Chapter 9: Environmental Health

Viruses, bacteria, and other organisms in the environment that harm human health are classified as A. biological hazards. B. social hazards. C. chemical hazards. D. physical hazards.

Toxicology deals primarily with what types of hazards? A. biological and social B. both chemical and physical C. human-made D. natural disasters

Which of the following types of people generally has a greater sensitivity to environmental hazards than the other types of people? A. teenagers B. adults C. infants D. none; all have equal sensitivity

The process of measuring the chance that an environmental hazard will cause harm is called A. toxicology. B. epidemiology. C. dose-response relationship. D. risk assessment.

Infectious diseases are diseases caused by an organism such as a virus or a bacterium, which is called a A. pathogen. B. toxicant. C. pandemic. D. carcinogen.

A disease that has appeared in the human population for the first time or that has existed for a while, but is increasing rapidly or spreading around the world is called A. environmental. B. pandemic. C. emerging. D. infectious.

Which of the following is an example of a social hazard that cannot easily be controlled? A. smoking cigarettes B. pollution from a factory near your school C. lack of exercise D. a high-fat diet

Any substance that poses a chemical hazard is considered a(n) A. VOC. B. allergen. C. carcinogen. D. toxicant.

Chemicals that cause cancer are called A. carcinogens. B. hazards. C. teratogens. D. neurotoxins.

What do asbestos, radon, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and lead all have in common? A. They are chemical hazards that can be found indoors. B. They are highly dangerous carcinogens. C. Exposure to them cannot be prevented. D. They are unnatural and made only by humans.

Toxicology is the study of how disease affects organisms’ health. True False

Individuals respond similarly to the same environmental hazards. True False

Humans usually have developed strong resistance to emerging diseases. True False

A person can die from drinking too much water, too quickly. True False

During a tornado, the safest place to be is outdoors. True False

Environmental hazards that result from where we live, our jobs, or our lifestyle choices are called A. physical hazards. B. chemical hazards. C. biological hazards. D. social hazards.

Epidemiology deals primarily with what type of hazards? A. physical B. chemical C. social D. biological

Which of the following factors causes different people to respond differently to environmental hazards? A. sex B. weight C. health issues D. all of the above

The probability that a hazard will cause a harmful response, such as death or disease, is known as A. toxicity. B. response. C. risk. D. dose.

A vector is a(n) A. kind of pathogen. B. organism that carries pathogens. C. type of infectious disease. D. type of emerging disease.

The H1N1 (swine) flu first appeared in Mexico in March of 2009. By June, it had spread to 70 different countries, infecting nearly 30,000 people. H1N1 is an example of a(n) A. chemical hazard. B. emerging disease. C. social hazard. D. vector.

Which of the following is an example of a social hazard that can generally be controlled? A. smoking cigarettes B. emerging diseases C. pollution from a garbage dump near your home D. natural disasters

A substance’s toxicity depends not just on what it is, but also A. on whether it was produced naturally or by people. B. what its scientific name is. C. how much of it a person is exposed to. D. where it is found in the environment.

Chemicals that harm embryos and fetuses are called A. carcinogens. B. teratogens. C. neurotoxins. D. allergens.