Chemicals and Health
What is a chemical? Name a chemical that makes your life easier and explain how.
A chemical is any substance consisting of matter; includes solids, liquids and gas. Chemicals can either be a pure substance or a mixture of substances. A chemical substance such as water (H2O) is a pure chemical because it has the same molecules and combination troughout its structure. So, for me and for the whole wold, the most important chemical is water, and I can't imagine life without it.
How are we exposed to chemicals? Do you know what happens when they enter the body?
Chemical compouds are found everywhere, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. We can meet artificial chemicals in food, which helps food to remain fresh and preserve its flovour. But not all chemical compounds are good. For instance, in food we can find monosodium glutamate, a chemical compoud that is added to food to improve flovour, but it can have a negative effects on our health- we can get headaches and other negative reactions.
How do you think we as a society should address chemicals, particularly as they relate to health?
We should try to get bio food, try to reduce using cars and petrol, try to keep all the sources of water clean, and try to take care of the environment as we take care of our health
What is a chemical, and how are we exposed? Please answer both parts of the question thoroughly. The best answers touch on multiple elements of the nature of chemicals and chemical exposure.
Chemicals are those compounds made up of elements. literally, everything is a chemical. Our own body is a chemical bank. Chemicals can be of all physical states such as solid, liquid or gas. Chemicals can be natural or artificial. Exposure : Chemicals can be exposed in various ways. The air we breathe , the food and water we use , physical contact through etc. The contact of chemical to our body is called exposure. The method of exposure is usually depended on the physical state of the chemical. The soil and vegitation can even be medium of exposure of chemicals into our body.
What happens when chemicals enter the body? What is the biggest predictor of a body's response to a toxic chemical? Please answer each question thoroughly. The best answers address multiple pathways and specifically identify the biggest predictor of response.
The entry of chemicals to our body follows various steps. At first the chemicals enter our body and is transported from one place to another (Toxicokinetics) Then it may or may not make changes (Toxicodynamics).The chemical may or may not be toxic. The body may try to metabolise the chemicals through organs like liver and eliminate them. Or they may remain in the blood stream itself. The biggest predictor is by analysing the body matrix like blood or urine to get the trace of chemical itself or its reaction by products or its metabolites.
How do we measure these chemicals in our bodies? Explain the difference between public & commercial labs. Please answer both parts of the question thoroughly. The best answers specifically identify how we measure chemicals in our bodies and at least two differences between public and commercial labs.
The chemicals in our bodies can be measured by analysing body matrix like blood or urine. We can find the chemicals itself or its metabolites or products.Chemicals which remain in the body can be found in blood stream and which is eliminated can be found on urine.This analysis is called biomonitoring. Public labs are not for individual uses but is aimed for the whole public/population.They are answerable to public. Biomonitoring data is collected from mainly public labs. commercial labs are funded by private persons or groups which are for individual analysis.They doesn't work for or under the government.Mainly used by individuals for body sample analysis when they need it.
In what ways can chemicals impact our health? What steps are involved in the assessment of risk related to chemicals? Please answer both parts of the question thoroughly. The best answers address types of health effects and potential endpoints and identify all of the steps in risk assessment.
Chemicals can impact our health in many ways.positively or negatively. The water we use is a chemical needed by our body for metabolism. while a chemical like lead, if intaken lead to lead poisoning. toxic chemicals can be coarciongenic or non carcinogenic. Risk analysis involves hazard identification, dose response assesment, exposure assessment,risk characterisation. At first hazard is identified then its dose and response is assesed by plotting graphs, Then the biomonitoring data is used to look into exposure and at last,risk is characterized and decesion is made.
How can we as a society address chemicals, particularly as they relate to health? Please answer the question thoroughly. The best answers identify and explain at least one specific method of societal action.
We must adress chemicals with more consciousness. The effects of all chemicals we use in day to day life is need to be assessed. The ingredients of products we use must be read and must be aware of effects. As a society, we can make others aware and make the government take up policies inorder to limit the use of harmful chemicals in products. Everyone, the consumers and retailers can contribute to this.
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