APES - Unit 8 Key Terms Toxins/Diseases/Pollutants

APES - Unit 8 Key Terms Toxins/Diseases/Pollutants Point Source of pollution - answerA single identifiable source of a pollutant, can 'point' to it, examples: smokestack, animal waste CAFO runoff, oil spill Nonpoint Source of pollution - answerPollutants enter the environment from many places at once, difficult to 'point' to one individual source, examples: urban waste runoff, pesticide spraying, Pollutants - answerSpecific chemicals or groups of chemicals from specific sources with specific env. & human health effects Pollution - answerVague, nondescript term for any substance that is harmful to the environment. (DONT put on FRQ - be specific) Mutagens - answerdamage the DNA within cells, increasing the frequency of mutations. Allergens - answerusually initiate an immune response; inflammation and body system fatigue Carcinogens - answerchemicals, forms of radiation, or viruses that increase the risk of cancer. Teratogens - answerchemicals that cause birth defects in an unborn fetus. Neurotoxins - answerchemicals known to disrupt the function of the brain, spinal cord, and other nerves. endocrine disruptors - answerChemicals that interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) systems of animals/humans, examples: atrazine (herbicide), DDT, Phthalates (cosmetics), human medications, lead, arsenic, mercury endocrine disruptor effects - answerCan lead to birth defects, developmental disorders, and gender imbalances in fish/other species Mercury - answerNaturally occurring in coal, released by coal combustion, trash incineration, burning medical waste, attaches to PM and settles in soil/water, teratogen and endocrine disruptor, Arsenic - answernaturally occurring element in rocks underground that can dissolve into drinking water, source: formerly in pesticides, carcinogenic to lungs, bladder, kidneys, endocrine disruptor, can be removed w filters