BIOL 1055 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Thiomersal, Dental Restoration, Methylmercury
Document Summary
Environmental toxicology: the study of the effects of environmental contaminants on organisms. Types of toxicants: carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors. Motivations for environmental toxicology: human health, exposure to toxicants can lead to chronic and acute health conditions, health of surrounding humans is potential indicator of subtle toxicological impacts on humans. Ecotoxicity: ecosystem health, have value, impact on value should be considered when assessing the costs of human activities. Carcinogen: substance that causes cancer, ex: asbestos, dioxins, pahs (radiation) Cancer: uncontrolled growth and division of abnormal cells. Epa classification: combine below to determine carcinogenicity classification. Mutagens: cause errors in genetic code (dna mutations) ex: uv light, radiation, pahs. Teratogens: cause developmental malformations, low molecular weight (thalitimide) At 3 weeks: causes defects in cns. At 20-24 days: causes ear deformities and autism. At 4 weeks: causes defects in the heart. Neurotoxins: toxic substance that targets nerve cells, ex: carbon monoxide. Developmental neurotoxin: toxic substance that interferes with neuronal development.
