A local manufacturing plant reports a spill that released pollutant A into the local watershed. Pollutant A is a toxic substance
. Local officials must determine if the residents should be evacuated from the area. Initial groundwater samples show pollutant levels at 5 mg/kg of water. Which decision is supported by the empirical evidence provided by the dose-response curve? Evacuation is not needed; continue groundwater monitoring. Residents should be evacuated until levels decrease. The spill no longer needs to be monitored. Residents should only evacuate above LD50.
The best decision that is supported by the empirical evidence provided by the dose-response curve is that residents should be evacuated until levels decrease.
The dose–response relationship is also called the exposure–response relationship. It shows the extent to which response (reaction) of an organism can be (reach), as a part of exposure to a stimulus or stressor in a given amount of time (exposure time).
Dose–response relationships can be shown with the aid of dose–response curves
From the dose–response curve, we can see that the death rate is increasing, has reach the maximum peak and as such it is better to evacuate the residence from that contaminated place.
Conclusively, we can say that the best decision that is supported by the empirical evidence provided by the dose-response curve is that residents should be evacuated until levels decrease.
