Chapter 17

16 questions

1. Risk assessment is

the scientific process of using statistical methods to estimate how much harm a particular hazard can cause to human health or to the environment.

deciding whether or how to reduce a particular risk to a certain level and at what cost.

the probability of suffering harm from a hazard that can cause injury, disease, death, economic loss, or damage.

a mathematical statement about how likely it is that harm will be suffered from a hazard.

2. HIV is considered a/an

transmissible disease.

infectious disease.

all of the choices

communicable disease.

3. One major problem of infectious diseases is that they

can be spread by so many pathways: water, food, and body fluids.

are often misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.

are very difficult to treat.

are so incredibly difficult to identify.

4. A global strategy to slow the spread of AIDS (according to the World Health Organization) has this priority:

reduce the number of new infections below the number of deaths.

provide HIV testing for people in high-risk groups.

all of the choices

concentrate on those most likely to spread the disease.

5. Causing the deaths of many children under the age of five by dehydration, this disease is

hepatitis.

HIV.

diphtheria.

diarrhea.

6. Ethyl alcohol, found in alcoholic beverages, can cause harm or birth defects to a fetus or embryo. Because of its effects, it is called both a toxic chemical and a

teratogen.

all of the choices

mutagen.

carcinogen.

7. Chemicals that specifically harm the human nervous system are called

teratogens.

mutagens.

neurotoxins.

toxic chemicals.

8. Hormonally active agents (HAAs)

are hormone mimics that can disrupt or impair reproductive systems and sexual development.

are substances produced by the body that enhance healthy endocrine systems.

have been identified as ingredients in plastic toys; U.S. researchers are in agreement that these toys are a threat, so all such products are no longer being produced.

are beneficial chemicals found in nature that enhance healthy endocrine systems.

9. Toxicology is

the manufacture of toxic chemicals for pesticides and herbicides.

the study of toxic chemicals and their structure.

the study of the harmful effects of chemicals on humans.

all of the choices

10. Several factors can affect the level of harm caused by a chemical. Which is not one of these?

persistence

biological magnification

state of health

solubility

11. A person is exposed to a certain substance and feels an immediate reaction. Her reaction is

clearly dependent on the dose she was exposed to.

called a chronic reaction.

called an acute reaction.

clearly dependent on the toxicity of the chemical she was exposed to.

12. In order to test the effects of potentially harmful chemicals, experiments often

use animals in place of people. The results are then applied to humans.

rely solely on computer simulations.

use safe chemicals that have similar properties as those of the potentially harmful chemicals.

use people, but use extremely low doses of the chemicals.

13. Animal testing is giving way to cheaper, faster, and more humane methods. Which is not one of these?

computer simulations and testing with tissue cultures

testing individual animal cells

skin tests on human volunteers

testing chicken membranes

14. All natural chemicals are safe.

False

True

15. The greatest risk in life is

toxic chemicals.

lifestyle choices.

poverty.

running an assembly line on a factory floor.

16. It has been said that most people don't know how to evaluate risks. Which of the following has the highest risk associated with it?

being struck by lightning

motorcycling

smoking one pack of cigarettes per day

being killed by a gun

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