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chp. 8 vocab

Terms

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health
a state of physical and emotional well-being; the absence of disease or ailment
risk
probability that something undesirable will happen as a consequence of exposure to a hazard
tertogens
chemicals or other factors that specifically cause abnormalities during embryonic growth and development
acute effects
sudden, severe effects
morbidity
illness or disease
bioaccumulation
the selective absorption and concentration of molecules by cells
endocrine disrupters
chemicals that disrupt normal hormone functions
antigens
chemical compounds to which antibodies bind
environmental health
the science of external factors that cause disease, including elements of the natural, social, cultural and technological worlds in which we live
mutagens
agents, such as chemicals or radiation, that damage or alter genetic material (DNA) in cells
cancer
invasive, out-of-control cell growth that results in malignant tumors
disease
a deleterious change in the body's condition in response to destabilizing factors, such as nutrition, chemicals, or biological agents
sick building syndrome
headaches, allergies, chronic fatigue and other symptoms caused by poorly vented indoor air ontaminated by pathogens or toxins
neurotoxins
toxic substances, such as lead or mercury, that specifically poison nerve cells
toxins
poisonous chemicals that react with specific cellular components to kill cells or to alter growth or development in undesirable ways; often harmful, even in dilute concentrations
biomagnification
increase in concentration of certain stable chemicals in sucessively higher trophic levels of a food chain or web
chronic effects
long-lasting results of exposure to a toxin; can be a permanent change caused by a single, acute exposure or a continuous, low-level exposure
mortality
death rate in a population; the probability of dying
allergens
substances that activate the immune system
pathogens
an organism that produces disease in a host organism, disease being an alteration of one or more metabolic functions n response to the presence of the organism
disability-adjusted life years (DALY)
a measure of premature deaths and losses due to illnesses and disabilities in a population
persistent organic pollutants
chemical compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for long times
LD50
a chemical dose lethal to 50% of a test population
carcinogens
substances that cause cancer
fetal alcohol syndrome
a tragic set of permanent physical and mental and behavioral birth defects that result when mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy
synergism
an interaction in which one substance exacerbates the effects of another. The sum of the interaction is greater than the parts.
emergent disease
a new disease or one that has been absent for at least 20 years
risk assesment
evaluaton of the short-term and long-term risks associated with a particular activity or hazard; usually compared to benefits in a cost-benefit analysis

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