Human Health and Environmental Toxicology s1

Chapter 7

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

Chapter Outline:

I. Human Health

Best assessed by:

Health issues in highly developed countries

Health issues in developing nations

Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases

Emerging –

Reemerging –

II. Environmental Pollution and Disease

A. Persistence, bioaccumulation, and biological magnification

B. Endocrine disrupters

III. Determining Health Effects of Environmental Pollution

Toxicant –

Effective Dose-50% (ED50) –

Lethal Dose-50% (LD50)

Dose response curve –

A. Children and chemical exposure

B. Identifying cancer-causing substances

•  Carcinogen –

Issues

C. Chemical mixtures

IV. Ecotoxicology: Toxicant Effects on Communities and Ecosystems

•  Dilution paradigm –

•  Boomerang paradigm –

V. Decision-making and Uncertainty: An Assessment of Risks

Risks:

Risk assessment:

A. The precautionary principle

B. Ecological risk assessment

C. Cost-benefit analysis of risks

D. A balanced perspective on risks