Unit 1: Environmental & Risk related terms Flashcards
Definition of Dose
The amount of a toxin that enters the body as a result of the exposure is referred to as the dose
Response definition
the reaction exhibited by the organisms upon exposure to the pollutant/toxin (it can vary from no response to death)
Define Dose response relationship
A relationship that is used to determine the concentration at which a chemical can cause detrimental effects. Dose response studies are used to define the safety or hazardous levels of compounds
Define hazards
Generally anything that can cause harm
Types of hazards
1) Physical Hazards: can cause injury, illness & death
2) Electrical hazards: (e.g. frayed cords, improper wiring) dangerous/malfunctioning machinery, constant loud noise etc.
3) Biological Hazards: contact with diseased animals, people with infections, working in hospitals, veterinary laboratories etc
4) Chemical hazards: exposure to chemicals at home or at workplace e.g. cleaning products, paints, acids, toxic solvents, vapours, gases - acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide & helium
Hazards conceptual mode/form definition
A description or illustration of predicted relationships between entities and the hazard to which they may be exposed
Risk definition
–a potential negative impact (to an asset or some characteristic of value) that may arise from some present process or future event. E.g. likelihood/probability that the toxic properties of a chemical will be produced in a population of individuals under their actual conditions of exposure.
– the probability a hazard might result into a disaster
– risks can be reduced or managed by applying good environmental practice, hence risk management helps prevent disasters
Risk assessment definition
the qualitative & quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health and/or the environment by the actual or potential presence and/or use of specific pollutants OR as a qualitative or quantitative evaluation of the environmental and/or health risk resulting from exposure to a chemical or physical agent (pollutant);
It combines exposure assessment results with toxicity assessment results to estimate risk
OR the overall process of using available information to predict how often hazards or specified events may occur (likelihood) and the magnitude of their consequences
Environmental Auditing definition
the process of checking the compliance of an organization with environmental laws & regulations
What tool is used to assess organizational environmental management systems, policy and equipment?
Environmental Auditing
What is an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)
ERA evaluates the likelihood that adverse environmental effects may occur or are occurring as a result of one or more stressors
What are risk hypotheses
Proposed answers to questions risk assessors have about what responses assessment endpoints will show when they are exposed to stressors and how exposure will occur
