EHS EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) - ANSWER Approach that allows the
quantitative expression of risk in terms of infection, illness, or mortality from
microbial pathogens. Used by decision-makers to determine the magnitude of
such risks and weigh the costs and benefits of corrective action
Risk management - ANSWER Consideration of social, political and economic
issues. Values and ethics. Balance risks that are discovered from risk
assessment. Select the best regulatory action based on the results of the risk
assessment
Risk communication - ANSWER Component of risk management. Interactive
process of information and opinion exchange among individuals, groups, and
institutions. Includes the transfer of risk information from expert to non-expert
audiences
Comparative risk assessment - ANSWER Comparison of potential risks
associated with several problems or issues. Example: risks from chemical
exposure are small compared to those associated with driving a car
de minimis principle - ANSWER There are some levels of risk so small that
they are not worth bothering about. Hard to define. Minimus = minimal =
nothing basically
Tolerable risk - ANSWER Level of risks we can accept given the economic
costs, and social and scientific constraints. Lifetime risk of one in a million is
small enough to be acceptable for the general public
, Exposure pathway - ANSWER Route a toxicant takes from a source to a
receptor (ex: human or animal) through environmental carrier(s) or media-
typically air or water. Ex: ingestion of contaminated soil and dust
Exposure route - ANSWER Pathway of intake. The mechanism by which
transport occurs- inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact. The method
through which an individual encounters a toxicant
Event trees - ANSWER Estimate exposure by analysis of pathogen loads
upstream when the actual concentration of the harmful agent that reaches the
target is too low to measure
Dose-response relationship - ANSWER Quantitative relationship that indicates
the agent's degree of toxicity to exposed species
% Response = % affected by substance, % who respond (have effects) from
dose
Dose - ANSWER Milligrams of substance or number of pathogen ingested,
inhaled, or absorbed through the skin
Amount of a substance delivered at one time
Exposure dose - ANSWER Amount of xenobiotic encountered in the
environment
Absorbed dose - ANSWER Actual amount of the exposed dose that enters the
body
ANSWERS
Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) - ANSWER Approach that allows the
quantitative expression of risk in terms of infection, illness, or mortality from
microbial pathogens. Used by decision-makers to determine the magnitude of
such risks and weigh the costs and benefits of corrective action
Risk management - ANSWER Consideration of social, political and economic
issues. Values and ethics. Balance risks that are discovered from risk
assessment. Select the best regulatory action based on the results of the risk
assessment
Risk communication - ANSWER Component of risk management. Interactive
process of information and opinion exchange among individuals, groups, and
institutions. Includes the transfer of risk information from expert to non-expert
audiences
Comparative risk assessment - ANSWER Comparison of potential risks
associated with several problems or issues. Example: risks from chemical
exposure are small compared to those associated with driving a car
de minimis principle - ANSWER There are some levels of risk so small that
they are not worth bothering about. Hard to define. Minimus = minimal =
nothing basically
Tolerable risk - ANSWER Level of risks we can accept given the economic
costs, and social and scientific constraints. Lifetime risk of one in a million is
small enough to be acceptable for the general public
, Exposure pathway - ANSWER Route a toxicant takes from a source to a
receptor (ex: human or animal) through environmental carrier(s) or media-
typically air or water. Ex: ingestion of contaminated soil and dust
Exposure route - ANSWER Pathway of intake. The mechanism by which
transport occurs- inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact. The method
through which an individual encounters a toxicant
Event trees - ANSWER Estimate exposure by analysis of pathogen loads
upstream when the actual concentration of the harmful agent that reaches the
target is too low to measure
Dose-response relationship - ANSWER Quantitative relationship that indicates
the agent's degree of toxicity to exposed species
% Response = % affected by substance, % who respond (have effects) from
dose
Dose - ANSWER Milligrams of substance or number of pathogen ingested,
inhaled, or absorbed through the skin
Amount of a substance delivered at one time
Exposure dose - ANSWER Amount of xenobiotic encountered in the
environment
Absorbed dose - ANSWER Actual amount of the exposed dose that enters the
body
