Environmental Health Unit : Lesson 1 - Introduction

1. Environmental Health Unit: Lesson 1 - Introduction Objective: TSWBAT identify issues of how the environment affects our personal health on a daily basis. TSWBAT investigate environmental issues, government agencies, and eight laws that deal with our environment.

2. Big Ideas – Discuss with your seat partner: 1. How do your surroundings affect your personal health? 2. How can your actions affect your environment?

3. Environmental Health • The study of humans & their interactions with the environment. • It examines: • chemical, physical & biologicalagents that move through the environment affecting human health & investigates ways to control or minimize them. • Human health is dependant on a high quality environment • The professional in environmental health works to protect the overall quality health of air, water, soil & food.

4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Department of the US government • Protects the country’s land, air, and water • Enforces environmental laws • Researches issues related to the health of the environment • Educates the public about environmental issues

5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Part of US Department of Labor • Works to prevent injuries and other health problems in the workplace. • Sets safety standards for workplaces • Helps train and educate workers.

6. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 1. Clean Air Act: • Law that allows the EPA to set standards for major air pollutants.

7. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 2. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liability Act: • Law provides funding to clean up uncontrolled or hazardous waste sites & oil & chemical spills

8. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 3. Clean Water Act: • Law that sets regulations on wastes going into water and on the operation of waste treatment plants & makes it illegal to release pollutants into the water

9. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 4. Safe Drinking Water Act: • Law that protects the quality of drinking water. It also sets standards for owners and operators of public water systems

10. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 5. Endangered Species Act: • Law that protects animal & plant species threatened by extinction.

11. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 6. National Environmental Policy Act: • Law that requires all governmental agencies to consider and assess the impact on the environment before taking any action that might affect the environment.

12. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 7. Toxic Substances Control Act: • Law the authorizes the EPA to set standards for the manufacturing, use, transportation, and disposal of toxic substances

13. Laws & Acts – Regulate the Environment 8. Occupational Safety and Health Act: • Law that sets a series of minimal safety and health standards that all employers must meet.