9. Health Risk Assessment

Try these first

1. 1.

   What are the three main exposure pathways through which hazardous materials can enter the human body?

   Hint

   Think of how we come in contact with air, food, and skin directly.

2. 2.

   What does LD50 mean?

   Hint

   Consider the term 'lethal dose' in terms of toxicity.

3. 3.

   What is the main concern of health risk assessment?

   • To prevent all diseases
   • To evaluate risks from hazardous substance exposure
   • To monitor weather patterns

   Hint

   Think about the term 'risk assessment.'

4. 4.

   True or False: Ingestion is one of the exposure pathways for hazardous materials.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how food and drinks can contribute to exposure.

5. 5.

   A factory discharges a toxic chemical into a river. Describe the possible environmental pathways that the chemical might travel and the potential health risks it may pose to nearby residents.

   Hint

   Consider all possible routes in the river ecosystem and the populations living nearby.

6. 6.

   Evaluate how a change in exposure level of a hazardous chemical could affect the health risk assessment for a population within a community.

   Hint

   Think about how regulatory bodies respond to increased risks.