Deck 11: Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Question 1

All of the following are pathogens except

A) Tuberculosis bacillus bacteria.
B) Streptococcus bacteria.
C) AIDS viruses.
D) Anopheles mosquitoes.
E) Staphylococcus bacteria.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is not a major pathway to infectious diseases in humans?

A) Pets
B) Mosquitoes
C) Food
D) Through the mother to her fetus
E) Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The incidence of tuberculosis is increasing because of all but which one?

A) Strains of the TB bacterium developing resistance to antibiotics
B) Increased population size and the advanced age of the population
C) Weakened immune systems from the spread of AIDS
D) Poverty
E) Lack of effective medicine

Answer 3

E

Question 4

All of the following are transmissible diseases except

A) measles.
B) hepatitis B.
C) lung cancer.
D) malaria.
E) tuberculosis.

Question 5

Resistance to bacterial infections are increasing due to all but

A) antibiotic overuse in people and livestock.
B) use of antibacterial soaps.
C) bacterial reproduction and natural selection.
D) medical substitutes for antibiotics in the marketplace.
E) overuse of prescribed antibiotics by doctors.

Question 6

All of the following are transmissible diseases except

A) diabetes.
B) tuberculosis.
C) mumps.
D) diarrhea.
E) hepatitis.

Question 7

Tuberculosis is caused by

A) mosquitoes.
B) houseflies.
C) viruses.
D) bacteria.
E) protozoa.

Question 8

All of the following are part of the process of risk management except

A) comparing the risks to other risks involved.
B) determining how much the risk should be reduced.
C) determining the risk reduction strategy.
D) determining the financial commitment to risk reduction.
E) strategically passing information about risks to the public.

Question 9

Viruses

A) evolve quickly
B) are not affected by antibiotics.
C) are transmitted in body fluids or air.
D) all of these answers.
E) none of these answers.

Question 10

Types of hazards discussed in this chapter include all of the following except

A) biological hazards.
B) physical hazards.
C) global hazards.
D) chemical hazards.
E) cultural and lifestyle hazards.

Question 11

All of the following are nontransmissible diseases except

A) diabetes.
B) malaria.
C) cancer.
D) asthma.
E) heart disease.

Question 12

All of the following are considered to be cultural hazards except

A) smoking.
B) drought.
C) drugs.
D) diet.
E) unsafe sex.

Question 13

All of the following are considered to be biological hazards except

A) pollen.
B) parasites.
C) diet.
D) bacteria.
E) bees.

Question 14

All of the following are part of the process of risk assessment except

A) determining the types of hazards involved.
B) estimating how many people are likely to be exposed.
C) estimating the probability that each hazard will occur.
D) informing decision makers and the public about risks.
E) determining the damaging consequences of the risk.

Question 15

The factor which is probably least responsible for the rise in the incidence of bacterial diseases once controlled by antibiotics is

A) the genetic adaptability of bacteria.
B) the spread of bacteria around the globe.
C) the increased amount of ultraviolet light because of the thinning ozone layer.
D) the overuse of antibiotics in treatment.
E) the use of antibiotics in the dairy industry.

Question 16

Viral diseases are spread by all but which one of the following?

A) Body fluid contact.
B) Sharing needles.
C) Cleaning homes.
D) Unsafe sex.
E) Pregnant mothers to babies.

Question 17

Infectious disease can be transmitted by all but which one?

A) Animals
B) Chemical sprays
C) Humans
D) Food and water
E) Air

Question 18

All of the following are considered to be physical hazards except

A) driving.
B) hurricanes.
C) landslides.
D) floods.
E) fires.

Question 19

Which of the following choices makes the statement false? Bacteria

A) can develop resistance to antibiotics.
B) can transfer plasmids between species.
C) have a low reproductive rate.
D) are highly adaptable species.
E) have a high reproductive rate.

Question 20

An infectious disease can be

A) transmittable.
B) contagious.
C) epidemic.
D) pandemic.
E) all of these answers.

Question 21

The immune system can be made vulnerable to allergens,bacteria,and viruses through the action of

A) some synthetic chemicals.
B) ionizing radiation.
C) viruses like HIV.
D) all of these answers
E) none of these answers

Question 22

All of the following are viral diseases except

A) Lyme disease.
B) HIV/AIDS.
C) hepatitis B.
D) influenza.
E) West Nile.

Question 23

The intake of synthetic "hormone copycats" can severely disrupt the

A) digestive system.
B) endocrine system.
C) circulatory system.
D) respiratory system.
E) excretory system.

Question 24

Carcinogens cause

A) genetic defects.
B) birth defects.
C) cancer.
D) chronic health effects.
E) allergic reactions.

Question 25

Of the following strategies to improve health care,the one that would have the least effect on reducing disease in developing countries would be

A) more research on tropical diseases.
B) more emphasis on preventive health care.
C) a campaign against poverty.
D) more research on cancer and heart diseases.
E) more access to safe drinking water and latrines.

Question 26

Teratogens

A) are fatal to humans in low doses.
B) cause birth defects.
C) are harmful because they are flammable, explosive, and irritating to skin or lungs, or because they cause allergic reactions.
D) cause mutations.
E) cause allergic reactions.

Question 27

The principal types of chemical hazards include all of the following except

A) carcinogens.
B) mutagens.
C) teratogens.
D) zymogens.
E) toxic and hazardous substances.

Question 28

In a developing country,you are most likely to fear health threats from

A) car accidents.
B) cancer.
C) diabetes.
D) unsanitary drinking water.
E) obesity.

Question 29

The endocrine system is least likely to be disrupted by the intake of

A) herbicides.
B) PCBs.
C) mercury.
D) Vitamin E.
E) DDT.

Question 30

Of the following chemicals,the one least likely to disrupt the human immune system is

A) iron.
B) mercury.
C) dioxin.
D) arsenic.
E) a pesticide.

Question 31

The uncertainties inherent in toxicity tests suggest to many people that they should place increasing emphasis on

A) risk assessment.
B) pollution treatment strategies.
C) pollution prevention strategies.
D) efficiency.
E) individual choice.

Question 32

The system responsible for defense against disease and harmful substances is the

A) circulatory system.
B) endocrine system.
C) immune system.
D) excretory system.
E) reproductive system.

Question 33

Preventive health care that could make significant improvements in developing countries at low cost includes all of the following except

A) better nutrition for children.
B) prenatal and postnatal care.
C) immunizations against infectious diseases.
D) cataract surgery.
E) oral rehydration therapy.

Question 34

Malaria

A) can be prevented by a vaccine.
B) is caused by a parasite transmitted in mosquito bites.
C) is most prominent in colder climates.
D) control is easy to implement with antimalarial drugs.
E) can only be prevented by spraying mosquitoes with DDT.

Question 35

You would predict that a bioaccumulating hormonally active agent would most affect a

A) producer.
B) primary consumer.
C) secondary consumer.
D) tertiary consumer.
E) secondary producer.

Question 36

All of the following are part of the nervous system except

A) sympathetic peripheral nerves.
B) the brain.
C) the spinal cord.
D) the uterus.
E) parasympathetic peripheral nerves.

Question 37

Mercury

A) accumulates in soil, water, people and animals.
B) forms toxic inorganic and organic compounds.
C) compounds can cause brain damage in fetuses and small children.
D) all of these answers.
E) none of these answers.

Question 38

According to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,the toxic substance(s)of major concern to human and environmental health is(are)

A) arsenic.
B) lead.
C) mercury.
D) polychlorinated biphenyls
E) all of these answers.

Question 39

Mutagens

A) are fatal to humans in low doses.
B) cause birth defects.
C) are harmful because they are flammable, explosive, and irritating to skin or lungs, or because they cause allergic reactions.
D) cause mutations in cell DNA.
E) always cause cancer.

Question 40

Specialized cells,tissues,and organs which secrete hormones are part of the

A) digestive system.
B) endocrine system.
C) excretory system.
D) circulatory system.
E) immune system.

Question 41

Strategies for regulating toxic chemicals in the environment include

A) substituting harmless or less harmful substances for harmful ones.
B) chemical producers must demonstrate that the chemicals are not dangerous.
C) removing chemicals from the market that have great potential for causing harm.
D) recycling toxic substances in industrial processes to prevent them from escaping into the environment.
E) all of these answers.

Question 42

The explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl were caused

A) by global climate change.
B) primarily by human error.
C) by the northern lights interfering with normal electrical transmission.
D) primarily by technological error.
E) by sabotage.

Question 43

Among lifestyle choices,the one that is least risky is

A) smoking.
B) eating vegetarian.
C) obesity.
D) lack of exercise.
E) unsafe sex.

Question 44

Which of the following are not usually included in toxicity tests?

A) mice and rats
B) chicken egg membranes
C) cell and tissue cultures
D) humans
E) rabbits

Question 45

The leading cause of preventable death each year in the U.S.is

A) tobacco use.
B) accidents.
C) illegal drug use.
D) pollutants.
E) homicides.

Question 46

A person experiencing dizziness after using a strong household cleaner is showing

A) a chronic effect.
B) a subchronic effect.
C) an acute effect.
D) a subacute effect.
E) a superacute effect.

Question 47

The most dangerous activity ( in terms of number of deaths per participants)that most people in the U.S.do is

A) fly in an airplane.
B) swim in the ocean.
C) ride in a motor vehicle.
D) visit a relative.
E) walk in a thundershower.

Question 48

U.S.federal and state government do not regulate the use of the majority of commercial chemicals because

A)of insufficient data due to limitations in toxicity studies as well as the high cost of regulation.
B)scientists regulate themselves and warn people about a chemical's harmful effects.
C)new chemicals are being synthesized faster than they can be thoroughly tested.
D)answers a and b.
E)answers a and c.

Question 49

The harmfulness of a chemical depends upon

A) the health of the body's detoxification systems.
B) the size of the dose and how often exposure occurs.
C) the stage of development of the person exposed.
D) the genetic makeup of the person.
E) all of these answers

Question 50

Dose-response curves

A) show the effects of various doses of toxic agents on a group of test organisms.
B) are extrapolated using mathematical models to project possible effects of high doses.
C) are extrapolated from humans to other primates.
D) are generated from computer models.
E) all of these answers

Question 51

The study of the pattern of a disease in a population is called

A) pathology.
B) oncology.
C) epidemiology.
D) ecology.
E) bacteriology.

Question 52

The general public perceives a technology or product as a greater risk than the experts do when it

A) is relatively familiar and simple.
B) is involuntarily thrust upon the public rather than an individual choice.
C) is viewed as beneficial and necessary rather than unnecessary.
D) involves a large number of deaths spread out over a long period of time rather than from a single catastrophic accident.
E) the people affected are involved in the decision-making process.

Question 53

You are babysitting a child who drinks a substance with an LD₅₀ of 1 mg/kg body weight.You are least likely to

A) call the poison hotline.
B) send the child to bed.
C) take the child to an emergency room.
D) call the child's parents.
E) call a physician.

Question 54

Animal testing

A) extrapolates from low dose levels to high dose levels.
B) extrapolates from test animals to humans.
C) is noncontroversial.
D) usually involves low dose levels.
E) always involves high dose levels.

Question 55

People tend to evaluate risks by all but which of the following?

A) Fear of the unknown
B) Degree of personal control
C) Whether the risk is chronic or catastrophic
D) The outcome
E) Level of gratification gained by taking the risk

Question 56

The level of threat posed by a particular substance is determined by

A) laboratory investigations.
B) epidemiology.
C) case studies.
D) computer simulations.
E) all of these answers

Question 57

In terms of the reduced life span and premature deaths per year in the world,the greatest risk is

A) smoking.
B) eating vegetarian.
C) obesity.
D) poverty and malnutrition.
E) unsafe sex.

Question 58

A threshold dose-response model

A) implies there is a dose below which no detectable harmful effects occur.
B) errs on the side of safety.
C) implies that each dose of ionizing radiation or toxic chemical carries a risk of causing harm.
D) is useful for assessing chronic toxicity.
E) all of these answers

Question 59

A person experiencing liver damage after a lifetime of alcohol abuse is showing

A) a chronic effect.
B) a subchronic effect.
C) an acute effect.
D) a subacute effect.
E) a superacute effect.

Question 60

The usefulness of epidemiological studies are limited because

A) the sample of people exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals is usually too small to detect statistically significant differences.
B) people are exposed to many different chemicals throughout their lifetimes.
C) we cannot use epidemiological studies to study future hazards.
D) the studies take a long time.
E) all of these answers.

Question 61

At low toxin dosages,scientist often choose the no-threshold dose response model.

Question 62

The widespread use of vaccines could improve human health and decrease death rates more than any other effort.

Question 63

Influenza is the biggest bacterial killer.

Question 64

Mercury is released naturally into the air from rocks,soil,volcanoes and vaporization from the ocean.

Question 65

Research has indicated that long-term exposure to some chemicals at low doses may disrupt the body's immune,nervous,and endocrine systems.

Question 66

Malaria is caused by a parasite spread by the bite of all species of mosquitoes.

Question 67

Influenza is the biggest bacterial killer.

Question 68

LD50 values for acute toxicity to humans are extrapolated from animal tests at measured low-dose exposures.

Question 69

A transmissible disease is caused by something other than a living organism and can spread from one person to another.

Question 70

Although infectious diseases have decreased,human health is still threatened by pesticide-resistant insects and bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics.

Question 71

Probability gives us a mathematical estimate that an event is likely to occur.

Question 72

Six infectious diseases are influenza,hepatitis B,SARS,HIV,malaria and West Nile.

Question 73

After poverty and gender,the greatest risks people face are mainly from lifestyle choices.

Question 74

Most case reports provide reliable sources for estimating the toxicity of harmful chemicals on human health.

Question 75

Case reports,epidemiological studies,and animal testing can all be used to estimate toxicity.

Question 76

Many AIDS patients are less vulnerable to tuberculosis infection because the immune system is already compromised.

Question 77

The three types of toxic chemicals are mutagens,teratogens,and carcinogens.

Question 78

DDT is banned in most countries but is still widely used for malaria control.

Question 79

Malaria cannot be transmitted by blood transfusions or by sharing needles.

Question 80

Mutations in reproductive cells can be passed onto offspring and future generations.