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Toxicology Unit UNIT #2 – ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES What major Health Hazards do we face? People face the following health hazards in their everyday lives: Biological – pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, protozoa, fungi, etc. Chemical – toxic and harmful chemicals found in air, water, soil and food. Physical – natural disasters such as fire, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods Cultural – unsafe working conditions, driving, crime, poverty, drugs, sex, etc. A risk is defined as the probability of suffering harm from a hazard Businesses, governments, and even individuals sometimes create a risk assessment and management plan in order to help identify and mitigate potential hazards. Many insurance companies require these to be completed regularly in order to maintain coverage; particularly for high-risk clients. Risk assessment – use of statistical methods to estimate how much harm a particular hazard can cause to human health or to the environment. Management Plan – Includes risk assessment, comparative analysis to other risks, risk reduction strategies and financial commitment outline. Risk Assessment and Management Plan Management Plan Risk Assessment Comparative Risk Analysis Hazard Identification How does it compare with other risks? What is the hazard? Probability of risk How likely is the event? Risk Assessment guides the Management Plan Risk Reduction Strategy How will the risk be reduced? By how much should it be reduced? Consequences of risk Financial Commitment What is the likely damage? How much money will it cost? Who is responsible for the cost? Risk Assessment & Management Plan (RAMP) Template Purpose: Why is this being done? (RAMP) Example and Templates Hazard Probability Name & Type Low, med, hi Biological Biological Chemical Chemical Physical Physical Cultural Cultural Consequence What could happen? Comparative Risk Is there a safer alternative? Risk Reduction Strategy Exactly what will you do to lower your risk? Cost How much? Who pays? Professional (RAMP) Examples and Templates The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended RAMP template South Australia Consumer and Business Services example RAMP process for a liquor license The Office of the Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the US Department of Health and Human Services template How do we perceive and avoid risks? Become a better risk taker: Carefully evaluate news reports – recognize that the media often give an exaggerated view of risks to capture our interest in order to sell a product. Compare risks – Is the danger great enough for you to worry about it? How does this risk compare with the alternatives? Don’t ask yourself “Is it safe?” but rather, “How risky is it compared to other risks?” Concentrate on the most serious risk to your life and health over which you have some control – Stop worrying about smaller risks and those over which you have no control. When worrying about something; ask yourself “Do I have any control over this?” How do we perceive and avoid risks? We can reduce the major risks we face by becoming informed, thinking critically about risks, and making careful choices The greatest risks are associated with: Poverty – over 11 million die annually as a result of malnutrition and disease resulting from lack of resources. Those living in poverty tend to die 7-10 years early. Gender – Males on average die 7.5 years earlier than women. Lifestyle Choices – Tobacco use kills over 440,000 Americans each year. Best way to reduce risks associated with lifestyle choices is to: avoid smoking and exposure to smoke lose excess weight reduce consumption of foods containing cholesterol and saturated fats eat a variety of fruits and vegetables exercise regularly, drink little or no alcohol, avoid excess sunlight practice safe sex What types of Biological Hazards do we face? A Nontransmissible disease is caused by something other than living organisms and does not spread from one person to another. An infectious disease is caused by a pathogen such as a bacterium, virus, or parasite that invades the body and multiplies in its cells and tissues. A large-scale outbreak of an infectious disease in an area or country is called an epidemic; and a global epidemic is called a pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the global death rate from infectious diseases decreased by about two-thirds between 1970 and 2000. The percentage of children in developing countries immunized with vaccines to prevent tetanus, measles, diphtheria, typhoid fever, and polio increased from 10% to 84% - saving about 10 million lives each year. It costs about $30 to get a basic package of vaccines to a child What types of Biological Hazards do we face? In terms of death rates, the most serious infectious diseases are: Flu – anyone with a low immune system may be deathly affected by this virus AIDS – kills about 3 million people each year Diarrhea – poorly filtered drinking water Malaria – 40% of world’s population at risk – mosquito carries the parasite Most of these diseases occur in developing countries (low-income) How would you Vote? Should developed and developing nations (like the US) mount an urgent global campaign to reduce the spread of HIV and help countries afflicted by the disease? What types of Chemical Hazards do we face? There is a growing concern about chemicals that can cause cancer and disrupt the human immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. A toxic chemical is defined as one that can cause temporary or permanent harm or death to humans and animals. There are three (3) major types of toxic agents: Mutagen – chemical or radiation that cause mutations to DNA molecules Teratogen – chemical that cause harm or birth defects to a fetus or embryo Nitrous acid (HNO2) found in many processed foods has been linked to stomach cancer Ethyl alcohol is a teratogen (beer, spirits, etc.) Carcinogen – chemical, radiation, or virus that can cause or promote cancer Many cancer tumors spread by metastasis – when a malignant cell breaks off from tumors and travel in body fluids to other parts of the body. Any synthetic or natural chemical can be harmful if ingested in a large enough quantity. What types of Chemical Hazards do we face? Almost everyone is exposed to potentially toxic chemicals that have built up to trace levels in their blood and other parts of the body. Even polar bears in the Arctic have the same trace levels of toxins Some research supports the BENEFITS of having some “toxic chemicals” such as arsenic – this is called hormesis The truth is: there just isn’t enough solid research data to make conclusions about the toxicity of chemicals. Scientists Use Live Laboratory Animals to Estimate Toxicity A chemical’s median lethal dose (LD50) is the dose that kills 50% of the animals (usually rats and mice) in a test population with in an 18-day period Animals tests can take 2-5 years and cost as much as $2 million per substance tested Scientists use acute toxicity tests to develop a dose-response curve which shows responses of a group of test animals to various dosages of a toxic agent. What types of Chemical Hazards do we face? Indoor Air Pollution is considered by experts to be a higher-risk human health problem than outdoor air pollution. Common pollutants can be as much 100 times higher in residential and commercial buildings than found outdoors. Pollution levels inside cars in traffic-clogged urban areas can be as much as 18 times higher than outside levels The Health risk from exposure is magnified in the US where we spend as much as 98% of our lives indoors. Common chemical hazards found around the home: Chloroform – found in Chlorine-treated water in tap water – linked to cancer Nitrogen Oxides – Unvented gas stoves and kerosene heaters – Can irritate lungs and cause headaches Asbestos – pipe insulation, vinyl ceiling and floor tiles – linked to lung disease and cancer Styrene – found in carpets and plastics – can cause kidney and liver damage What Physical Hazards does Oregon face? Earthquakes Oregon sits just outside the Cascadia Subduction Zone They've discovered that major earthquakes happen here an average of every 240 years. The last major Cascadia earthquake was 315 years ago Oregon is about 75 years Past Due for a big earthquake Article link Hiking in the Fault zone What Physical Hazards does Oregon face? Wild Fires Oregon suffers from many devastating wildfires annually Last year, the Canyon Creek Fire cost Oregon over $5.4 million and destroyed over 110,000 acres of land 36 Homes were destroyed by fire, many were uninsured FEMA provides loans and grants to victims Article link What Physical Hazards does Oregon face? Landslides/Floods Oregon sits in the middle of the Pacific Temperate Rainforest (2.5 meters of rainfall per year) Willamette Valley Flood of 1996 – Oregon’s largest flood event in terms of fatalities & monetary damage Over $500 million in damages & over 3,000 people were displaced Oregon City & Tillamook were under water for days Article link Landslides Interactive Map What Cultural Hazards does Oregon face? Caffeine CNBC ranked America’s highest caffeinated cities Eugene, OR was ranked #7 with 138 coffee shops Portland, OR was ranked #3 with 876 coffee shops #1 city was Seattle/ Tacoma with 1,640 shops Consuming more than 600mg a day can cause: Insomnia, Nervousness, Irritability, Upset Stomach, Fast Heartbeat, Muscle Tremors Article link What Cultural Hazards does Oregon face? Ethyl Alcohol Portland boasts about having the most microbreweries per capita It is Estimated that 53% of all draft beer consumed in Oregon was brewed in Oregon There are currently 84 breweries in the Portland Metro Area alone Research has linked alcohol consumption with over 60 diseases including: Anemia, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Depression, Dementia, Seizures, Gout Article link What Cultural Hazards does Oregon face? Reckless Driving Oregonians had over 51,000 crashes during the 2014 year Only 321 crashes were fatal (10% over 2013) Over 1,000 crashes involved bicycles Approximately 16% of all crashes involved a driver aged 15-20 years old DMV Crash Data Top 10 Driver Errors: 1. Failure to avoid stopped or parked vehicle ahead 2. Failure to yield right-of-way 3. Ran off road 4. Failure to maintain lane 5. Driving too fast for conditions 6. Inattention 7. Following too close 8. Improper change of traffic lanes 9. Left turn in front of on-coming traffic 10. Failure to decrease speed for slow moving vehicle Top Pedestrian Errors: 1. Crossing between intersections 2. Disregarded traffic signal 3. Failure to yield right-of-way Top Bicyclist / Pedal-cyclist Errors: 1. Failed to yield right-of-way 2. Disregarded traffic signal 3. Bicycling on shoulder facing highway
