Environmental Science Chapter 14 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary effect of urbanization on health?

Increased spread of diseases due to reduced sanitation (correct)

Improved sanitation

Decreased spread of communicable diseases

Better access to clean drinking water

Which of the following best describes biomagnification?

Increase of toxins in the environment over time

Concentration of toxins increases up the food chain (correct)

Storage of toxins within individual organisms

Immediate effects of toxins after exposure

How do fat-soluble toxins primarily affect organisms?

They are easily broken down by enzymes

They are quickly excreted from the body

They increase the metabolic rate of organisms

They accumulate in the fatty tissues over time (correct)

What condition is associated with poor indoor air quality?

Sick building syndrome Signup and view all the answers

What are endocrine disruptors primarily known for?

Affecting hormonal systems Signup and view all the answers

In which ecosystems is biomagnification most significant?

Aquatic ecosystems Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to antibiotic resistance?

Overuse of antibiotics and mutations Signup and view all the answers

Which type of agent is specifically known to cause cancer?

Carcinogens Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'morbidity' refer to in environmental health?

The occurrence of illness in a population Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines bioaccumulation?

The buildup of toxins in a single organism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a neurotoxin?

Lead Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle 'the dose makes the poison' imply?

Toxic effects depend on the level of exposure Signup and view all the answers

Which type of disease transmission is least likely to occur through food?

Airborne diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the toxicity of a chemical?

Environmental temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a teratogen?

Affects embryonic development Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding heavy metals is true?

They can remain in ecosystems for decades Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of environmental health?

The influence of biological, chemical, and physical factors on human health. Signup and view all the answers

How does bioaccumulation differ from biomagnification?

Bioaccumulation occurs in an individual organism over time, while biomagnification involves increasing toxin levels at higher food chain levels. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of chronic exposure to toxins?

Long-term health effects that may not be immediately noticeable. Signup and view all the answers

What role do endocrine disruptors play in human health?

They mimic or block hormonal functions, affecting growth and metabolism. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the term synergism in the context of health risks?

A situation where two substances amplify each other's harmful effects. Signup and view all the answers

Which disease type is directly linked to pathogens?

Communicable diseases such as flu. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)?

Long-term environmental impacts due to slow degradation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a teratogen?

A chemical causing developmental defects. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Environmental Science - Chapter 14 Summary

Hurricane Harvey highlighted vulnerabilities of areas handling hazardous materials, demonstrating the dangers of residual pollutants leaching into the environment via stormwater.

Environmental Health

Environmental health analyzes physical, social, cultural, and technological factors influencing health.
Key terms:
- Morbidity: Illness
- Mortality: Death
- Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs): Measures disease burden

Global Disease Burden Shifts

Chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease) are major global concerns.
Infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, diarrhea) remain significant in developing nations.

Environmental Health Perspective

Transmission pathways include waterborne, airborne, foodborne, and vector-borne diseases.
Risk factors include poor sanitation, climate change, pollution, urbanization.
Prevention methods include improved hygiene, clean water, vaccination, and vector control.

Toxicology

Toxicology studies the harmful effects of chemicals, radiation, and diet on organisms.
Harmful agents include:
- Neurotoxins: Damage nerve cells
- Mutagens: Alter DNA
- Teratogens: Affect embryonic development
- Carcinogens: Cause cancer
- Endocrine disruptors: Interfere with hormonal functions, affecting reproduction and development
Key concepts:
- Bioaccumulation: Toxins build up in an organism
- Biomagnification: Toxins concentrate up the food chain
- Persistence: Some chemicals (e.g., heavy metals) remain in ecosystems for decades
Solubility:
- Water-soluble toxins spread quickly
- Fat-soluble toxins require carriers but persist longer
Exposure routes: Air, water, food, and skin contact
Factors affecting toxicity: Chemical stability, dose, exposure duration, and organismal factors (age, health, genetic predisposition)

Risk Assessment and Perception

Principle: "The dose makes the poison"
Testing: Toxic effects often tested on laboratory animals
Key metrics: LD50 (lethal dose to 50% of a test population)
Challenges: Public perceptions of risk can be irrational; policy decisions need to balance scientific data with socioeconomic factors.

True or False Concepts

Environmental health encompasses biological, chemical, and physical factors affecting human health.
Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens.
Antibiotic resistance evolves through natural selection.
Zoonotic diseases like Ebola can link to deforestation and environmental disruptions.
Toxins accumulate in organisms (bioaccumulation) and increase in concentration up the food chain (biomagnification).

Matching Key Terms

Pathogen: Disease-causing agent
Bioaccumulation: Toxins accumulating in an organism
Biomagnification: Toxin concentration increasing up the food chain
Neurotoxin: Nervous system damage (e.g., mercury)
Teratogen: Developmental defects (e.g., alcohol)
Carcinogen: Cancer-causing substance (e.g., tobacco smoke)
Endocrine Disruptor: Interferes with hormonal systems (e.g., BPA)
DALY: Disability-Adjusted Life Year
Chronic Effect: Long-term impact
Synergism: Harmful effects amplified

Multiple Choice Focus Areas

Communicable diseases spread through vectors or contaminated resources
Urbanization and poor sanitation promote diseases spread
Clean drinking water reduces waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera)

Toxins

Persistence: Long-lasting toxins (e.g., POPs)
Fat-Soluble Toxins: Stored in fatty tissues; bioaccumulate
Examples:
- Neurotoxin: Mercury
- Carcinogen: Tobacco smoke
- Endocrine disruptor: Mimics hormones (e.g., BPA)

Ecosystem Effects

Biomagnification: Most significant in aquatic ecosystems
Teratogens: Primarily affect embryos
Environmental Risks:
- Sick building syndrome: Indoor pollutants (e.g., formaldehyde)
- Antibiotic resistance: Mutations and overuse
- Synergistic interactions: Chemicals increase toxicity

Fill in the Blanks

Persistence examples: Toxins like POPs
Bioaccumulation: Storage of toxins within an organism
Biomagnification: Increasing toxin concentration up the food chain
Endocrine disruptors: Affect hormonal systems (reproduction/development)
Neurotoxins: Damage the nervous system
Pathogens: Microorganisms causing diseases
Carcinogens: Substances causing cancer (e.g., asbestos, tobacco smoke)

Chronic Exposure

Long-term effects of prolonged toxin contact
Synergism: Interaction amplifying toxin effects
DALY: Metric for disease burden

Key Takeaways

Understanding disease links to environmental factors
Recognizing harmful agents and their impacts
Learning how toxins move and persist
Evaluating how risk perception affects health policies

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Description

Test your understanding of key concepts from Chapter 14 of Environmental Science, focusing on environmental health and global disease burdens. This quiz covers the impact of climate change, pollution, and various transmission pathways of diseases.