ENVH 375 Risk, Toxicology and Human Health

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ENVH 375Risk, Toxicology and Human Health
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What is risk?

• Voluntary vs. involuntary
• Perceived risk

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Risk and Perception

• Without adequate data, humans tend to use emotion
  to choose what they believe is the riskier
  behavior.
  
• Or else, they just dont care because the
  riskier behavior is more fun.
  
• Which is riskier motorcycle riding or hang
  gliding?....Rodeo Clown or Coal Mining?

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Risk - Perception
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Global Annual Mortality
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Relative Toxicity
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Limits of toxicology

• "Toxicologists know a great deal about a few
  chemicals, a little about many, and next to
  nothing about most." J.V. Rodricks
  

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Endocrine Disruption
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Endocrine Disruption

• Intracellular effects
• Increased synthesis of certain proteins

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Bioaccumulation of EDCs
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Radiation
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Electromagnetic fields
CNN story
WHO factsheet

• low energy nonionizing forms of radiation
  released when electricity flows through wires or
  motors
  
• overhead power lines, household appliances,
  computer monitors
  

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Biological Hazards HIV/AIDS deaths (2001)
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Bacteria and Antibiotics - Every major
disease-causing bacterium now has strains against
at least 1 of the 160 antibiotics used to treat
bacterial infections
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Target Organ Toxicity
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Human Health into the Future
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Risk Management
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Precautionary Principle