• Write a 3-4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Write a 3-4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.

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Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

• What is the role of an environmental health professional?

• How do professionals define risks associated with environmental toxins?

• What is an example of one technique people use to detoxify the body? Have you, or would you, use such a technique?

• How has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

• What is the role of the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding product safety?

• Is your own workplace proactive when it comes to hazards?

• In what ways are you, or could you, become proactive in reducing your own occupational hazards?

• What are some ways occupational physical, biological, or chemical hazards could be decreased?

• What are the perceived risks of nanotechnology?

• How do the views of upstream scientists differ from downstream scientists, with respect to new technology like nanotechnology?

• What are the differences in scientific approaches to risk assessment?

• Toggle Drawer

Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

• What is the role of an environmental health professional?

• How do professionals define risks associated with environmental toxins?

• What is an example of one technique people use to detoxify the body? Have you, or would you, use such a technique?

• How has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

• What is the role of the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding product safety?

• What is the role of OSHA regarding workplace safety?

• Is your own workplace proactive when it comes to hazards?

• In what ways are you, or could you, become proactive in reducing your own occupational hazards?

• What are some ways occupational physical, biological, or chemical hazards could be decreased?

• What are the perceived risks of nanotechnology?

• How do the views of upstream scientists differ from downstream scientists, with respect to new technology like nanotechnology?

• What are the differences in scientific approaches to risk assessment?

Assessment Instructions

The purpose of this assessment is for you to learn how to summarize and critically evaluate a scientific paper on environmental toxins.

To begin, choose a toxin to research. Note: The CDC Web site and other materials listed in the Resources should provide you with a starting point in selecting a toxin.

Then, select at least two peer-reviewed articles about your chosen toxin to read carefully. Craft a 3-4-page analysis of the toxin's impact on human health based on what you have learned. Address the following in your analysis:

Highlight the main points presented in the articles you read. What message are the authors trying to convey about that toxin?

Describe the possible sources of human exposure to this toxin, and analyze their risk.

Analyze what happens when this toxin enters the environment.

Analyze the persistency of this toxin.

Analyze the federal government's recommendations for protecting human health from this toxin.

Describe what other sources of information say about these toxins.

o Identify any discrepancies you found in your research.

o If the authors have different perspectives, how might these differing views affect environmental health?

Your analysis should follow a logical structure and be evidence based. Use the MEAL Plan to help guide the organization of your analysis:

Main Idea: Present the main point or idea that you are making about the environmental toxin you studied.

Evidence: What does the research say? Support your statements with evidence from your research and personal experience.

Analysis: Summarize main ideas from articles related to the points outlined for this assessment. Compare and contrast the ideas of the authors of the two articles. Identify those ideas and facts that relate directly or indirectly to your main point. Make explicit links between source articles, your personal experience, and your current analysis.

Link: Integrate and combine information from the source articles and your personal experience to your main point or idea.