Module 10

Information from Course Outline
Module 10, Closes Monday, November 5

Introduction
There are myriad toxic agents. Sometimes it helps to have a handle on certain classes of agents, especially if there are similarities within the class or subclasses. We'll discuss three classes of agents: hydrocarbons, solvents, and pesticides. We will have a special topics module about petroleum toxicity in Module 14, so here we'll deal with individual hydrocarbons. We will also study some "important" chemicals in each class. By important I mean some combination of toxicity, exposure, and public awareness that makes them more likely you will bump into them in the course of your work. We'll cover plant and animal toxins by a fast overview of the myriad types of toxins and their mechanism. Finally we will deal a little with radiation, both non-ionizing and ionizing radiation. A goal of all these submodules is "integration of knowledge." That is, you get to use the things you learned earlier.

Reading from Stine and Brown
None.

Module 10

 
Submodule 10A Specific Agents: Pesticides
Submodule 10B Specific Agents: Solvents and hydrocarbons
Submodule 10C Radiation, just a little
Submodule 10D Plant and animal toxins
  Learning Goals
  Updated Closure  

Homework.
There are 25 points for this module's homework. a.) 5 points for quiz, b.)10 points for individual written assignment, c.) 10 points for the discussion, and d.) extra credit points for the message to the instructor.

a.) Access the quiz through Blackboard. A copy of the quiz is found here.

b.) Organochlorines like DDT are known for their great persistence and damage to environmental receptors, such as birds. The organophosphorus insecticides are known for their neurotoxicity. Carbamates and pyrethroids are not so well known, but are neurotoxic also. The question is, do any of them cause cancer? Take two or three of the named pesticides in Submodule 10A. Do some research and write an opinion about whether or not they cause cancer. Is there a weight of evidence classification? Then go the compendium site (http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/class_pesticides.html) and select two or three pesticides that are not discussed in the submodule, preferable from a different type of pesticide (how about Molluscicides). Again do a search. So your homework output will be 4 to 6 short paragraphs characterizing the carcinogenicity of some pesticides. Send this in an email to the instructor. Label the subject: ENVE 652 HW 10.

c.) Discussion. Do not induce vomiting!! Each team member go their basement or look under their sinks and read some labels. How many do you find that discourage vomiting? Then look at the ingredients. Do you recognize any of the names from the hydrocarbon and solvent module? Each team member post the number of such products, the names of the likely solvent named in the lecture and the names of a solvent not named. Do a web search, perhaps for an MSDS or other reference, for the chemical. Describe its toxicity in a short paragraph. If you don't keep such things in your abode, go to the supermarket. Look at your teammates before you and don't report on the same chemicals, or if you do, note differences about what you found.

d.) You may append a message to the instructor to the end of your written assignment described in b.). Possible extra credit points for pointing out typo's or glitches in the material, suggesting a topic for Module 14, or any good questions, comments or criticisms. Include this in your report, item b.) above.

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© 2002, Robert A. Perkins