The purpose of environmental epidemiology studies is to prove that an environmental agent is the cause of a particular adverse effect.
True
False
2. Which of the following is not an accurate statement about dose-response?
The NOAEL is the highest data point on the dose-response graph that produced an adverse effect.
The dose-response is used to establish causality between a compound and an effect
The bell shaped curve demonstrates individual variation in response to a particular dose
The shape and slope of the dose-response curve is extremely important in predicting the toxicity of a substance at specific dose levels.
3. The hallmark of a toxic response is that adverse effects are immediate. (Points: 3)
True
False
4. Please match the biomarker term with the appropriate item. (Points: 3)
Matching:
Answer Potential Matches:
: A biomarker for exposure 1: Levels of dioxin measured in the bloodstream.
2: The presence of the BRCA gene in a DNA sample
3: Levels of a protein which rises in the case of tissue damage
: A biomarker for effect
: A biomarker for susceptibility
5. Two chemicals are synergistic when exposure to one chemical causes a dramatic increase in the effect of another chemical.
True
False
6. An environmental health researcher who wants to determine whether people who lived in houses with high amounts of radon die at a greater rate than the general population should do a:
case control study
randomized clinical trial
dose-response study
retrospective cohort study
1. The statement "The purpose of environmental epidemiology studies is to prove that an environmental agent is the cause of a particular adverse effect" is false. The purpose of environmental epidemiology studies is to investigate the relationship between environmental agents and adverse effects, but it is challenging to prove causality definitively.
2. The inaccurate statement about dose-response is "The NOAEL is the highest data point on the dose-response graph that produced an adverse effect." The NOAEL (No Observable Adverse Effect Level) is the highest dose level in a study at which no adverse effects are observed. It is not necessarily the highest data point that produced an adverse effect.
3. The statement "The hallmark of a toxic response is that adverse effects are immediate" is false. Adverse effects from toxic exposure can occur immediately or have delayed onset, depending on the chemical and the individual's exposure level and susceptibility.
4. Matching biomarker terms with appropriate items:
- A biomarker for exposure: 1 (Levels of dioxin measured in the bloodstream)
- A biomarker for effect: 3 (Levels of a protein which rises in the case of tissue damage)
- A biomarker for susceptibility: 2 (The presence of the BRCA gene in a DNA sample)
5. The statement "Two chemicals are synergistic when exposure to one chemical causes a dramatic increase in the effect of another chemical" is true. Synergistic effects occur when the combined effects of two or more chemicals exceed the sum of their individual effects.
6. An environmental health researcher who wants to determine whether people who lived in houses with high amounts of radon die at a greater rate than the general population should conduct a retrospective cohort study. This type of study involves identifying a group of individuals who were exposed to a specific risk factor (in this case, people who lived in houses with high radon levels) and comparing their health outcomes to a control group (the general population).