestrial problem.
D) Only animals lower on the food chain bioaccumulate, while all organisms can biomagnify.
E) Bioaccumulation is the buildup of substances within one organism, while biomagnification involves these substances moving up the food chain as one organism eats another.

Question 35

What is the relationship between persistence and biomagnification?

Question 36

Why is it trickier to determine LD50 and draw dose-response curves for endocrine disruptors?

A) They are never lethal.
B) They are always lethal.
C) They only affect certain ethnic groups.
D) They may be more dangerous at low doses than at high doses.
E) They have so many natural sources.

Question 37

Eagle populations crashed because their eggshells were so thin that the fetuses were not able to survive, a result of DDT toxicity. Low levels of DDT were measured in nearby waterways, yet the fish living there appeared unaffected. Explain how the low levels of DDT in the water had no obvious effect on the fish populations but wreaked havoc on eagles, the top predators.

Question 38

The increase in concentration of a fat-soluble substance in a food chain is called ________.

A) biomagnification
B) bioaccumulation
C) amplification
D) magnification
E) additive

Question 39

How does BPA cause its endocrine disruptor effects?

A) It causes the body to produce more sex hormones by stimulating the gonads.
B) It binds to the estrogen receptors on the cells, which will cause the same results that actual estrogen would.
C) It acts as an enzyme to destroy the actual hormone before it can be released from the gland.
D) It causes the endocrine organ to increase in size drastically.
E) It mimics releasing hormones and therefore causes the pituitary gland to shrink in size.

Question 40

In vivo data from male mice with BPA levels of 2 parts per billion (ppb) indicate that their prostates are 20% larger than male mice without BPA exposure. What is the best conclusion from this experiment?

A) BPA exposure causes the prostate glands of mice to enlarge.
B) BPA levels of 2 ppb can cause the prostate glands of mice to enlarge.
C) BPA exposure at 2 ppb may lead to prostate cancer in humans.
D) As BPA exposure has increased in men, their prostate glands have been getting larger.
E) BPA should be banned from human consumption.

Question 41

Refer to Table 3.1. Which logical fallacies listed in the figure are used to sway the reader in the following example? Marijuana should be the preferred treatment for glaucoma. It is effective and safe, as it is a naturally occurring plant. The only reason it is not used more is government opposition.

Question 42

Refer to Table 3.1 Which logical fallacies listed in the figure are used to sway the reader in the following example? The proposed Keystone pipeline from Canada to refineries in the Gulf is not safe and should be opposed. The British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil spill wreaked havoc even while those top oil executives made record-breaking profits.

Question 43

Why is it difficult to know if the effects of BPA seen in mice correspond to the risks faced by humans?

Question 44

What did we learn about endocrine disruptors from the DES given to pregnant mothers between 1938 and 1971?

Question 45

Epidemiological studies show an association of increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in people with higher BPA concentrations found in their urine. Design an in vivo (manipulative) experiment using lab animals as a model for humans to show a cause-and-effect relationship between BPA and cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Question 46

In terms of risk assessment, what do we know so far about BPA?

Question 47

Which common logical fallacy is used when claiming there is no way to know the effect of BPA since humans are exposed to so many toxins, thus we should do nothing about the use of BPA?

A) red herring
B) false dichotomy
C) appeal to ignorance
D) ad hominem attack
E) hasty generalization

Question 48

Why do the results of studies on BPA differ? Some studies showed it to be harmless and were used to set a dose level, yet others showed it to be dangerous.

Question 49

Describe what it means to be a critical thinker. List four measures that should be included in a critical thinker's skill set.

Question 50

Which of the following are components of a critical thinker's skill set?

A) be skeptical
B) evaluate the evidence
C) be open minded
D) watch out for biases
E) all of the above

Question 51

Refer to Table 3.1, Which logical fallacies listed in the figure are used to sway the reader in the following example? Genetically modified (GM) foods do not pose a safety concern and should not be labeled. We would need to label the majority of food products available today since most already contain GM products. By including GM crops in agriculture, we have been able to greatly increase yields and feed more people. If GM foods were dangerous, we would have seen the effects already in the population.

Question 52

Which common logical fallacy draws a broad conclusion based on too little evidence?

A) appeal to authority
B) false dichotomy
C) appeal to ignorance
D) ad hominem attack
E) hasty generalization

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT a part of critical thinking?

A) logically assessing and reflecting on information
B) reaching one's own conclusion based on evidence
C) uncovering and rejecting logical fallacies in arguments or claims
D) refusing to believe anything
E) avoiding bias

Question 54

The claims that BPA must be completely avoided or it is totally safe for everyone are which type of common logical fallacy?

A) hasty generalization
B) red herring
C) ad hominem attack
D) false dichotomy
E) appeal to ignorance

Question 55

Which common logical fallacy presents extraneous information that does not directly support the claim but that might confuse the reader/listener?

A) red herring
B) false dichotomy
C) appeal to ignorance
D) ad hominem attack
E) hasty generalization

Question 56

Which common logical fallacy is an argument that sets up an either/or choice that is not valid?

A) red herring
B) false dichotomy
C) appeal to ignorance
D) ad hominem attack
E) hasty generalization

Question 57

A chain-smoking friend says that there is no way she's ever going to fly in a plane because she's terrified the plane will crash. What information sources could you provide your friend regarding the relative safety of flying and the dangers of smoking?

Question 58

Consumer groups called for a ban on BPA, suggesting that financial interests from companies who profit from BPA-made products cause them to suppress data that might show BPA to be harmful. Which common logical fallacy is at work here?

A) appeal to authority
B) false dichotomy
C) appeal to ignorance
D) ad hominem attack
E) hasty generalization

Question 59

In order for individual consumers to decide for themselves whether they will purchase products containing BPA, what two things do they need to know?

Question 60

Which uses for BPA were of the most concern to families, and why?

Question 61

Jenny McCarthy has a son with autism, which she believes was directly caused by childhood vaccinations he received. She has drawn attention to this anecdotal evidence in numerous magazine and newspaper articles. Her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show caused parents across the nation to question whether they should immunize their children. In fact, several diseases that had been controlled in the United States have recently reappeared as more children now go unvaccinated. Meanwhile, no peer-reviewed scientific study to date has shown a correlation with the immunizations and autism. Your spouse recently asked you for your opinion as to whether or not your child should be vaccinated. Explain to him/her the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in this example and which should carry more weight in making an informed decision. What other information would you want to know in order to form your decision?

Question 62

A lobbyist for the oil and gas industry points out that as the global temperature rises, the level of carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere; he shows you ice-core evidence of this occurring after an ice age. He goes on to say that since rising temperatures lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide, and not vice versa, we shouldn't worry about current rising levels of carbon dioxide because it shouldn't affect temperature in the future. As a critical thinker, what are you noticing here?

Question 63

A student is assigned a research paper looking at the effects of CFCs on the ozone layer. The student gathers information by looking at blogs, websites, and news shows that summarize recent magazine and newspaper articles written on this topic. What type of information source is the student using, and what if any problems are associated with this type of source?

Question 64

Your uncle Barney goes with you to the gas station to fuel up your car. He strongly indicates his disapproval of ethanol-blended gasoline. His good friend used ethanol fuel once and it "killed the engine." He went on to add that his friend's fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) was at least 30% worse than gasoline with the additive. Use critical thinking skills to assess Uncle Barney's input. What additional information do you need in order to decide which fuel to use in your vehicle?