Question

Certain biological determinants of health may increase a population’s risk of environmentally caused health problems.

Answer 1

Answer: b. The elderly have a higher risk from toxic pesticides because they are less able to eliminate environmental toxins.

Explanation:

The older adults are expected to have health problems after a pesticide exposure. This is because of the fact that their metabolism is slow and the liver and kidneys are not able to remove the pesticides from the body. The liver and kidney may get injured during the exposure of the high doses of pesticides.

The longer a pesticide stay in the body of an old person this may result in more severe injury. As the body is slow in metabolism that is the conversion of the chemicals in the pesticides into less toxic metabolites. Thus the elderly people will not be able to eliminate the toxin from the body. The toxin will damage the vital organs and can lead to death.