Acute and chronic effects

ACCUTE VS CHRONIC

Pollutants can have acute effects. An acute effect is one that occurs soon after exposure, usually to large amounts of pollutant. It is really apparent because organisms response to the toxin shortly after being exposed. For example, a person exposed all at once to a high dose of radiation may be killed by radiation sickness soon after exposure. A chronic effect takes place over a long period, often as a result of exposure to low levels of a pollutant. It is much more difficult to determine because the effect may not be seen for years. However, that same total dose, received slowly in small amounts over an entire lifetime, may instead cause mutations and lead to disease or affect the person’s DNA and offspring.

TOXIC

Another example of chronic toxicity involves lead. Lead was used in paints, gasoline, and pottery glazes for many years, but researchers discovered that it has harmful effects. the chronic effect on the nervous system are most noticeable in children, particularly when children eat paint chips.

We also describe long lasting exposure as chronic, although their effects may or may not persist after the toxin is removed. It usually is difficult to access the specific health risks of chronic exposure because other factors, such as aging or normal disease, act simultaneously with the factor under study.

DO U KNOW?????

An acute exposure may make an organism ill but not kill it, while chronic exposure to a toxic material may cause death. A good example of this is alcohol toxicity too. Consuming moderate accounts may result in ilness (acute toxicity & full recovery). Consuming moderate amounts over a number of year may result in liver damage and death (chronic toxicity and death).

EffEcT oF thE RaDiaTioN

HEALTHY LIVER VS DAMAGE LIVER

Finger's bone caused by radiation effect

References :

Cunningham W., Cunningham M.A, Saigo B., (2005). Environmental Science A Global Concern. New York: Mc Graw Hill Higher Education.

Enger & Smith, (2006). Environmental Science A Study Of Interrelationships. New York: Mc Graw Hill Higher Education.

Created by *Nazirah Bt Mohd Izani*