EHS Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Quanitative risk assessment (QRA) - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Consideration of social, political and economic
issues. Values and ethics. Balance risks that discovered from risk assessment. Select best
regulatory action based on results of risk assessment
Risk communication - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Course that a hazardous agent takes from a
source to a receptor (ex: human or animal) via environmental carriers or media- generally air or
water. Ex: ingestion of soil and dust
, Exposure route - CORRECT ANSWER - Intake pathway. Mechanism by which the transfer
occurs- inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact. Way an individual comes in contact with a
toxic substance
Event trees - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Amount of xenobiotic encountered in the
environment
Absorbed dose - CORRECT ANSWER - Actual amount of the exposed dose that enters the
body
Administered dose - CORRECT ANSWER - Quantity administered usually orally or by
injection
Total dose - CORRECT ANSWER - The sum of all individual doses
Response - CORRECT ANSWER - Effects. Can vary widely- from no observable effect, to
temporary and reversible effects, etc.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Quanitative risk assessment (QRA) - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Consideration of social, political and economic
issues. Values and ethics. Balance risks that discovered from risk assessment. Select best
regulatory action based on results of risk assessment
Risk communication - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Course that a hazardous agent takes from a
source to a receptor (ex: human or animal) via environmental carriers or media- generally air or
water. Ex: ingestion of soil and dust
, Exposure route - CORRECT ANSWER - Intake pathway. Mechanism by which the transfer
occurs- inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact. Way an individual comes in contact with a
toxic substance
Event trees - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Amount of xenobiotic encountered in the
environment
Absorbed dose - CORRECT ANSWER - Actual amount of the exposed dose that enters the
body
Administered dose - CORRECT ANSWER - Quantity administered usually orally or by
injection
Total dose - CORRECT ANSWER - The sum of all individual doses
Response - CORRECT ANSWER - Effects. Can vary widely- from no observable effect, to
temporary and reversible effects, etc.
