Harkness2e chap19 ppt

Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved

Chapter 19: Environmental

Health

2Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved

Chapter Highlights• Human health and the environment• Assessing contaminants in the

environment• Exposure pathways• Assessing the environment of a

community• Planning interventions to make

communities healthier


Chapter Highlights (cont.)• Evaluating interventions• Environmental epidemiology• Working toward healthy communities• Environmental justice• Global environmental health issues


QuestionIs the following statement true or false?Environmental health is the branch of public health science that focuses on how the environment influences chronic disease.


AnswerFalseRationale: Environmental health is the branch of public health science that focuses on how the environment influences human health, not chronic disease.


Human Health and the Environment

• History of environment health• How do certain contaminants affect human

health?• How do we assess exposures to contaminants?• How does the environment influence health?• How do we live as a population while maintaining

a healthy environment?


Human Health and the Environment (cont.)

• Community environment• Genetic and behavioral factors• Nursing and environmental health


AssessmentAssessing contaminants in the environment Exposure pathway• Source of contamination• Environmental media and transport• Point of exposure• Route of exposure• Receptor population


Exposure History• Present work• Past work• Home/residence• Activities/hobbies• Concerns


QuestionWhat is bioavailability?A. Study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical,

or biological agents on people, animals, and the environment.

B. An estimate that determines a person’s level of exposure to a contaminant

C. Amount of a contaminant that actually ends up in the systemic circulation

D. Process of using medical tests such as blood or urine collection to determine if a person has been exposed to a contaminant and how much exposure he or she has received


AnswerC. Amount of a contaminant that actually ends up in the systemic circulationRationale: Bioavailability is the amount of a contaminant that actually ends up in the systemic circulation. Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on people, animals, and the environment. An exposure estimate determines a person’s level of exposure to a contaminant. Biomonitoring is the process of using medical tests such as blood or urine collection to determine if a person has been exposed to a contaminant and how much exposure he or she has received.


Determining the Health Impact of a Completed Exposure Pathway

• Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on people, animals, and the environment.

• An exposure estimate determines a person’s level of exposure to a contaminant.

• Bioavailability is the amount of a contaminant that actually ends up in the systemic circulation.

• Biomonitoring is the process of using medical tests such as blood or urine collection to determine if a person has been exposed to a contaminant and how much exposure he or she has received.


Proximity• Proximity to a contaminant or hazard

is not the only factor in determining whether there is a risk to human health.

• For a contaminant to pose a risk, there must be a completed exposure pathway.


Assessing the Environment of a Community

• When assessing a community’s environment, it is helpful to think about the whole environment to determine what components are influencing human health.

• Environmental justice is important to consider when looking at the impact of the environment on a community.


Assessment of Individuals: Taking an Exposure History

• Identify current or past exposures.• Eliminate exposures.• Try to mitigate or reduce a client’s

adverse health effects from exposures.


Interventions• Most often something designed to

interrupt or break the exposure pathway


Evaluation• Has the exposure pathway been

interrupted? • What does the community think about

the intervention—are people satisfied? • How has health improved? • How many people did the intervention

affect? • Can the intervention demonstrate any

cost savings? • Is the intervention sustainable?


Environmental Epidemiology • Epidemiology is a field of public health

science that focuses on the incidence and prevalence of disease or illness in a population.

• Environmental epidemiology• Field of public health science that focuses on

the incidence and prevalence of disease or illness in a population from exposures in their environments


Major Challenges to Environmental Epidemiology

• Limited availability of data on many contaminants and their effect on health

• Limited understanding about how exposures to multiple contaminants may sicken people

• Latency between exposure and illness can be very long.

• Time-consuming to perform• Resource intensive in terms of personnel and

money• Inconclusive in determining if X contaminant

causedY illness


Working Toward Healthy Environments

• Healthy communities• Healthy homes


Children’s Health and the Environment

• Body systems are still rapidly developing• Eat, drink, and breathe more in proportion

to their body size than do adults• Breathing zone is closer to the ground

compared with adults• Bodies may be less able to break down and

excrete contaminants• Behaviors can expose them to more

contaminants


QuestionIs the following statement true or false?Environmental justice is the belief that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental health consequences regardless of race alone.


AnswerFalseRationale: Environmental justice is the belief that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental health consequences regardless of race, culture, or income.


Environmental Justice Environmental justice is the belief that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental health consequences regardless of the following:• Race• Culture• Income


Global Environmental Health Challenges

• Clean water and sanitation• Air quality• Chemical and contaminant exposure• Climate change

Harkness2e chap19 ppt

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