Environmental Health

1. Environmental Health Chapter 17

2. Environmental Health • Planet supplies us with: food, water, air, and everything that sustains our life. • Historically environmental health focused on preventing infectious diseases spread by water, waste, food, rodents, and insects. • Expansion of the modern day definition. • Encompassing all the interactions of humans with their environment and the health consequences of these interactions. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

3. Classic Environmental Health Concerns • Grew out of the efforts to control communicable diseases. • Pathogens which can be transferred via sewage, drinking water and food. • U.S. has a complex health system devoted to control such health issues. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

4. Clean Water • Water Contamination and Treatment. • Fluoridation • Water-treatment plants • Water shortages • What You Can Do to Protect the Water Supply • Shower • Sink faucet aerators • Water saving toilets • Fix leaky faucets • Use organic versus chemical fertilizers • Don’t pour toxins down the drain • Gardening issues © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

5. Waste Disposal • Humans generate large amounts of waste. • Sewage • Septic system • Heavy metal • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) • Solid waste • Garbage • Sanitary landfill © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

6. Waste Disposal • What You Can Do to Reduce Garbage • Products with least amount of packaging • Products made of recycled paper or recyclable products • Avoid using foam or paper cups • Store food in glass jars and reusable plastic containers • Recycle newspapers, glass, cans, paper, and any other recyclables • Do not throw electronic items • Start a compost pile • Stop junk mail © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

7. Food Inspection • Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Overall the food distribution in the U.S. is safe and efficient. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

8. Insect and Rodent Control • Great number of illnesses are associated with animal and insect contact. • Encephalitis • Lyme Disease • Rocky Mountain spotted fever • Bubonic plague • West Nile virus © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

9. Population Growth • World’s population currently estimated at 6.5 billion. • 150 people every minute. • Increasing by 76 million per year • To exceed 9.1 billion by 2050 • How Many People Can the World Hold? • Food • Available land and water • Energy • Minimum acceptable standard of living © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

10. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

11. Factors That Contribute to Population Growth • High fertility rates • Lack of family planning resources • Lower death rates • Population © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

12. Pollution • Air pollution • Air quality and smog • Temperature inversion • Air quality index (AQI) • Carbon monoxide (CO) • Sulfur dioxide (SO2) • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) • Particulate matter (PM) • Ground-level ozone © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

13. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

14. The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming • Global warming • Possible Consequences • Increased rainfall and flooding or drought. • Increased mortality from heat stress. • A poleward shift of about 50-350 miles • Thinning of the Ozone Layer • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Acid precipitation • Energy Use and Air Pollution © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

15. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

16. Indoor Air Pollution • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) • Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products • Formaldehyde gas • Biological pollutants © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

17. What You Can Do To Prevent Air Pollution • Cut back on driving • Keep your car tuned up • Buy energy-efficient appliances • Replace incandescent bulbs • Homes well insulated • Plant trees and shrubs • Proper disposal of ozone-depleting appliances • Keep house well ventilated • Don’t smoke • Clean and inspect chimneys, furnaces and other appliances © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

18. Chemical Pollution • Asbestos • Lead • Pesticides • Biomagnification • Mercury • What You Can Do to Prevent Chemical Pollution • Read labels of products purchased • Proper disposal of house hold products • Buy organic produce • Lock-up pesticides • Use licensed exterminators © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

19. Radiation • Nuclear Weapons • Nuclear Energy • Medical Uses of Radiation • Radiation in the Home and Workplace • Radon • What You Can Do to Prevent Chemical Pollution • Only get X rays if really needed • Check local and state health department about radon • Find out if there are radioactive sites in your area © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

20. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

21. Noise Pollution • Decibels • Sounds above 80-85 • Two common sources of excessive noise • Workplace • Large gatherings of people at a concert or sporting event • The Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) standards • What You Can Do to Prevent Chemical Pollution • Wear ear protectors • Listen to music on a headset with a volume at or below 6 • Avoid loud music • Avoid exposure to painfully loud sounds 80 + decibels © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

22. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

23. Healing The Environment • Share what you have learned. • Join, support, or volunteer your time. • Contact your elected representatives. © 2008 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

24. Environmental Health Chapter 17