How would you design an ecologic study to investigate the following problems? How might the ecologic fallacy come into play in each situation? a. lung disease and air pollution b. birth defects and hazardous waste c. cancer and radiation leakage from a power plant
- A. Ecologic fallacy arises when group-level findings incorrectly infer individual-level relationships.
- B. Ecologic studies cannot address causality.
- C. All ecologic studies suffer from severe biases.
- D. Ecologic studies are irrelevant for public health.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ecologic studies analyze aggregated data, risking incorrect inferences about individuals (ecologic fallacy).
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What are some possible hazards associated with the organochloride pesticide DDT?
- A. Bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity.
- B. Immediate skin irritation and respiratory distress.
- C. Increased crop yield and soil fertility.
- D. Improved water quality and biodiversity.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: DDT bioaccumulates in ecosystems and is linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity in wildlife and humans.
A number of passengers on a cruise ship have developed a gastrointestinal illness. Your case definition should include, at a minimum:
- A. Clinical criteria, plus specification of time, place, and person
- B. Clinical features, plus the exposure(s) you most suspect
- C. Suspect cases
- D. The nationally agreed standard case definition for disease reporting
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A case definition must specify clinical criteria and the context of time, place, and person.
In the epidemiological terminology human host is referred to as
- A. Soil
- B. Seed
- C. Extrinsic factor
- D. none of them
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In epidemiology, 'soil' refers to the environment or host where the pathogen (seed) grows.
Contrast the changes in death rates due to cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases.
- A. Heart disease and cancer rates increased initially but stabilized or declined, while cerebrovascular diseases declined steadily.
- B. All three diseases showed consistent declines.
- C. Cancer rates increased, while heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases decreased.
- D. Heart disease rates increased, while cancer and cerebrovascular diseases decreased.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Heart disease and cancer initially rose but later stabilized or declined, while cerebrovascular diseases showed steady declines due to improved treatments and risk factor management.
The vector responsible for leishmaniasis is:
- A. mosquito
- B. bugs
- C. tsetse flies
- D. sandflies
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sandflies are the vectors responsible for transmitting leishmaniasis.