Chapter 17 Human Health and Environmental Risks

 Key Ideas  Three major categories of human health risk: – physical – biological – chemical  Historical vs Emerging infections – Plague, Malaria, Tuberculosis – HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Mad Cow, Bird Flu, West Nile  Five Major Toxic Chemicals – Neurotoxins – Carcinogens – Teratogens – Allergens – Endocrine disruptors

 Key Ideas cont.  Chemical concentration studies: – Dose-response – Retrospective – Prospective  Chemical concentrations factors – Routes – Solubility – Bioaccumulation – Biomagnification  Two philosophies of chemical regulation – Innocent-until-proven-guilty – Precautionary

Leading causes of death in the world:

Biological Risks _______________________ those caused by infectious agents, known as pathogens. _______________________ those caused by infectious agents, known as pathogens. Examples: pneumonia and venereal diseases Examples: pneumonia and venereal diseases

Infectious diseases- those caused by infectious agents, known as pathogens. Infectious diseases- those caused by infectious agents, known as pathogens. Examples: pneumonia and venereal diseases Examples: pneumonia and venereal diseases Biological Risks

________________ disease- slowly impairs the functioning of a person’s body. ________________ disease- slowly impairs the functioning of a person’s body. _________________ diseases- rapidly impair the functioning of a person’s body. _________________ diseases- rapidly impair the functioning of a person’s body. Biological Risks

Chronic disease- slowly impairs the functioning of a person’s body. Chronic disease- slowly impairs the functioning of a person’s body. Acute diseases- rapidly impair the functioning of a person’s body. Acute diseases- rapidly impair the functioning of a person’s body.

________________ Diseases Plague Plague Malaria Malaria Tuberculosis Tuberculosis

Plague Plague Malaria Malaria Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Historical Diseases

____________________ Diseases HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Ebola Ebola Mad Cow Disease Mad Cow Disease Bird Flu Bird Flu West Nile Virus West Nile Virus

HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Ebola Ebola Mad Cow Disease Mad Cow Disease Bird Flu Bird Flu West Nile Virus West Nile Virus Emergent Diseases

______________________- chemicals that disrupt the nervous system ______________________- chemicals that disrupt the nervous system Chemical Risks

____________________- chemicals that cause cancer ____________________- chemicals that cause cancer

Chemical Risks _____________________ - chemicals that interfere with the normal development of embryos or fetuses _____________________ - chemicals that interfere with the normal development of embryos or fetuses

Chemical Risks ________________ - chemicals that cause allergic reactions ________________ - chemicals that cause allergic reactions

Chemical Risks _______________________ - chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal’s body _______________________ - chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal’s body

Chemical Risks Neurotoxins- chemicals that disrupt the nervous system (LEAD & MERCURY) Neurotoxins- chemicals that disrupt the nervous system (LEAD & MERCURY) Carcinogens- chemicals that cause cancer (ASBESTOS & RADON) Carcinogens- chemicals that cause cancer (ASBESTOS & RADON) Teratogens- chemicals that interfere with the normal development of embryos or fetuses (ALCOHOL) Teratogens- chemicals that interfere with the normal development of embryos or fetuses (ALCOHOL) Allergens- chemicals that cause allergic reactions (PEANUTS, MILK & MEDICINES) Allergens- chemicals that cause allergic reactions (PEANUTS, MILK & MEDICINES) Endocrine disruptors- chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal’s body ( Bisphenol A - BPA) Endocrine disruptors- chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in an animal’s body ( Bisphenol A - BPA)

Dose-Response Studies ___________________- dose that kills 50% of the individuals ___________________- dose that kills 50% of the individuals ______________- dose that causes 50% of the animals to display the harmful but nonlethal effect ______________- dose that causes 50% of the animals to display the harmful but nonlethal effect

LD50- lethal dose that kills 50% of the individuals LD50- lethal dose that kills 50% of the individuals ED50- effective dose that causes 50% of the animals to display the harmful but nonlethal effect ED50- effective dose that causes 50% of the animals to display the harmful but nonlethal effect Dose-Response Studies

______________________ - when two risks come together and cause more harm that one would. For example, the health impact of a carcinogen such as asbestos can be much higher if an individual also smokes tobacco. ______________________ - when two risks come together and cause more harm that one would. For example, the health impact of a carcinogen such as asbestos can be much higher if an individual also smokes tobacco.

Synergistic interactions- when two risks come together and cause more harm that one would. For example, the health impact of a carcinogen such as asbestos can be much higher if an individual also smokes tobacco. Synergistic interactions- when two risks come together and cause more harm that one would. For example, the health impact of a carcinogen such as asbestos can be much higher if an individual also smokes tobacco.

Routes of Exposure

_______________________- an increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time _______________________- an increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time

bioaccumulation- an increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time bioaccumulation- an increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time Bioaccumulation

___________________- the increase in a chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain. ___________________- the increase in a chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain.

Biomagnification- the increase in a chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain. Biomagnification- the increase in a chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain. Biomagnification

______________________- how long a chemical remains in the environment ______________________- how long a chemical remains in the environment

Persistence- how long a chemical remains in the environment Persistence- how long a chemical remains in the environment Persistence

This is known as:_____________

Risk Analysis

________________ Risk Assessment Making a judgment of the relative risks of various decisions – low, medium, or high Making a judgment of the relative risks of various decisions – low, medium, or high Probability- the statistical likelihood of an event occurring and the probability of that event causing harm Probability- the statistical likelihood of an event occurring and the probability of that event causing harm

Making a judgment of the relative risks of various decisions Making a judgment of the relative risks of various decisions Probability- the statistical likelihood of an event occurring and the probability of that event causing harm Probability- the statistical likelihood of an event occurring and the probability of that event causing harm Qualitative Risk Assessment

_______________ Risk Assessment The approach to conducting a ______________________ risk assessment is: The approach to conducting a ______________________ risk assessment is: Risk= probability of being exposed to a hazard X probability of being harmed if exposed Risk= probability of being exposed to a hazard X probability of being harmed if exposed

The approach to conducting a quantitative risk assessment is: The approach to conducting a quantitative risk assessment is: Risk = ( probability of being exposed to a hazard) X (probability of being harmed if exposed) Quantitative Risk Assessment

In 2001, a group of 127 nations gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to reach an agreement on restricting the global use of some chemicals In 2001, a group of 127 nations gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to reach an agreement on restricting the global use of some chemicals 12 chemicals were to be banned, phased out, or reduced 12 chemicals were to be banned, phased out, or reduced These include DDT, PCBs, and certain chemicals that are by-products of manufacturing processes. These include DDT, PCBs, and certain chemicals that are by-products of manufacturing processes. This is known as:_______________

Stockholm Convention Stockholm Convention In 2001, a group of 127 nations gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to reach an agreement on restricting the global use of some chemicals In 2001, a group of 127 nations gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, to reach an agreement on restricting the global use of some chemicals 12 chemicals were to be banned, phased out, or reduced 12 chemicals were to be banned, phased out, or reduced These include DDT, PCBs, and certain chemicals that are by-products of manufacturing processes. These include DDT, PCBs, and certain chemicals that are by-products of manufacturing processes.