Environmental Health Chapter 14 ©2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

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Environmental HealthChapter 14

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©2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

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• 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 disasters–Human made disasters

• Seen as encompassing all the interactions of humans with their environment and the health consequences of these interactions

• Our responsibility

Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health DefinedDefined

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• United Nations projects that the world population will reach 9.1 billion by 2050

• How many people can the world support?– Already exceed earth’s resource

capacity by 20%– Food– Available land and water– Energy– Minimum acceptable standard of living

Population Growth and ControlPopulation Growth and Control

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Figure 14.1 World Population GrowthFigure 14.1 World Population Growth

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• Air pollution is not a human invention or even a new problem

• Air Quality and Smog–Air Quality Index (AQI)–Five major air pollutants:

1. Carbon Monoxide (CO)2. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)3. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)4. Particulate matter (PM)5. Ground-level ozone

–Fossil fuels–Smog–AQI values run from 0 to 500; the higher the

AQI, the greater of pollution and associated health danger

Air Quality and PollutionAir Quality and Pollution

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• 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 causing a buildup of heat that raises the

temperature of the lower atmosphere• Global warming, or Climate Change

– An increase in the earth’s atmospheric temperature when averaged across seasons and geographical regions

– Causing an increasing concentration of greenhouse gases

• Possible consequences– Increased rainfall and flooding– Increased drought– Increased mortality from heat stress, air pollution,

tropical diseases, and extreme weather events– Change in land productivity– Melting ice caps

The Greenhouse Effect and Global WarmingThe Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

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• 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–Ozone layer is being destroyed primarily by

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)–Causing increased exposure to UV rays

• Energy use and air pollution–U.S. is the biggest energy consumer in the

world, 85% from fossil fuels–Alternative fuels–Hybrid and electric vehicles

Air Quality and PollutionAir Quality and Pollution

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• Indoor air pollution– Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)– Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products– Formaldehyde gas– Biological pollutants

• Preventing air pollution and conserving energy– Cut back on driving– Keep your car well maintained– Buy energy-efficient appliances– Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent

bulbs– Make sure home is well-insulated– Plant and care for trees– Properly remove waste– Tightly seal paints, cleaning agents and other chemicals– Clean and inspect chimneys, furnaces and other

appliances

Air Quality and Pollution Air Quality and Pollution

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• Water contamination and treatment–Few parts of the world have enough safe,

clean drinking water, but few things are more important to human health

–Most water goes to water-treatment plants before being piped into the community

–Most U.S. water systems provide adequate, dependable supplies, are able to control disease, and provide pleasant tasting water

Water Quality and PollutionWater Quality and Pollution

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• Water shortages– Rapid growth of some regions of the

U.S. is taxing the local system

• Sewage– Sewage treatment centers separate fecal

matter from water so that it cannot transmit infectious diseases

–Sludge that remains is handled as hazardous waste and is contaminated with heavy metals

Water Quality and Pollution Water Quality and Pollution

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• Protecting the water supply– Take showers, not baths– Install sink faucet aerators and water-

efficient showerheads– Water-savor toilets– Fix any leaky faucets– Do not flush old medications – Don’t pour toxic material down the

drain

Water Quality and PollutionWater Quality and Pollution

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• What’s in our garbage?– Paper products make up the largest amount of

household trash– 1% of solid waste is toxic

• Computer components

• Disposing of solid waste– Sanitary landfill disposal sites– Biodegradability

• Recycling– Puts unwanted objects back to good use and reduces

waste• E-waste

– Fastest growing portion of American’s waste stream

Solid Waste PollutionSolid Waste Pollution

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Figure 14.3 Components of municipal solid Figure 14.3 Components of municipal solid waste, by weight, before recyclingwaste, by weight, before recycling

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• 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, newspaper

aluminum, and other recyclables• Do not throw away electronic items or

batteries – recycle them• Start a compost pile

Reducing Solid WasteReducing Solid Waste

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• Asbestos– Mineral-based compound– Fibers can lodge in the lungs causing

asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases

• Lead– When ingested or inhaled, can damage the

CNS, cause permanent mental impairment, cause digestive problems, and possibly death

• Pesticides• Mercury

–Affects nervous system, brain, kidneys, and heart

• Other chemical pollutants

Chemical Pollution and Hazardous WasteChemical Pollution and Hazardous Waste

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• Read labels, and try to buy the least toxic products

• Dispose of your household hazardous waste properly

• Buy organic, locally grown produce

• Store pesticides or toxic household products in a locked place

• Use a licensed exterminator

Preventing Chemical PollutionPreventing Chemical Pollution

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• Can come in many different forms and from different sources• Medical uses of radiation

– X-rays• Cell Phones and Radon• Avoiding radiation

– Only get x-rays when necessary– Use sunscreen to protect yourself from UV rays– Use a hands-free device or wired headset when using

your cell phone whenever possible, and carry your phone at least one inch from your body

RadiationRadiation

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• Prolonged exposure to sounds above 80-85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss– Work place– Sporting events– Concerts

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)– Sets legal standards for noise in the workplace

• Ways to avoid exposing yourself to excessive noise– Wear ear protection around noisy machinery– When listening to music with headphones, keep the

volume at 6 or below (with range of 1-10), use earbuds only 30 minutes a day unless set below 60% of maximum, use headphones up to an hour a day

– Avoid loud music

Noise PollutionNoise Pollution

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• Become a part of larger community actions to work for a healthier world–Become better educated–Share what you have learned –Join, support, or volunteer your time

You and the EnvironmentYou and the Environment

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Environmental HealthChapter 14

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