Deck 22: Poisons

Question 1

Which of the following common kitchen chemicals are toxic at certain concentration or under certain biological conditions?

A)table salt
B)cane sugar
C)baking soda
D)All of these can be toxic.

Answer 1

All of these can be toxic.

Question 2

Which is a poison that acts by blocking the oxidation of glucose within cells?

A)nitrate
B)cyanide
C)nicotine
D)sulfuric acid

Answer 2

cyanide

Question 3

Oxidizing agents like ozone are classified as

A)blood agents.
B)nerve poisons.
C)corrosive poisons.
D)carcinogens.

Answer 3

corrosive poisons.

Question 4

The study of the effects of poisons,their detection and identification and their antidotes is known as

A)alkaloidism.
B)carcinogenic testing.
C)berylliosis.
D)toxicology.

Question 5

Many oxidizing agents "poison" by

A)deactivating enzymes.
B)hydrolyzing proteins.
C)breaking down carbohydrates.
D)reacting with water.

Question 6

Which of the following amino acids undergoes oxidation in the presence of photochemical smog?

A)tryptophan
B)glycine
C)leucine
D)threonine

Question 7

Strong acids and bases are damaging to living cells because even in dilute solutions they

A)are oxidizing agents.
B)are reducing agents.
C)catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins.
D)form dangerous peroxides.

Question 8

An example of an alkaloid is

A)estradiol.
B)acetic acid.
C)methionine.
D)caffeine.

Question 9

Cyanide poisons by

A)blocking oxygen transport by hemoglobin.
B)reacting with lung tissue.
C)deactivating glucose oxidation enzymes.
D)blocking cell protein synthesis.

Question 10

An alkaloid is a(n)

A)carcinogen that is made by plants.
B)heterocyclic amine that is occurs naturally in plants.
C)air pollutant.
D)polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Question 11

Which of the following corrosive toxins is also called an oxidizing agent?

A)nitric acid
B)hydrochloric acid
C)sodium hydroxide (lye)
D)ozone

Question 12

The sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine is oxidized to

A)cysteic acid.
B)cysteic sulfoxide.
C)a sulfoxide-carboxylic acid.
D)an amide.

Question 13

The treatment for cyanide poisoning is

A)sodium bisulfate.
B)potassium iodide.
C)hydrogen iodide.
D)sodium nitrite.

Question 14

Many household cleaners contain strong acids or bases.Drain cleaners,oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners are all

A)metabolic poisons.
B)corrosive poisons.
C)mutagenic poisons.
D)carcinogenic poisons.

Question 15

The average fatal dose of hydrogen cyanide is

A)5 to 10 mg.
B)50 mg.
C)5 to 10 g.
D)200 to 300 g.

Question 16

The active ingredient in which of the following is a corrosive poison?

A)ammonia
B)drain cleaner
C)furniture wax
D)laundry detergent

Question 17

Which of the following poisons results in decreasing the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen?

A)mercury
B)carbon monoxide
C)sodium chloride
D)sodium hydroxide

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT an air pollutant that can damage living cells?

A)cysteine
B)ozone
C)peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
D)sulfur dioxide

Question 19

Which is a corrosive poison?

A)carbon monoxide
B)potassium nitrite
C)methyl alcohol
D)sulfuric acid

Question 20

Which of the following is the most poisonous?

A)botulin
B)strychnine
C)nicotine
D)coniine

Question 21

Arsenic compounds are poisons because they

A)deactivate enzymes.
B)catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins.
C)are reducing agents.
D)deplete calcium from the bones.

Question 22

Lead poisoning affects the

A)digestive system.
B)endocrine system.
C)reproductive system.
D)central nervous system.

Question 23

Lead is used in

A)paint.
B)some gasolines.
C)plumbing fixtures.
D)Lead is used in all of the above.

Question 24

Curare,the blow dart poison of Amazonian Indians,disrupts the acetylcholine cycle by blocking

A)receptors.
B)the release of acetylcholine.
C)the breakdown of acetylcholine.
D)the formation of acetylcholine.

Question 25

Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger that

A)activates the presynaptic membrane to make it permeable to ions that conduct an impulse.
B)inactivates the presynaptic membrane to make it impermeable to certain ions that conduct an impulse.
C)activates the postsynaptic nerve cell by fitting into a specific receptor and changing the permeability of the cell membrane to certain ions.
D)inactivates the postsynaptic membrane to make it impermeable to certain ions that conduct an impulse.

Question 26

Iron (as Fe²⁺)is

A)toxic at all concentrations.
B)safe at all concentrations.
C)toxic at high concentrations, essential at low concentration.
D)toxic at high concentration, not known to be essential.

Question 27

The cause of itai-itai,the "ouch-ouch" disease is

A)cadmium.
B)mercury.
C)lead.
D)iridium.

Question 28

Botulin,the most deadly poison known,is

A)organophosphorus pesticide.
B)a nerve gas for chemical warfare.
C)formed in improperly canned food by anaerobic bacteria.
D)a chlorinated hydrocarbon.

Question 29

Which of these is NOT considered a heavy metal?

A)Ca
B)Ag
C)Hg
D)Au

Question 30

Which of these is considered to be a heavy metal?

A)Se
B)Li
C)Cd
D)I

Question 31

Nitrate acts as a poison by

A)oxidizing hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen.
B)reacting with enzymes that break down toxic wastes in the liver.
C)interfering with oxidative enzymes.
D)blocking cell protein synthesis.

Question 32

Pb (as Pb²⁺)is

A)toxic at all concentrations.
B)safe at all concentrations.
C)toxic at high concentrations but not at low concentrations.
D)toxic to children but not to adults at high concentrations.

Question 33

The antidote for mercury poisoning is

A)atropine.
B)nicotine.
C)BAL.
D)coniine.

Question 34

Organophosphorus compounds are used as

A)insecticides.
B)antiviral agents.
C)antipsychotic drugs.
D)antibiotics.

Question 35

The antidote for poisoning by organophosphorus nerve poisons is

A)atropine.
B)nicotine.
C)EDTA.
D)thiosulfate.

Question 36

Cadmium poisons by

A)promoting loss of calcium from bone.
B)deactivating enzymes.
C)hydrolyzing proteins.
D)destroying cell membranes.

Question 37

Which compound has been used as a poison to kill predators?

A)NaCN
B)fluoroacetic acid
C)Cd
D)DDT

Question 38

Which of the following metals is more hazardous in the vapor state?

A)lead
B)barium
C)mercury
D)cadmium

Question 39

The antidote for mercury poisoning,BAL,acts by

A)precipitating mercury.
B)reducing Hg²⁺ to Hg.
C)oxidizing Hg to Hg²⁺.
D)complexing the mercury.

Question 40

The human body can eliminate half of a dose of mercury poisoning in ________ days.

A)1
B)100
C)70
D)365

Question 41

P-450 enzymes,which can convert fat-soluble compounds into water-soluble compounds that can be excreted,are found in the

A)throat.
B)liver.
C)pancreas.
D)blood.

Question 42

Most detoxification of poisons in the body occurs via

A)combination with chemicals other than oxygen.
B)oxidation.
C)reduction.
D)direct excretion.

Question 43

A well-known teratogen is

A)thalidomide.
B)coniine.
C)BAL.
D)arsenic.

Question 44

Which of the following statements about LD₅₀ is NOT correct?

A)The LD₅₀ for a substance is the dose that will kill 50% of test subjects.
B)A substance with a low LD₅₀ is more toxic than a substance with a high LD₅₀.
C)The LD₅₀ value for a mouse will be the same as the LD₅₀ value for a human.
D)The LD₅₀ value will change, depending upon how the substance is administered.

Question 45

In the body,ethanol goes through the following steps.

A)ethanol → acetic acid → acetaldehyde → carbon dioxide and water
B)ethanol → carbon dioxide and water → acetaldehyde → acetic acid
C)ethanol → acetic acid → carbon dioxide and water → acetaldehyde
D)ethanol → acetaldehyde → acetic acid → carbon dioxide and water

Question 46

Which of the following has been shown to be involved in roughly 60% of lung cancers?

A)aromatic amines
B)β-carotene
C)hydroxytoluene (BHT)
D)P53 gene mutations

Question 47

Which of the following is the most hazardous teratogen,in terms of the greatest number of babies affected?

A)birth control pills
B)ethyl alcohol
C)acetaminophen
D)heroin

Question 48

Substances that cause birth defects are called

A)mutagens.
B)androgens.
C)progestins.
D)teratogens.

Question 49

Which of the following will have anticarcinogenic activity?

A)aromatic amines, such as β-naphthylamine
B)oncogenes
C)vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene
D)polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as 3,4-benzopyrene

Question 50

The Ames test is used to screen for

A)all potential poisons.
B)heavy metal poisons.
C)mutagens.
D)carcinogens.

Question 51

The carcinogenic hydrocarbons produced during the incomplete burning of organic materials are known as

A)aromatic hydrocarbons.
B)styrene.
C)polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
D)cycloalkanes.

Question 52

Which of the following will make the most effective poison for rats and mice?

A)ethyl alcohol, LD₅₀ = 2.08 g/kg
B)acetaminophen, LD₅₀ = 0.340 g/kg
C)ethylene glycol, LD₅₀ = 0.00686 g/kg
D)ricin, LD₅₀ = 0.000005 mg/kg

Question 53

The known cause of approximately 30% of all cancers is

A)sedentary lifestyle.
B)obesity.
C)occupational factors.
D)prescriptions.

Question 54

The study of the behavior of a specific population and cancer incidence is an example of ________ testing for carcinogenic activity.

A)Ames
B)animal
C)epidemiological
D)human

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT used to gather evidence about whether a compound causes cancer in humans?

A)bacterial screening for mutagenesis (the Ames test)
B)animal tests
C)measurement of birth defects
D)epidemiological studies

Question 56

Which class of compounds is thought to be possibly anticarcinogenic?

A)prostaglandins
B)oxidizing agents
C)reducing agents
D)antioxidants

Question 57

The simplest and least expensive method for testing for possible carcinogenic activity is

A)the Ames test.
B)animal testing.
C)epidemiological studies.
D)human testing.

Question 58

Actylcholinesterase acts to change acetylcholine to

A)acetic acid, water and choline.
B)water and choline.
C)water and acetic acid.
D)acetic acid and choline.

Question 59

The organ most used for the detoxification of poisons in the human body is the

A)liver.
B)gall bladder.
C)small intestine.
D)mouth.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about the role of liver enzymes is most correct?

A)Liver enzymes always change potential toxins to substances that can be easily excreted from the body.
B)Liver enzymes may change an inert compound to a more reactive and harmful molecule.
C)Liver enzymes can help the body to bring the four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile)back into a healthy balance.
D)Liver enzymes always convert potential toxins to substances that contain free radicals.

Question 61

The best way to dispose of a flammable waste is

A)process through a wastewater treatment plant.
B)bury in a landfill.
C)burn in an incinerator.
D)store in a sealed barrel.

Question 62

Which of the following types of hazardous waste requires special containers because it will react with normal container materials?

A)corrosive waste
B)flammable waste
C)reactive waste
D)toxic waste

Question 63

The average adult requires 45 to 50 mg of iron every day.

Question 64

Cyanides increase the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen.

Question 65

The best way to handle hazardous wastes is

A)to bury them.
B)to incinerate them.
C)to chemically modify them.
D)to avoid producing them.

Question 66

Heavy metals act by binding to the -SH groups on enzymes,which makes the enzymes inactive.

Question 67

Which of the following statements best describes the circumstances that lead to chemical tragedies?

A)Hazardous and poisonous chemicals should be banned or destroyed so that accidents do not occur.
B)Most tragedies occur because of misuse of hazardous or poisonous chemicals.
C)Hazardous and poisonous chemicals cannot be made safe.
D)The risks of using hazardous chemicals always outweigh the benefits.

Question 68

What is the most effective way to dispose of organic wastes?

A)bury them in landfills
B)incinerate them
C)recycle them
D)store them in special containers

Question 69

Which of the following types of waste would be least hazardous?

A)corrosive waste
B)flammable waste
C)waste material from living plants
D)reactive waste

Question 70

Enzymes are often deactivated by oxidizing agents such as ozone.

Question 71

Strong acids and bases can catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins.

Question 72

Herbicides and insecticides are the only poisons to be found in a garden.

Question 73

Sodium fluoroacetate,also known as Compound 1080,is highly selective and poisonous only to snakes.

Question 74

Cyanide acts by blocking the oxidation of glucose in the cell.

Question 75

The "gold standard" for testing chemical toxicity is laboratory rats and mice.Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of testing with rodents?

A)Rodent studies are expensive.
B)Rodents have metabolic or physiological differences so the results may not apply to humans.
C)Rodent studies have often involved unrealistically high exposures to the substances being tested.
D)Rodent studies are relatively fast to carry out.

Question 76

Many common garden plants are poisonous.

Question 77

Which would be classified as a reactive waste?

A)hydrogen sulfide
B)lithium bromide
C)metal
D)copper metal

Question 78

Toxicology is the study of poisons that come from synthetic sources,but not from natural sources.

Question 79

Which of the following shows great promise as a vertebrate system that will allow automated and rapid testing of compounds?

A)embryonic rat cells
B)Drosophila melanogaster cells
C)embryonic zebrafish
D)plant cells

Question 80

Phosphorus-based insecticides such as parathion are less toxic than warfare nerve agents such as soman.