Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which statement accurately describes the difference between acute and chronic toxicity?
Which statement accurately describes the difference between acute and chronic toxicity?
What is a common outcome associated with the chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1?
What is a common outcome associated with the chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1?
Which of the following is considered an anthropogenic air pollutant?
Which of the following is considered an anthropogenic air pollutant?
What component of air pollution is categorized as particulate matter?
What component of air pollution is categorized as particulate matter?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the predominant health effect associated with air pollution?
What is the predominant health effect associated with air pollution?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following substances is known to cause lung cancer?
Which of the following substances is known to cause lung cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following cancers is strongly associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori?
Which of the following cancers is strongly associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a primary goal of cancer treatment focused on 'controlling' the disease?
What is a primary goal of cancer treatment focused on 'controlling' the disease?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT considered a method of cancer treatment?
Which of the following is NOT considered a method of cancer treatment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant environmental concern regarding the use of pharmaceuticals?
What is a significant environmental concern regarding the use of pharmaceuticals?
Signup and view all the answers
How do antibiotics primarily enter groundwater and soils from agricultural use?
How do antibiotics primarily enter groundwater and soils from agricultural use?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following factors is NOT listed as a goal of cancer treatment?
Which of the following factors is NOT listed as a goal of cancer treatment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of cancer is linked to Hepatitis B and C infections?
Which type of cancer is linked to Hepatitis B and C infections?
Signup and view all the answers
What unique characteristic of cancer cells allows them to spread throughout the body?
What unique characteristic of cancer cells allows them to spread throughout the body?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor is considered non-modifiable in the development of cancer?
Which factor is considered non-modifiable in the development of cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one reason anticancer drugs cannot use the minimum therapeutic dose as a standard for environmental risk?
What is one reason anticancer drugs cannot use the minimum therapeutic dose as a standard for environmental risk?
Signup and view all the answers
What lifestyle factor has been linked to increased risk for lung cancer?
What lifestyle factor has been linked to increased risk for lung cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the concentration of pharmaceuticals in the environment?
Which of the following best describes the concentration of pharmaceuticals in the environment?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of deaths in Canada are attributed to cancer?
What percentage of deaths in Canada are attributed to cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
In which demographic is cancer predominantly diagnosed?
In which demographic is cancer predominantly diagnosed?
Signup and view all the answers
What dietary component has been strongly linked to colorectal and prostate cancers?
What dietary component has been strongly linked to colorectal and prostate cancers?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of unused drugs are typically disposed of by being flushed down the sink or toilet?
What percentage of unused drugs are typically disposed of by being flushed down the sink or toilet?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of drugs has seen a 60% increase in usage over the past decade?
Which type of drugs has seen a 60% increase in usage over the past decade?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a major concern regarding steroid hormone compounds found in the environment?
What is a major concern regarding steroid hormone compounds found in the environment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is known about the effects of hypertensive drugs in surface waters?
What is known about the effects of hypertensive drugs in surface waters?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a concern regarding the antibiotics used in aquaculture?
What is a concern regarding the antibiotics used in aquaculture?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to a percentage of all pharmaceuticals consumed by humans?
What happens to a percentage of all pharmaceuticals consumed by humans?
Signup and view all the answers
Which class of drugs is notably linked to potentially causing negative effects on the reproductive and physiological development of fish in water bodies?
Which class of drugs is notably linked to potentially causing negative effects on the reproductive and physiological development of fish in water bodies?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant environmental concern related to pharmaceutical discharges from manufacturing plants?
What is a significant environmental concern related to pharmaceutical discharges from manufacturing plants?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary effect of organochloride insecticides on the nervous system?
What is the primary effect of organochloride insecticides on the nervous system?
Signup and view all the answers
What major problem led to the ban of DDT in the 1970s?
What major problem led to the ban of DDT in the 1970s?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is true about organophosphorus insecticides?
Which statement is true about organophosphorus insecticides?
Signup and view all the answers
What health risk is associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke?
What health risk is associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common characteristic of both insecticides and herbicides?
What is a common characteristic of both insecticides and herbicides?
Signup and view all the answers
Why are organophosphorus insecticides considered highly toxic to humans?
Why are organophosphorus insecticides considered highly toxic to humans?
Signup and view all the answers
What demographic is identified as being particularly susceptible to air pollution?
What demographic is identified as being particularly susceptible to air pollution?
Signup and view all the answers
What common outcome results from the absorption of organophosphorus insecticides through the skin?
What common outcome results from the absorption of organophosphorus insecticides through the skin?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Environmental Toxicants
- Environmental toxicants are chemicals released into the environment that cause adverse health effects in living organisms.
- Acute toxicity is associated with a single exposure at a high dose.
- Chronic toxicity is associated with repeated exposure at low doses over a long period.
- Examples of environmental toxicants include aflatoxin B1 (common food contaminant) which causes liver failure/cancer.
Common Environmental Toxicants
- Air pollution is divided into particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.
- Particulate matter is a mixture of tiny particles (liquid or solid). Sources can be natural (volcanoes, fires, dust) or man-made (combustion of fossil fuels, industrial processes, vehicle exhaust).
- Gaseous air pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, etc.
Pesticides
- Insecticides and herbicides are environmental toxicants that kill insects or prevent plant growth, respectively.
- Organochlorine insecticides (e.g., DDT) work by increasing neuron sensitivity, causing tremors, convulsions, and death.
- Organophosphorus insecticides are generally unstable in the environment and break down quickly, with lower environmental impact than organochlorine insecticides.
- Herbicides kill or harm plants.
Cancer Statistics
- Cancer primarily affects individuals aged 50 or older.
- Approximately 45% of men and 43% of women will develop cancer.
- Cancer is a leading cause of death in Canada, with approximately 30% of deaths attributed to this disease.
- Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer.
Cancer Cell Features
- Cancer cells can grow and divide indefinitely.
- They can invade surrounding normal tissue.
- They can spread throughout the body (metastasis).
Cancer Causes
- Genetics (e.g., Xeroderma pigmentosum impacting DNA repair) play a role in individual cancer susceptibility.
- Environmental factors (e.g., chemical exposure, diet, infection) also contribute.
- Specific environmental factors like tobacco smoke (smoking and secondhand exposure) are associated with increased cancer risk (e.g., lung cancer).
- Diet (dietary components) is a modifiable risk factor.
Cancer Treatment Goals
- Preventing cancer involves preventing cancer cell growth or removing precancerous cells.
- Curing cancer is the main goal of certain treatments.
- Controlling cancer growth and preventing the spread is another treatment goal.
- Relieving symptoms is a necessary approach when curing is not possible.
Toxic Effects of Specific Chemicals (Lead)
- Lead is an ubiquitous,naturally occurring element in the environment and different compounds. Lead oxide and tetraethyl lead are toxic compounds.
- Exposure happens through old paint (in the 1950s), where a brighter colour was achieved. Lead was also commonly used in batteries.
Toxic Effects of Specific Chemicals (Mercury)
- Mercury is found in water and air and is used in industries. Contamination sources are water and air.
- Mercury in water is concentrated in the aquatic food chain.
- Two toxic forms exist: mercuric mercury (inhaled or absorbed through skin) and methyl mercury (ingested). Methyl mercury is commonly more toxic to people.
Toxic Effects of Specific Chemicals (Bisphenol A [BPA])
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics (e.g., water bottles, food containers), and it can leach into the environment.
- BPA exposure can occur through diet and can increase with heating.
Toxic Effects of Specific Chemicals (Pharmaceuticals)
- Increased use of pharmaceuticals led to their recognition as environmental pollutants.
- They are found in surface water, groundwater and soils (most studied in surface waters).
- Pharmaceuticals can have adverse effects on aquatic species and birds, even at low concentrations;
- Pharmaceuticals can have adverse effects on humans if exposed and absorbed at high concentrations.
Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy is a drug treatment approach to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy drug classes include alkylating agents, mitotic inhibitors, hormones/hormone antagonists and biologicals.
- Cancer chemotherapy commonly includes a combination of therapies.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of environmental toxicants, including their definitions, types, and examples. Learn about acute and chronic toxicity, the impact of air pollution, and the role of pesticides. Test your understanding of how these toxicants affect health and the environment.
