Chapter 17 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND HUMAN HEALTH

Multiple Choice Questions

Core Case Study 1. Four of the following are means of transmitting the HIV virus from person to person, one is not such a means. Choose the one that is not. a. unsafe sex b. sneezing or coughing c. exposure to unsafe blood d. sharing needles by drug users e. infected mothers passing the virus to offspring before or during birth Level: Moderate Answer: B

17-1 What Major Health Hazards Do We Face?

2.

Risk is expressed as a probability of suffering from all of the following, except a. disease b. economic loss c. environmental damage d. injury e. prejudice Answer: E

Level: Moderate
3.

The five main types of hazards include all of the following, except a. biological hazards b. physical hazards c. economic hazards d. global hazards e. chemical hazards Answer: C

Level: Moderate
4.

All of the following are considered to be cultural hazards, except a. working conditions b. drought c. unsafe highways d. poverty e. criminal assault Answer: B

Level: Moderate

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5.

All of the following are considered to be biological hazards, except a. protozoa b. parasites c. diet d. bacteria e. fungi Answer: C

Level: Easy
6.

All of the following are considered to be physical hazards, except a. driving b. hurricanes c. volcanoes d. earthquakes e. fires Answer: A

Level: Easy

17-2 What Types of Biological Hazards Do We Face?

7.

A transmissible disease is not likely to be caused by a a. bacterium b. hazardous chemical c. virus d. parasite e. protozoa Answer: B

Level: Easy
8.

All of the following are transmissible diseases, except a. diabetes b. flu c. measles d. tuberculosis e. HIV Answer: A

Level: Easy
9.

All of the following are non-transmissible diseases except a. heart disease b. most cancers c. diabetes d. malnutrition e. asthma Answer: C

Level: Moderate

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10. Which of the following infectious diseases is not among the five most deadly?

a. b. c. d.
e.

pneumonia and flu mumps malaria tuberculosis HIV/AIDS Answer: B

Level: Easy

11. A global outbreak of an infectious disease is called a(n) a. threat b. parademic c. pandemic d. epidemic e. outbreak Level: Moderate Answer: C

12. Tuberculosis is caused by a. mosquitoes b. flies c. viruses d. bacteria e. protozoa Level: Easy Answer: D

13. Which of the following not a reason the incidence of tuberculosis is increasing? a. strains of the TB bacterium that have developed resistance to antibiotics

b. c. d. e.

increased population size and the advanced age of the population weakened immune systems from the spread of AIDS poverty effects of global warming Answer: E

Level: Moderate a. b. c. d. e. Level: Easy malaria AIDS hepatitis B influenza West Nile

14. All of the following are viral diseases, except

Answer: A

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15. Malaria is spread by a. snails b. flies c. contaminated feces d. certain types of mosquitoes e. bacteria Level: Easy Answer: D

16. During the mid-1900s, the spread of malaria decreased sharply from all of the

following, except a. draining swamplands b. draining marshes c. spraying breeding areas with DDT and other pesticides d. using drugs to kill the parasites in the bloodstream e. a new vaccine Level: Moderate Answer: E

17. Since 1900, and especially since 1970, the incidences of infectious diseases and the death rates from such diseases have a. remained at the same levels b. increased then leveled off c. been greatly reduced d. been greatly increased e. decreased then increased slightly Level: Moderate Answer: C

18. In 1918, the highly potent virus that spread rapidly around the globe and killed 2050

million people within a few months was the a. Hong Kong flu b. Asian flu c. Spanish flu d. bird flu e. common flu Level: Easy Answer: C

19. According to a 2000 study, at least _______ of all antibiotics used to treat humans are prescribed unnecessarily. a. one-eighth b. one-quarter c. one-third d. one-half e. two-thirds Level: Moderate Answer: D

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20. The West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by a. mosquitoes b. houseflies c. birds d. physical contact e. coughing and sneezing Level: Easy a. b. c. d.
e.

Answer: A participating in unsafe sex sharing needles of drug users from infected mothers before/during childbirth exposure to infected blood pathogenic bacteria and protozoa Answer: E

21. Hepatitis B is transmitted by all of the following ways, except

Level: Easy

22. The Lyme disease bacterium is passed onto humans directly from a. foxes b. deer c. white mice d. field mice e. ticks Level: Easy Answer: E

17-3 What Types of Chemical Hazards Do We Face?

23. The principal types of chemical hazards include all of the following, except

a. b. c. d. e. Level: Easy a. b. c. d. e. Level: Easy

toxic and hazardous substances mutagens teratogens viruses carcinogens Answer: D behavioral changes learning disabilities hair loss attention deficit disorder death Answer: C

24. The effects of neurotoxins can result in all of the following, except

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25. DDT, PCBs, atrazine, bisphenol-A, and phthalates are all examples of a. insecticides b. hormonally active agents c. estrogens d. androgens e. plastic additives Level: Moderate Answer: B

26. Mutagens a. are fatal to humans in low doses b. cause birth defects c. are harmful because they are flammable, explosive, irritating to skin or lungs, or cause allergic reactions d. cause mutations e. always cause cancer Level: Moderate Answer: D

27. Teratogens a. are fatal to humans in low doses b. cause birth defects c. are harmful because they are irritating to skin or lungs d. cause mutations e. cause allergic reactions Level: Moderate a. b. c. d. e. Answer: B

28. Birth defects can be caused by all of the following, except

alcohol angel dust PCBs phthalates iodized sodium chloride Answer: E

Level: Moderate

29. Carcinogens cause a. genetic defects b. birth defects c. cancer d. chronic health effects e. allergic reactions Level: Easy Answer: C

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30. 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. skeletal system Level: Easy a. b. c. d. e. Level: Easy Answer: C digestive system endocrine system excretory system circulatory system immune system Answer: B

31. Specialized cells, tissues, and organs that secrete hormones are part of the

32. The system responsible for growth, reproductive development, and much of our behavior is the a. circulatory system b. endocrine system c. immune system d. excretory system e. digestive system Level: Easy Answer: B

33. All of the following are synthetic chemicals that can act as hormone mimics or

hormone blockers, except a. dioxins b. adrenalin c. PCBs d. some pesticides e. DDT Level: Moderate a. b. c. d. e. lead PCBs dioxins Vitamin E DDT Answer: D Answer: B

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

Level: Moderate

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17-4 How Can We Evaluate Chemical Hazards?

35. This term refers to the amount of a substance a person ingests, inhales, or absorbs

through the skin. a. toxicity b. biomagnification c. persistence d. response e. dose Level: Moderate Answer: E

36. __________ relates to the amount of a potentially toxic substance as it passes through

food chains and webs. Toxicity b. Biomagnification c. Persistence d. Response e. Dose

a.

Level: Moderate

Answer: B

37. The term that is given to the type and amount of health damage that occurs from

exposure to a chemical or other agent is a. toxicity b. biomagnification c. persistence d. response e. dose Level: Moderate Answer: D

38. At what level of exposure to a particular toxic chemical will the chemical cause harm? a. toxicity b. biomagnification c. persistent d. response e. dose Level: Moderate Answer: A

39. This term is used to refer to chemicals that are resistant to breakdown and that have

long-lasting harmful effects on the health of wildlife and people. a. toxicity b. biomagnification c. persistence d. response e. dose Level: Moderate Answer: C

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40. An immediate or rapid harmful reaction to exposure to a chemical, ranging from dizziness to death, is a. bioaccumulation b. acute response c. persistence d. chronic response e. dose Level: Moderate Answer: B

41. In 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed that in determining risk, regulators should assume children have _____ times the exposure risk of adults to cancer-causing chemicals. a. 5 b. 10 c. 15 d. 25 e. 100 Level: Moderate Answer: B

42. Of the 100,000 registered synthetic chemicals in commercial use, only _____ have been adequately tested to determine whether they are carcinogens, teratogens, or mutagens. a. 2% b. 4%. c. 10% d. 12% e. 15% Level: Moderate Answer: A

43. Some individuals can be responsive and highly susceptible to a number of different toxins. This is referred to as a. an acute effect b. a chronic effect c. multiple chemical sensitivity d. an antagonistic reaction e. a synergistic reaction Level: Easy Answer: C

44. 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. superacute exposure Level: Easy Answer: C

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45. 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. superacute exposure Level: Easy Answer: A

46. Which statement is true? a. All chemicals are unsafe. b. Natural chemicals are safe, and synthetic chemicals are deadly. c. Synthetic chemicals are deadly, and natural chemicals are safe. d. Some chemicals, whether synthetic or natural, are safe and others are deadly. e. All chemicals are safe except those that cause cancer. Level: Difficult Answer: D

17-5 How Do We Perceive Risks and How Can We Avoid the Worst of Them? 47. In terms of number of premature deaths per year and reduced life span, by far the greatest risk is a. AIDS b. poverty c. smoking d. malaria e. industrial chemicals Level: Moderate Answer: B

48. Cigarette smoking is the worlds most preventable major cause of premature death among adults, resulting in one death every ____ seconds. a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8 e. 10 Level: Moderate Answer: C

49. Which of the following shortens the average life span in the United States by 7.5 years? a. smoking b. poverty c. born male d. overweight (35%) e. unmarried Level: Difficult Answer: C

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50. Which of the following is not one of the factors that cause people to see a technology

or product as being more or less risky than experts judge it to be? a. fear caused by overestimating the risk b. degree to which we have personal control over the risk c. degree to which a risk is catastrophic rather than chronic d. degree to which the risky item gives instant gratification e. degree to which the risk is caused by the government Level: Difficult Answer: E

True/False Questions
Core Case Study
1. AIDS has reduced the life expectancy of people in the seven countries most severely affected to 40 years. True False Level: Moderate True False Level: Easy Answer: True Answer: True

2. There is no vaccine to prevent HIV and no cure for AIDS.

17.1 What Major Health Hazards Do We Face? 3. After poverty and gender, the greatest risks people face are mainly from lifestyle choices. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

4. Nonsmoking spouses of smokers have a 30% higher risk of heart attack and lung cancer than do spouses of nonsmokers. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

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17.2 What Types of Biological Hazards Do We Face? 5. Pathogenic bacteria cause measles. True False Level: Moderate
6.

Answer: False

The Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria have become genetically resistant to the most common antimalarial drugs.

True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

7. One way to reduce infectious diseases is to increase antibiotic use to promote livestock growth. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False 8. Malaria cannot be transmitted by blood transfusions or by sharing needles. True False Level: Easy
9.

Answer: False

Experts suggest that spending $100 billion dollars worldwide might slow down malaria.

True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

10. Malignant tumors may take years to detect if they travel via the blood to various parts of the body. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

11. The widespread use of vaccines could improve human health and decrease death rates more than any other effort. True False Level: Difficult Answer: False

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17.3 What Types of Chemical Hazards Do We Face? 12. The three types of toxic chemicals are mutagens, teratogens, and carcinogens. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

13. Estrogen mimics and hormone blockers are sometimes called gender benders because of their possible effects on sexual development and reproduction. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

14. One significant source of mercury emissions into the atmosphere is from coal-burning power plants. True false Level: Moderate Answer: True

15. Some chemicals released to the environment mimic estrogen and are probably responsible for lower sperm counts in human males. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

16. Research has indicated that long-term exposure to some chemicals at low doses may disrupt the bodys immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

17.4 How Can We Evaluate Chemical Hazards? 17. Estimating human exposure to chemicals and their effects is very difficult because of the many variables involved. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

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18. All chemicals in commercial use were screened for toxicity before they were deemed acceptable for use. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

17.5 How Do We Perceive Risks and How Can We Avoid the Worst of Them? 19. Evaluating relative health risk for an individual involves looking at a populations environmental conditions, food resources, and military security. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

20. Although infectious diseases have decreased, human health is still threatened by

pesticide-resistant insects and bacteria, which are resistant to antibiotics. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

21. Under the precautionary principle approach, chemicals would be assumed safe until scientific research could support otherwise. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

Fill-in-the blank Questions

17-1 What Major Health Hazards Do We Face? 1. A __________ is a living organism that can cause disease in another organism. Level: Easy Answer: pathogen

2. __________ is a mathematical statement about how likely it is that harm will be suffered from a hazard. Level: Easy Answer: Probability

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3. A large-scale outbreak of an infectious disease in an area or country is called a/an__________. Level: Easy Answer: epidemic

17-2 What Types of Biological Hazards Do We Face?

4.

The overuse of __________ can cause bacteria to develop resistance. Answer: antibiotics

Level: Easy

5. Over the course of human history, __________ __________ have probably killed more people than all the wars ever fought. Level: Moderate Answer: malaria protozoa

6. __________ in reproductive cells can be harmful if they are passed on from parents to offspring. Level: Easy Answer: Mutations

7. __________ can be spread by air, water, food, body fluids, and some vectors. Level: Easy
8.

Answer: Transmissible/Contagious diseases

The human immunodeficiency virus has a(n) __________, which makes it hard to detect and easy to spread. Answer: long incubation period

Level: Moderate

17-3 What Types of Chemical Hazards Do We Face?

9.

A problem with __________ is that it would be too expensive to introduce any new chemicals into society. Answer: the precautionary principle

Level: Moderate

10. __________ includes comparative risk analysis, risk reduction, risk reduction strategy, and financial commitment. Level: Easy Answer: Risk management

11. __________ can be weakened by chemicals or radiation, leaving the body open to attack from pathogens. Level: Easy Answer: The immune system

17-4 How Can We Evaluate Chemical Hazards? 12. __________ has reduced the life expectancy of the 750 million people living in sub-

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Saharan Africa from 62 to 47 years. Level: Moderate Answer: AIDS

13. In order to determine the toxicity of a chemical, it is common to see how much of the chemical it takes to kill _____% of a group of test animals. Level: Moderate Answer: 50

14. An immediate allergic reaction to a bee sting would be a(n) __________ to a toxin. Level: Easy Answer: acute response

17-5 How Do We Perceive Risks and How Can We Avoid the Worst of Them? 15. In terms of the number of premature deaths per year and reduced life span, the greatest risk by far is __________. Level: Moderate Answer: poverty

16. The risk from hang gliding is different than the risk of lightning because it is

__________. Level: Easy Answer: voluntary

17. The majority of Americans are poor at __________ because of misleading information and irrational fears. Level: Moderate Answer: risk analysis

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Critical Thinking Questions

Use the Figure above to answer the following questions. 1. How many more women between 20 and 24 years of age would live if AIDS could be eradicated? Level: Moderate Answer: About 80,000

2. How many more men between 20 and 24 years of age would live, if AIDS could be eradicated? Level: Moderate
3.

Answer: About 30,000

At which age are males less likely to die from AIDS than females? Answer: 2024

Level: Easy
4.

At which age are females less likely to die from AIDS than males? Answer: 6569

Level: Easy

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Use the Figure above to answer the following questions. 1. If the average life expectancy of a person living in the United States is 80 years, what would that persons life expectancy be if they lived in poverty? Level: Moderate Answer: 70 to 73 years

2. How many of the top 12 hazards are related to lifestyle choices? Level: Difficult Answer: 9 (smoking; overweight 35%; unmarried; overweight 15%; spouse smoking; driving; alcohol; drug abuse; AIDS) 3. Is your life expectancy shortened more by smoking or being unmarried? Level: Easy Answer: smoking

4. Is your life expectancy shorted more by driving or by drug abuse? Level: Easy Answer: driving

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Use the Figure above to answer the following questions. 1. If the leaders of the world wanted to have the greatest impact on the number of deaths per year, what cause should they address first? Level: Moderate Answer: poverty/malnutrition/disease cycle

2. If you wanted to reduce your risk of dying, would you be better off getting a much safer
automobile or by getting a flu shot? Level: Moderate Answer: a flu shot

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