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Questions and Answers
What is the first step in the risk assessment process?
What is the first step in the risk assessment process?
- Hazard identification (correct)
- Dose-response assessment
- Exposure assessment
- Risk characterization
What does the dose-response assessment aim to determine?
What does the dose-response assessment aim to determine?
- Whether the agent causes health impacts at all
- The overall conclusion about health risks
- The relationship between exposure amount and health effects (correct)
- The number of people exposed to the agent
Which limitation in risk assessment is highlighted regarding the number of chemicals studied?
Which limitation in risk assessment is highlighted regarding the number of chemicals studied?
- Only a small number of chemicals have been studied for health risks. (correct)
- All chemicals have been studied extensively for health risks.
- Studies have focused exclusively on mixtures of chemicals.
- Most chemicals are regulated with strict exposure limits.
What role does the exposure assessment step play in the risk assessment process?
What role does the exposure assessment step play in the risk assessment process?
Why is risk characterization important in the risk assessment process?
Why is risk characterization important in the risk assessment process?
Which agency is responsible for the safety of meat and poultry in the United States?
Which agency is responsible for the safety of meat and poultry in the United States?
What is considered an 'externality' in the context of environmental pollution?
What is considered an 'externality' in the context of environmental pollution?
Which federal act created the FDA in 1906?
Which federal act created the FDA in 1906?
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the EPA?
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the EPA?
Why might federal legislation be necessary for environmental health?
Why might federal legislation be necessary for environmental health?
What types of contaminants might be harmful if found in food?
What types of contaminants might be harmful if found in food?
Which agency is primarily concerned with workplace safety and exposures?
Which agency is primarily concerned with workplace safety and exposures?
What types of services does the government typically provide to address environmental health?
What types of services does the government typically provide to address environmental health?
What is the primary focus of environmental health as a public health discipline?
What is the primary focus of environmental health as a public health discipline?
Which of the following is considered an environmental hazard?
Which of the following is considered an environmental hazard?
What type of pollution is primarily caused by sewage and industrial discharge?
What type of pollution is primarily caused by sewage and industrial discharge?
Which of the following routes of exposure allows hazards to enter the body through the skin?
Which of the following routes of exposure allows hazards to enter the body through the skin?
Which of the following acts set quality standards for surface water in the United States?
Which of the following acts set quality standards for surface water in the United States?
Which pollutant is NOT one of the six common 'criteria pollutants' identified by the EPA?
Which pollutant is NOT one of the six common 'criteria pollutants' identified by the EPA?
What is the main objective of the Safe Drinking Water Act?
What is the main objective of the Safe Drinking Water Act?
What type of pollution is primarily related to runoff from farms and roads?
What type of pollution is primarily related to runoff from farms and roads?
Which environmental factor is associated with neurological damage and other health effects?
Which environmental factor is associated with neurological damage and other health effects?
Which act requires the EPA to set air quality standards for criteria pollutants?
Which act requires the EPA to set air quality standards for criteria pollutants?
What type of waste management act was enacted in 1976 to provide standards for landfill disposal?
What type of waste management act was enacted in 1976 to provide standards for landfill disposal?
Which of the following is NOT a common health effect associated with environmental hazards?
Which of the following is NOT a common health effect associated with environmental hazards?
What was the main purpose of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act?
What was the main purpose of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act?
Which of the following is a significant source of indoor air pollution?
Which of the following is a significant source of indoor air pollution?
Flashcards
Food Contaminants
Food Contaminants
Substances that are harmful to human health and can be found in food, such as bacteria like coli and listeria, pesticides, mercury in fish, or food additives.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
The federal agency that regulates food and drugs in the United States, ensuring their safety and quality.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
The federal agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products in the United States.
Externality
Externality
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Government Regulation
Government Regulation
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EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
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Setting Standards
Setting Standards
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Government Services
Government Services
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What is the environment?
What is the environment?
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What is environmental health?
What is environmental health?
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What are environmental hazards?
What are environmental hazards?
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What are environmental pathways?
What are environmental pathways?
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What are the routes of exposure?
What are the routes of exposure?
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What are common health effects of environmental hazards?
What are common health effects of environmental hazards?
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What is air pollution?
What is air pollution?
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What is the Clean Air Act?
What is the Clean Air Act?
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What is water pollution?
What is water pollution?
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What is the Clean Water Act?
What is the Clean Water Act?
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What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
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What is solid waste?
What is solid waste?
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What is food safety?
What is food safety?
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Hazard Identification in Risk Assessment
Hazard Identification in Risk Assessment
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Dose-Response Assessment
Dose-Response Assessment
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Exposure Assessment
Exposure Assessment
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Risk Characterization
Risk Characterization
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Challenges of Risk Assessment
Challenges of Risk Assessment
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Study Notes
Chapter 7: Environmental Factors
- Environmental factors significantly contribute to death, including microbial agents.
- Environmental health is a public health approach to preventing diseases and injuries from environmental hazards.
- This focus is on human impacts, not just the environment itself.
Environmental Hazards
- Chemicals: Unexpected chemical releases (e.g., spills, DDT) are particularly dangerous.
- Radiation: Exposure to radiation, including radon, is hazardous.
- Metals: Metals like lead pose environmental risks.
- Particles and fibers: Air pollutants, including fibers and particles, are harmful.
- Biological agents: Toxins and biological agents from organisms are dangerous.
Environmental Pathways
- Environmental pathways carry these hazards.
- Air: A primary pathway for environmental hazards.
- Water (surface and groundwater): Water sources can carry pollutants.
- Soil: Soil pollutants can be harmful.
- Food: Food can be contaminated with toxins or pollutants.
- Solid waste: Solid waste may contain harmful substances.
- Non-food products: Other products can also hold hazards.
Routes of Exposure
- Inhalation: Breathing in harmful substances.
- Ingestion: Eating or drinking contaminated substances.
- Absorption: Harmful substances entering the body through skin contact.
Common Health Effects
- Cancer: A frequent health effect from environmental exposure.
- Neurological damage: Environmental exposures can harm the nervous system.
- Poisoning: Exposure to pollutants or toxins results in poisoning.
- Lung and kidney disease: Environmental hazards can damage respiratory and renal systems.
- Skin problems: Environmental exposure causes skin issues.
- Endocrine system disorders: Environmental hazards can disrupt hormone balance.
- Birth defects: Exposure to harmful substances during development can cause birth defects.
- Food- and water-borne diseases: Food and water contaminated by environmental hazards can cause illnesses.
Air Pollution
- Causes: Combustion (power plants, vehicles), industrial processes, and livestock contribute to air pollution and release toxic gases.
- Clean Air Act (1970): Federal legislation to manage and set air quality standards.
- Air pollutants: Criteria pollutants (particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, and lead) and hazardous air pollutants are key concerns.
- Indoor air pollution: Indoor environmental hazards include tobacco smoke, radon, formaldehyde, and airborne microbes.
Water Pollution
- Causes: Point-source pollution (e.g., sewage, industrial discharge).
Solid Waste
- Solid waste disposal: Methods for managing solid waste, including landfills.
- 1972 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act: Regulates ocean dumping.
- 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Regulates hazardous waste.
- 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): The Superfund program addresses hazardous waste sites.
Food Safety
- Foodborne illness: Exposure to bacteria, parasites, or toxins in food.
- Pesticides, Mercury in Fish, and other contaminants: Harmful substances in food.
- Additives (vitamins/minerals, preservatives, antibiotics, growth hormones): Some additives are potentially harmful.
Genetically Modified Organisms
- Food and Drug Act (1906) regulates genetically modified organisms.
Risk Assessment
- A multi-step process to evaluate the likelihood of harmful health effects from environmental exposure.
Hazard Identification
- Epidemiological studies and animal studies ascertain whether exposure to particular agents causes adverse health effects.
Dose-Response Estimation
- Assessing the link between exposure levels and health effects (how much exposure is needed to cause adverse health effects).
Exposure Assessment
- Determining the number of people exposed to an agent and the amount of exposure.
Risk Characterization
- synthesizing the steps to conclude if there is a risk, and what the nature of the risk is.
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