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Environmental Health

Environmental Health. Chapter 19. Environmental Health. Seen as encompassing all the interactions of humans with their environment and the health consequences of these interactions. Our responsibility Environmental problems are complex and seem beyond the control of the individual.

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Environmental Health

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  1. Environmental Health Chapter 19

  2. Environmental Health • Seen as encompassing all the interactions of humans with their environment and the health consequences of these interactions. • Our responsibility • Environmental problems are complex and seem beyond the control of the individual.

  3. Environmental health defined • Grew out of efforts to control communicable diseases • United States developed a huge, complex health system designed to deal with these critical health concerns. • Natural disaster • Human made disaster

  4. Population growth and control • World population – 6.6 Billion • Increasing at a rate of 76 million per year • 150 people every minute • How many people can the world hold? • Already exceed earths capacity by 20% • Food • Available land and water • Energy • Minimum acceptable standard of living

  5. Figure 19-1 World Population growth

  6. Factors that contribute to population growth • High fertility rates • Lack of family planning • Lower death rates • For population management to be successful there needs to be improvement of: • Poverty • Remove the pressures for having a large family • Improved health • Better education • Increased literacy • Employment opportunities for women • Family planning

  7. Air quality and pollution • Is not a human invention or even a new problem • Air Quality and Smog • Five major air pollutants: • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Sulfur dioxide (SO2) • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) • Particulate matter (PM) • Ground-level ozone AQI values run from 0 to 500; the higher the AQI, the greater of pollution and associated health danger.

  8. The greenhouse effect and global warming • The temperature of the earth’s atmosphere depends on the balance between the amount of energy the earth absorbs and the amount of energy radiated back into space. • Greenhouse effect • Reradiation causing a buildup of heat that raises the temperature of the lower atmosphere. • Global warming • Concentration of greenhouse gases • Possible consequences • Increased rainfall and flooding • Increased mortality from heat stress • A poleward shift of 50-350 miles

  9. Figure 19-2 The greenhouse effect

  10. Table 19.1 Sources of greenhouse gases

  11. Figure 19-3 Trend in annual mean temperature

  12. The greenhouse effect and global warming • Thinning of the Ozone Layer • A fragile, invisible layer about 10-30 miles about the earth’s surface • Shields the planet from the sun’s hazardous ultraviolet (UV) rays • Being destroyed primarily by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Coolants in refrigerators • Foaming agents • Insulation • Propellants • Solvents • Energy use and air pollution • U.S. is the biggest energy consumers in the world

  13. The greenhouse effect and global warming • Indoor air pollution • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) • Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products • Formaldehyde gas • Biological pollutants • Indoor mold • Preventing air pollution • Cut back driving • Keep your car tuned up • Buy energy-efficient appliances • Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent • Home is well-insulated • Plant and care for trees • Local waste hauler will remove ozone-depleting refrigerants from disposed refrigerators • Adequately ventilate your house to reduce indoor air pollution • Tightly seal paints, cleaning agents and other chemicals • Don’t smoke • Clean and inspect chimneys, furnaces and other appliances

  14. Water quality and pollution • Ensuring safe, clean drinking water • Purifying water in a water-treatment plants • Screening • Filtration • Disinfection (chlorine) • Fluoridation • Reduces tooth decay by 15-40% for than 60 years

  15. Water shortages • Too rapid growth of some regions of the U.S. is taxing the local system • World Health Organization • 1 billion people do not have safe drinking water • 2.6 billion do not have access to basic sanitation

  16. Sewage • The connection of disease and contact with contaminate water • Typhoid • Cholera • Hepatitis A • Direct contact with human feces • Modern day • Septic systems • Sewage-treatment systems

  17. Protect the water supply • Take showers, not baths • Install sing faucet aerators • Water-savor toilets • Fix any leaky faucets • Do not flush old medications • Don’t pour toxic material down the drain

  18. Solid waste Pollution • Average American generates 4.6 pounds of trash per day; about 1.5 pounds of this is recycled. • What’s in our garbage? • Paper products make up the largest amount of household trash. • Yard waste • Plastic • Metals • Glass • 1% of solid waste is toxic • Computer components • Disposal of solid waste • Sanitary landfill • Biodegradability • Recycling • Discarded technology

  19. Figure 19-6 Components of municipal solid waste, by weight, before recycling

  20. Reducing Solid waste • Buy products with the least amount of packaging • Buy recycled or recyclable products • Avoid using foam or paper cups • Use glass to store food • Recycle paper, plastic, glass and aluminum • Do not throw electronic items – recycle them • Start a compost pile • Stop junk mail

  21. Figure 19-7

  22. Chemical Pollution and hazardous waste • 1970’s – EPA established the Superfund program • To clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. • To date, the EPA has completed clean-ups at 966 hazardous waste sites • Superfund national priorities list includes 1255 sites as of May 2008. • Asbestos • Mineral-based compound • Asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases. • Lead • Pesticides • Murcury

  23. Preventing chemical pollution • Read the labels, and try to buy the least toxic products. • Dispose of your household hazardous waste properly • Buy organic produce • Store pesticides or toxic household products in a locked place • Use a licensed exterminator

  24. Radiation pollution • Radiation is energy • Nuclear weapons and power • 104 nuclear power plants in the U.S. • Medical uses of Radiation • X-rays • Radiation in the Home and Workplace • Electromagnetic radiation • Microwave oven • Computer monitor • Cell phones • High-voltage power lines • Radon gas • Avoiding radiation • Only get x-rays when necessary • Follow the Surgeon General’s recommendations for radon testing • Find out if there are radioactive sites in your area.

  25. Figure 19-8 Electromagnetic radiation

  26. Noise Pollution • Effects of loud or persistent noise in the environment • Greater than 80-85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss. • Sporting events • Rock concerts • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Sets legal standards for noise in the workplace. • Some ways to avoid exposing yourself to excessive noise • When listening to music with headphones keep the volume at 6 or below • Avoid loud music • Avoid exposure to painfully loud sounds (above 80 decibels)

  27. You and your environment • Become a part of larger community actions to work for a healthier world: • Share what you have learned • Join, support, or volunteer your time • Contact your elected representatives and communicate your concerns

  28. Environmental Health Chapter 19

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