BOS 4201 Unit 1 Assessment

QUESTION 1

Differentiate between a toxic chemical, toxic substance, and toxic agent.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

Anything that can produce an adverse biological effect is a toxic agent. It can be in any of the following forms, chemical, biological or physical. An example of a chemical is cyanide. An example of biological is snake venom. Lastly, an example of physical is radiation. A distinction is made for diseases due to biological organisms. Those organisms that invade and multiply within the organism and produce their effects by biological activity are not classified as toxic agents. An example of this is a virus that damages cell membranes resulting in cell death.

A toxic substance is a material that has toxic properties. It may be a discrete toxic chemical or a mixture of toxic chemicals. For example, lead chromate, asbestos, and gasoline are all toxic substances. Gasoline a toxic substance rather than a toxic chemical in that it contains a mixture of many chemicals. Toxic substances may not always have a constant composition. The composition of gasoline varies with octane level, manufacturer, time of season, and other factors. Asbestos is a toxic substance that does not have an exact chemical composition but comprises a variety of fibers and minerals.

A toxic chemical is any chemical that, through its chemical action on life processes, can cause death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm to humans or animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are man-made produced in facilities, or naturally created. People mistakenly assume that all man-made chemicals are harmful and natural chemicals are beneficial. In reality, natural chemicals can be just as harmful to human health as man-made chemicals. Examples of natural toxic chemicals, toxic effects seen at 1000MG/KG of body weight, are Solanine (found in green potatoes) and Amygdalin (found in apple seeds). Examples of man-made toxic chemicals, toxic effects seen at 1000MG/KG of body weight, are Aspirin and Ethylene Glycol (found in anti-freeze).

Reference:

https://toxtutor.nlm.nih.gov/01-002.html

25 points   

QUESTION 2

Identify a type of epidemiology study that might be used to evaluate a current (within the last 6 months) health concern that has appeared in the news. Provide a short explanation of how the identified study would be set up to evaluate the health issue.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

An example of a live epidemiology study that has the potential to be used to evaluate a current health concern that recently appeared in the news was being conducted at the University of California in San Francisco. Researchers discovered that scorpion toxin that targets the “wasabi receptor” may have the potential to solve the chronic pain mystery and may lead to the creation of non-opioid pain relievers. Scientists were able to isolate the toxin or short protein that they dubbed the wasabi receptor toxin or WaTx from the venom of an Australian Black Rock scorpion. This was discovered while trying to conduct a systematic search for compounds in animal venom that could activate the WaTx, which is a sensory protein officially named TRPA1 that is at the end of nerve endings throughout the body. When the TRPA1 feels like it is exposed to something dangerous it activates and causes pain and inflammation. One of the researchers stated that the discovery of this new toxin will provide scientists with a new tool that can be used to probe the molecular mechanisms of pain, and lead to pain hypersensitivity.

Researchers found that the WaTx contains an unusual sequence of amino acids that allow it to simply penetrate a cells membrane and pass right through to the cell’s interior. They believe with an understanding of how this protein operates and gets past the membrane, they might have the potential to use them to carry things such as drugs to relieve pain.

The research team demonstrated the use of this WaTx by injecting mustard oil (a plant based irritant) and WaTx into the paws of mice to activate their wasabi receptors and compared the results. With the mustard oil they observed acute pain, hypersensitivity to temperature and touch, and swelling. With Watx they observed acute pain and hypersensitivity but no swelling.

What the researchers believe that their findings will lead to a better understanding of acute pain, chronic pain, and inflammation which were previously thought of as indistinguishable. Additionally, they hope the findings will lay the ground work for the development of new non-opioid drugs.

Reference:

University of California – San Francisco. (2019, August 22). Scorpion toxin that targets ‘wasabi receptor’ may help solve mystery of chronic pain. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 27, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190822113400.htm

25 points   

QUESTION 3

Define three common terms used in toxicology. In addition, evaluate how media influence (including social media) may impact present situations in this field.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

There are a plethora of terms associated with and used with the science of toxicology. Three terms that will be defined and evaluated in this response will be toxin, toxicant, and poison. Simply defined a toxicant is any chemical that can potentially produce harm. Examples of a toxicant are heavy metal such as lead, benzene which affects the blood, and sodium cyanide which is a systemic toxicant that interferes with the bodies cell utilization of oxygen. The term toxin is defined as chemical produced by living organisms. Examples of toxins include rattlesnake venom and poisonous mushrooms. The definition of poison is any substance that when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed, or when applied to, injected into, or developed within the body in relatively small amounts may, by its chemical action cause death or injury (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014).

In recent years the use of media and social media have brought an ability to learn more about these terms in a personalized interactive way. By utilizing media and social media one can expand their knowledge in a quicker and more diverse manner than ever before. With the invention of technology such as smart phones anyone that has the desire to learn more about each of these terms can do so in the blink of an eye and that is brought in the form of media postings such as scientific journals or for the newer generation YouTube videos. As research for this question I search for and was able to find both a media journal website and a YouTube video that gave me information on each of these terms. I was able to watch a video that broke down how toxins, toxicants, and poisons even at the smallest amounts can infiltrate and effect your bodies systems. The videos used computer technology that made it easier to understand and visually informed me in ways that just reading will never achieve. On the other hand, reading from a media site or listening to a lecture from an expert in the field is just as beneficial to the right type of learner. All in all, the use of media and social media has made a positive influence on the field of toxicology.

Reference:

Richards, I. S., & Bourgeois, M. M. (2014). Principles and practice of toxicology in public health (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

25 points   

QUESTION 4

Identify and discuss three early toxicologists who made the most significant contributions to the progression of toxicology, and explain why you chose them.

Your response should be at least 300 words in length.

Three early toxicologists that made the most significant contributions to the progression of toxicology are Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Dr. Bernardio Ramazzini. These three individuals were chosen due to the great part they played in expanding the knowledge of toxicology during their lifetimes. Additionally, these three saw the potential that this science had for improving the life and wellbeing of others. They took it upon themselves to study, develop and share this knowledge with the world around them. Below each one will be discussed along with what they are know for during their time.

The physician Hippocrates who lived around circa 400 B.C. was a contributor to the developing discipline of toxicology and is credited with being one of the first physicians to apply basic pharmacology and toxicology principles to the practice of medicine, to include the concepts of bio-availability and overdose. There are several early toxicological treatises that stand out as noteworthy.

Dioscorides who lived between the time of 40-90 A.D. was a Greek pharmacist, physician, and botanist who served in the court of Roman emperor Nero. He produced a pharmacopoeia to classify poisons according to their origin as animal, vegetable, or mineral. His work De Materia Medica is a five-volume systematic description of approximately 600 different planes and 1,000 different medications and has served as an important standard reference for almost 16 centuries. It is still considered a useful treatise even by standards of today.

In the 18th and 19th centuries toxicological specialties began to emerge. In 1700, Dr. Bernardino Ramazzini who lived from 1633-1714 published the first edition of his most famous book, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers), the first comprehensive work on occupational diseases outlining the health hazards of irritating chemicals, metals, dusts, and so forth that were encountered by workers in 52 occupations. This work became a standard reading in occupational medicine for the next 200 years.

Reference:

Richards, I. S., & Bourgeois, M. M. (2014). Principles and practice of toxicology in public health (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

25 points