Endocrine Disruptors and Thyroid Function

<p>They are critical for brain development. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To block a specific biological response. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased endocrine disrupting potential. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Disruption of thyroid systems. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased acidity due to carbonic acid formation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>From 8.25 to 8.14 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Calcifying organisms (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They have declined by 52% since 1970 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbonic acid (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>4% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Joe Farman in 1984 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>2060-2080 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased occurrence of cataracts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fuel and coal burning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Volatile Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>10 million tons (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbon Dioxide (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>1 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>14.5% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Artificial clouds formed by aerosols (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>40% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>1980s subsaharan drought (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Extremely warm temperatures (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They can lead to lung damage and enter the bloodstream. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Great Smog of London in 1952. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>4.2 million deaths. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>1.1 years. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>570,000. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>403,000. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>5.7. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are strong, directional, and result in specific binding angles. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Four chemicals that are non-toxic individually become toxic when combined. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Environmental factors can activate or deactivate genes without changing the DNA sequence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Certain heavy metals (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Contamination of water sources (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>DNA methylation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Current research on it is limited and still evolving. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enhanced cognitive function (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Environmental factors affecting epigenetic markers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Their contamination levels in soil and crops (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They often involve polarizable halogens and specific functional groups. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some epigenetic changes can be heritable if environmental factors persist. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Development of chronic respiratory diseases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A type of chemical found in many personal care products. Parabens can be harmful to aquatic life and their endocrine disrupting potential increases with longer ester chains.

A group of chemicals that are extremely persistent in the environment and can be absorbed by the body. These chemicals can make cell membranes more permeable and some can disrupt thyroid function.

A chemical used in gasoline that can affect the nervous system and potentially cause cancer depending on the dose.

A type of chemical that can mimic the hormone estrogen and disrupt endocrine function. It is often used in plastics.

Chemicals that bind to receptors and activate them to produce a biological response. They can be natural (hormones) or synthetic (drugs, pollutants).

Chemicals that block the action of agonists by binding to their receptors and preventing them from activating a response.

Thyroid gland and thyroid hormones are essential for development and brain function. This gland is particularly important for baby's brain development during pregnancy and early life.

This is a chemical that can disrupt the thyroid system by potentially blocking the uptake of iodine, blocking hormone production, and displacing natural hormones in the body.

Microscopic particles suspended in the air, either solid or liquid, that can be naturally occurring or caused by human activities.

Particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, meaning it can be inhaled into the lungs.

A significant decrease in the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, observed since the 1970s, with an average rate of 4% reduction per decade.

Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. This makes them even smaller and more easily inhaled, posing a greater risk to health.

A type of air pollution formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds.

A much larger and more rapid depletion of ozone, occurring primarily in the polar regions during specific seasons, with losses reaching up to 65%.

Substances that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Examples include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), freons, and halons.

A deadly event in London in 1952 caused by severe air pollution, resulting in thousands of deaths.

A measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, with a lower pH indicating higher acidity.

The process by which ODSs break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere. One chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.

Rain with a pH lower than 5.7, caused by the presence of acidic pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

A type of air pollution that forms due to chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds.

The main components of photochemical smog, including nitrogen oxides, ozone, aldehydes, peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN), and volatile organic compounds.

A colorless gas with a pungent odor, a major air pollutant often released from burning fossil fuels.

The process by which nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is converted to nitric oxide (NO) and atomic oxygen (O), which then reacts with molecular oxygen (O2) to form ozone (O3).

Substances that contribute to photochemical smog, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The process where dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) in water reacts to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), lowering the pH of the water and making it more acidic.

Organisms like corals, shellfish, and plankton that use calcium carbonate to build their shells or skeletons.

A chemical compound found in the shells of calcifying organisms, like corals.

The state where a solution is unable to dissolve any more of a particular substance, such as calcium carbonate, leading to the breakdown of shells.

A type of non-covalent interaction that occurs when a halogen atom (e.g., chlorine, bromine) interacts with a more electronegative atom (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen).

The combined effect of multiple chemicals, with the potential for greater overall harm than the sum of their individual effects.

A change in gene expression that is not caused by a change in the DNA sequence itself. This can be caused by environmental factors or other factors influencing gene expression.

A process where a methyl group (CH3) is added to a DNA molecule, which can influence gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

A process where chemical modifications are made to proteins called histones, which package and organize DNA, influencing gene expression.

A type of pesticide that contains chlorine atoms. They are often persistent in the environment and can bioaccumulate in food chains.

A type of pesticide that contains phosphorus atoms. These pesticides can inhibit the activity of certain enzymes in the body, impacting various processes.

The levels of pesticide residue in wheat and soil in the Konya region of Turkey were studied.

A measure of the likelihood of an adverse effect occurring from exposure to a hazardous substance.

A process used to determine the probability of a specific hazardous event occurring, taking into account the exposure and potential harm.

The amount of a substance that is needed to cause an adverse effect in half of the tested population.

A type of pollution that is caused by the release of contaminants into the environment.

Chemicals that are used to control plant pests or diseases, often contributing to environmental pollution.

The process of building up of a substance in the body over time, often as a result of exposure to toxins, such as pesticides.

The transfer of substances from one organism to another through food chains.

Acid rain is a form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning it has a lower pH than normal rainwater. This acidity is primarily caused by the presence of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the atmosphere, which are then transformed into sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere. These reactions form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which are then carried down to Earth by precipitation.

Acid rain can have harmful effects on ecosystems, particularly aquatic life. The increased acidity in lakes and streams can make it difficult for fish and other organisms to survive. Acid rain can also damage trees and crops by leaching nutrients from the soil and making them more susceptible to diseases.

The Acid Deposition Act was passed in 1980 in the United States to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants. Amendments were made in 1990 to further reduce the amount of SO2 released as well.

The increase in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century is known as global warming. It's caused by the greenhouse effect: certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Human activities, like burning fossil fuels, release a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), which is why global warming is a concern.

Global dimming refers to a decrease in the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface. This is primarily caused by aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the air. These aerosols reflect sunlight back into space, leading to less solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Aerosols include industrial dust, particularly SO2 particulates from coal burning.

Global dimming is a form of climate change. It is related to global warming, but instead of increasing temperature, global dimming decreases the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface. The primary cause of global dimming are sulfate aerosols which are a byproduct of burning fossil fuels like coal. These aerosols reflect sunlight and have a cooling effect on the planet.

Livestock, such as cows, pigs, and chickens, play a significant role in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. They produce methane and other greenhouse gases as part of their normal bodily functions. The amount of greenhouse gases produced by livestock is significant and contributes significantly to climate change.