Write a 3–4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.
Capella University Formaldehyde Environmental Toxins Paper Discussion
Question Description
Hey Robert, thanks for helping me out the last one was beyond excellent the professor could not find not one thing wrong with the paper. Again, I’m putting the scoring guide at the end of the question. I need to score “basic” or above nothing in “non-performance”.
Overview
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:
Competency 2: Analyze the impact of contaminants in the environment to human health.
Analyze the impact of a toxic substance on human health.
Analyze possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance.
Analyze what happens when a toxin enters the environment.
Analyze the persistency of a specific toxic substance.
Analyze government recommendations for a specific toxic substance.
Context
Toxins are substances that can harm a living organism. When air, water, or soil is contaminated by toxins, it can lead to serious health problems. The Assessment 2 Context document provides a brief overview of topics related to toxicity. You may wish to review this document for key concepts and ideas related to this assessmentWrite a 3–4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.
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?Write a 3–4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.
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?
Resources
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.
Internet Resources
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.
CDC. (2014). Agency for toxic substances and disease registry. Retrieved from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
United States Department of Labor. (2014). Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/
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.
Identify any discrepancies you found in your research.
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.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Use the APA Paper Template (linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading) to format your analysis.
Written Communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Length: This analysis should be 3–4 pages in content length. Include a separate title page and a separate references page.
Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. Use Microsoft Word.
APA Formatting: Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
Number of Resources: You are required to cite a minimum of 2 scholarly resources. You may conduct independent research for resources and references to support your analysis. Provide a reference list and in-text citations for all of your resources, using APA format. You may cite texts and authors from the Resources.
Competency 4: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
ASSESSMENT 2 CONTEXT
Determining ToxicityToxicity is determined by the following:
Observing people during normal use or accidental exposure.
Experimental studies using animals.
Cellular studies.
Toxins can be divided into categories based on their potential harm to humans.
Carcinogens are substances known to cause cancer.
Endocrine disruptors are agents that bind with hormones, blocking their normal function.
Teratogens are agents that cause malformation of a fetus through the mother.
Toxicologists are scientists that study toxins. They determine whether the toxins have any harmful effects on the environment or the human body. Toxicologists often describe toxins as either hazardous or poisonous. Hazardous substances are substances having the capacity to do harm. Poisonous substances are able to kill, injure, or impair living things with a small dose.
ASSESSING RISK
After determining that a substance is toxic, toxicologists and other scientists create risk assessment models. Risk assessment involves considering four steps:
Identification of the hazard and its potential health effects.
Dose-response (amount of pollutant to which a person is exposed).
Mode of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, absorption, and injection).
Determination of overall risk based on dose response and exposure.
Cost-benefit analysis can be used to determine if a risk should be taken, and what strategies can be used to regulate and control the risk. In some cases, after a risk assessment, a risk will be determined unavoidable.The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a government agency created in 1972 to address some products that have presented an unreasonable risk of injury. The CPSC requires safety labels, recalls hazardous products, and enforces bans upon them.
ACCIDENTS
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 400 Americans die each day due to injuries caused by accidents (2014). In fact, most people experience a significant injury at least once in their lifetime (Hilgenkamp, 2006). Although not all accidents can be avoided, understanding where the risks are, and taking steps to avoid them, is important to protecting our health.Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in individuals between 1 and 44 years of age (CDC, 2006). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is charged with increasing safety on the roads by writing and enforcing safety laws. Seat belts, safety seats for children, air bags, and anti-lock brakes are just some of the devices that can make traveling in a motor vehicle safer. We can reduce our risk of a motor vehicle accident by following traffic laws, and always considering what is prudent based on the driving conditions.Accidents can also occur when we are in our homes. Common occurrences involve falls, poisonings, accidental shootings, fires, and power equipment. Young children are particularly at risk, which is why child-proofing a home is so important. Cabinets with toxic materials, medicines, and guns should be locked. Matches and lighters should be kept in a safe place.
OSHA
Concerns of hazards in the workplace led to the development of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s mission is to prevent injuries and protect the health of United States workers by ensuring safe and healthful places to work (United States Department of Labor, n.d.). The major areas of concern in the workplace are air contaminants (dust, fibers, gases, and vapors), and physical (temperature, noise, and radiation), biological (pathogens), and chemical (inhaled, absorbed, ingested, or injected) issues.
References
CDC. (2006, June 28). Deaths: Preliminary data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54(19). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_19…Hilgenkamp, K. (2006). Environmental health: Ecological perspectives. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Healthy people.gov. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx
United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). About OSHA. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/about.html
Environmental Toxins Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
Analyze the impact of a toxic substance on human health.
Does not describe the impact of a toxic substance on human health. Describes the impact of a toxic substance on human health. Analyzes the impact of a toxic substance on human health. Analyzes and evaluates the impact of a toxic substance on human health, providing opinions and supporting evidence.
Analyze possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance.
Does not describe possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance. Describes possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance. Analyzes possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance. Analyzes and evaluates possible sources of exposure to a toxic substance.
Analyze what happens when a toxin enters the environment.
Does not describe what happens when a toxin enters the environment. Describes what happens when a toxin enters the environment. Analyzes what happens when a toxin enters the environment. Analyzes what happens when a toxin enters the environment and assesses the options available to mitigate the risk of potential harm.
Analyze the persistency of a specific toxic substance.
Does not describe persistency of a toxic substance. Describes persistency of a toxic substance. Analyzes persistency of a toxic substance. Analyzes persistency of a toxic substance and discusses impact of the toxin’s lifecycle.
Analyze government recommendations for a specific toxic substance.
Does not describe government recommendations for a specific toxic substance. Describes government recommendations for a specific toxic substance. Analyzes government recommendations for a specific toxic substance. Analyzes and evaluates government recommendations for a specific toxic substance, and discusses whether and how the recommendations need updating.
Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Does not write in support a central idea in appropriate format. Does not use correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writes in support of an idea with consistent format, but includes major errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writes coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. Writes coherently, using evidence to support a central idea in a consistently appropriate format, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.
Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.Write a 3–4-page analysis on the impact of a selected toxin on human health.
Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.
The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS
Discussion Questions (DQ)
Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.
Weekly Participation
Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.
APA Format and Writing Quality
Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.
Use of Direct Quotes
I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.
LopesWrite Policy
For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.
Late Policy
The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.
Communication
Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me:
Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.