Environmental Health

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 public health system designed to deal with these critical health concerns • Natural disaster • Human-made disaster • Basics • Clean water • Sanitary waste disposal • Safe food • Insect and rodent control

4. Population growth and control • World population 6.8 Billion • Increasing at a rate of 75 million per year • 150 people every minute • How many people can the world hold? • Already exceed earth’s capacity by 20% • Food • Available land and water • Energy • Minimum acceptable standard of living

5. Figure 19.1World 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, 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 • Air Quality Index (AQI) values run from 0 to 500; the higher the AQI, the greater the 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 from the sun and the amount of energy radiated back into space • Greenhouse effect • Reradiation causes 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 • Melting of the polar ice caps

9. Table 19.1 Sources of greenhouse gases

10. THINNING OF THE OZONE LAYER • A fragile, invisible layer about 10-30 miles above the earth’s surface • Shields the planet from the sun’s hazardous ultraviolet (UV) rays • Being destroyed primarily by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners • Foaming agents in some rigid foam products • Insulation • Propellants in aerosol sprays • Solvents

11. ENERGY USE and AIR POLLUTION • U.S. is the biggest energy consumer in the world • 85% of our energy comes from fossil fuels • Oil, coal, natural gas • Remainder comes from nuclear power and renewable energy sources (hydroelectric, wind, solar power) • Two key strategies for controlling energy use • Conservation • Development of nonpolluting, renewable energy sources • Alternative fuels • Hybrid and electric vehicles

12. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION • Indoor air pollution • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) • Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products • Formaldehyde gas • Biological pollutants • Indoor mold • Some compounds trigger allergies • Others have been linked to cancer

13. PREVENTING AIR POLLUTION • Preventing air pollution • Cut back on 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 • Water contamination and treatment • Ensuring safe, clean drinking water • Purifying water in a water-treatment plants • Screening • Filtration • Disinfection (chlorine) • Fluoridation • Reduces tooth decay by 15-40%; used for 60+ years • Worldwide, more than 2 million people die each year from water-related diseases • U.S. 1 million become ill each year and 1,000 die

15. Water shortages • Too rapid growth of some regions of the U.S. is taxing the local systems • 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 contaminated water • Typhoid • Cholera • Hepatitis A • Direct contact with human feces • Modern day • Septic systems • Sewage-treatment systems • Contaminants • Heavy metals • Bacteria • Chemicals (mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls)

17. Protecting the water supply • Take showers, not baths • Don’t let the water run when not in use • Install sink faucet aerators • Install water-saver toilets • Fix any leaky faucets • Don’t pour toxic material down the drain • Do not flush old medications

18. Solid waste Pollution • Average American generates 4.5 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: eWaste

19. Figure 19.4 A Sanitary Landfill

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, aluminum • Do not throw electronic items – recycle them • Start a compost pile • Stop junk mail

21. Chemical Pollution and hazardous waste • 1970s – EPA established the Superfund program • To clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites • EPA has completed clean-ups at hundreds of hazardous waste sites • Asbestos • Mineral-based compound • Asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases • Lead • Pesticides • Mercury • Other chemical pollutants

22. Preventing chemical pollution • Read 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

23. 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 government recommendations for radon testing • Use sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s UV rays

24. Noise Pollution • Effects of loud or persistent noise in the environment • Greater than 80-85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss • Workplace • 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 • Wear ear protection when working around noisy machinery • 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

25. Figure 19.6 The intensityof selected sounds

26. 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

27. Environmental Health Chapter 19