APES Chapter 18

Group of more than 120 different diseases, one for each type of cell in the human body. Each type of cancer produces a tumor in which cells multiply uncontrollably and invade surrounding tissue.

Chemicals, ionizing radiation, and viruses that cause or promote the development of cancer.

The amount of a potentially harmful substance an individual ingests, inhales, or absorbs through the skin.

Plot of data showing effects of various doses of a toxic agent on a group of test organisms.

Study of the patterns of disease or other harmful effects from toxic exposure within defined groups of people to find out why some people get sick and some do not.

Something that can cause injury, disease, economic loss, or environmental damage.

Chemical that can cause harm because it is flammable or explosive, can irritate or damage the skin or lungs (such as strong acidic or alkaline substances), or can cause allergic reactions of the immune system (allergens).

See transmissible disease.

Amount of a toxic material per unit of body weight of test animals that kills half the test population in a certain time.

Spread of malignant (cancerous) cells from a tumor to other parts of the body.

Chemical or form of radiation that causes inheritable changes (mutations) in the DNA molecules in the genes found in chromosomes.

Chemicals that can harm the human nervous system (brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves).

A disease that is not caused by living organisms and does not spread from one person to another. Examples are most cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and malnutrition.

Organism that produces disease.

A chemical that adversely affects the health of a living human or animal by causing injury, illness, or death.

A mathematical statement about how likely it is that something will happen.

The amount of health damage caused by exposure to a certain dose of a harmful substance or form of radiation.

The probability that something undesirable will result from deliberate or accidental exposure to a hazard.

Identifying hazards, evaluating the nature and severity of risks (risk assessment), using this and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks (risk management), and communicating information about risks to decision makers and the public (risk communication).

Process of gathering data and making assumptions to estimate short- and long-term harmful effects on human health or the environment from exposure to hazards associated with the use of a particular product or technology.

Communicating information about risks to decision makers and the public.

Using risk assessment and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks.

Chemical, ionizing agent, or virus that causes birth defects.

See poison, carcinogen, hazardous chemical, mutagen, teratogen.

Measure of how harmful a substance is.

Study of the adverse effects of chemicals on health.

A disease that is caused by living organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms) and can spread from one person to another by air, water, food, or body fluids (or in some cases by insects or other organisms).

Combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Explains why mixing alcohol and sedatives is so dangerous; or smoking tobacco and being exposed to asbestos.