1. What problems did researchers find in the alligator population of Lake Apopka?  What was the probable cause?

2. Know the following categories of hazards:

physical

chemical

biological

cultural

3. In the highly developed countries (HDCs), what are the top two causes of death? Worldwide, transmissible or infectious diseases cause what % of deaths?

4. What are the 5 leading infectious diseases, in terms of annual deaths? 

5. Why is malaria increasing?

6. Why is tuberculosis increasing?

7. List 3 reasons why indoor pollutants are a bigger problem in the HDCs than in developing countries.

8. Why is lead a problem? What is its effect and how are we exposed to it?

9. What are PBDEs? Why have they been banned in Europe?

10. How is dose important in toxicology? What is the threshold dose?

11. Have all or most of the synthetic chemicals used in modern society been tested for toxicity?

12. What did the 2002 USGS study of U.S. streams show?

13. What did Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, deal with?   What was the effect of its publication?

14. Why do some countries still use DDT?  (Should US companies be allowed to produce and export a pesticide that is banned for use in this country?)

15. Know the following terms:

carcinogen

mutagen

allergen

neurotoxin

endocrine disruptor

(Know teratogens only if you want to impress people other than your instructor)

16. How widespread is the problem of exposure to endocrine disruptors? 

Why are they a problem, even in minute concentrations? 

What is the evidence that they may be affecting human populations?

Know that atrazine, bisphenol-A, and phthalates are endocrine disruptors, as are many chlorinated hydrocarbons (found in plastics and pesticides).

17. How does persistence affect the problem of toxicants?  What factors influence the rate of breakdown or decomposition?

18. Know bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

19. What are epidemiological studies? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

20. What is a dose-response curve? What does LD-50 mean?

21. Animal studies are usually dose-response experiments. What are their strengths and weaknesses?

22. What factors influence the response of different individuals to a particular dose?

23. What are synergistic effects, and how do they complicate toxicity studies?

24. What are POPS?   What International Treaty is aimed at ending their use and release into the environment?