Risk Assessment and Human Health

Environmental Health and Toxicology

I. Chemical Hazards A. Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on human health 1. Toxicity –

a. Measurements of toxicity i. Acute toxicity –

ii. Chronic toxicity –

b. Factors affecting toxicity i. Solubility –

ii. Persistence-

iii. Bioaccumulation / Biomagnification a. Bioaccumulation

b. Biomagnification

iv. Interactions of chemical mixtures

2. Dose –

a. A dose-response curve shows the effect of different doses on a population of test organisms i. Threshold dose

ii. ED50 (effective dose 50%)

iii. LD50 (lethal-dose 50)

b. Exposure to chemicals

B. Methods used to determine toxicity 1. Laboratory investigations

2. Epidemiological evidence

3. Case studies C. Types of Chemical Hazards 1. TOXIC chemicals

a. Mutagens –

b. Teratogens –

c. Carcinogens –

2. HAZARDOUS chemicals a. b. c. d.

D. Effect of chemicals on human health 1. Immune system

2. Neurotoxins

3. Endocrine disrupters

E. Chemical Regulation 1. “Innocent until proven guilty”

2. Funding

3. Interactions

II. Biological Hazards A. Transmissible diseases

1. Pathogens

2. Vectors

B. Emerging Diseases 1. Developing countries

2. Global changes –

3. Antibiotic resistance –