A Healthier Environment • Name some of the direct and indirect health risks associated with climate change. • List the effects of ozone and particle pollution on lung health and functioning. • Define sustainability and describe ways college campuses can promote sustainability. • Discuss the risks of prolonged exposure to sounds over 85 decibels and how to protect their hearing. • Compare and contrast bottled and tap water. • Identify the major indoor pollutants. • List the key sources and health risks of electromagnetic fields. • Evaluate their personal habits and identify ways they can adopt behaviors that will support sustainability. Chapter Learning Objectives
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A Healthier Environment• Name some of the direct and indirect health risks associated
with climate change.• List the effects of ozone and particle pollution on lung health
and functioning.• Define sustainability and describe ways college campuses
can promote sustainability.• Discuss the risks of prolonged exposure to sounds over 85
decibels and how to protect their hearing.• Compare and contrast bottled and tap water.• Identify the major indoor pollutants.• List the key sources and health risks of electromagnetic
fields.• Evaluate their personal habits and identify ways they can
adopt behaviors that will support sustainability.
Chapter Learning Objectives
The Environment and Your Health
We cannot separate our individual health from that of the environment in which we live.• The World Health Organization (WHO) has
identified the three major environmental threats to health:
•Unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.•Indoor air pollution from solid fuel use.•Outdoor air pollution.• Climate Change•According to WHO, the world’s climate is changing in significant ways and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Health Risks Of Climate Change
Direct
Effects of natural disasters such as:
Heat waves
Hurricanes
Floods, tsunamis
Indirect
Changing patterns of infectious disease
Depletion of fresh water
Food availability
“Your Health Action Plan for Protecting the Planet”
• Wash laundry in warm or cold water, not hot.
• Buy products sold in simple packaging.
• Carry a tote bag or recycle shopping bags.
• Switch from standard light bulbs to energy-efficient fluorescent ones.
• Set room thermostats lower in winter and higher in summer.
• Run dishwashers only when full.• Bike, carpool, or take mass transit
whenever possible.
Three Greenhouse Gases
Gas Source
Carbon Dioxide
Burning of fossil fuels and wood
Methane
Producing fossil fuels
Livestock
Decomposition of organic wastes
Nitrous Oxide
Agricultural and industrial processes
Temperature Effects of Greenhouse Gases
The Impact of Pollution: Definitions
• Pollutant• A substance or agent in the environment,
usually the byproduct of human industry or activity, that is injurious to human, animal, or plant life.
• Pollution• The presence of pollutants in the
environment.• Mutagen• An agent that causes alteration in the
genetic material (DNA) of living cells.
The Impact of Pollution: Definitions
• Carcinogen• A substance or agent that causes cancer.
• Teratogen• A mutagens that can crosses the placenta of a
pregnant woman and causes spontaneous abortion or birth defects in the fetus.
• Ozone • A form of oxygen that is a harmful component of air
pollution.
Health Problems Linked To Pollution
Allergy and Asthma Headaches
Dizziness and Nausea Heart Disease
Chest Pain Birth defects
Reproductive problemsHigher mortality from strokes
Vomiting Eye irritation
Impaired vision Sore throat
Stomach Cancer Cough
Air Pollution Effects
Lung
Destroy cilia
Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
HeartIncrease atherosclerosis
Death due to heart disease
Children Impair lung development
Ozone Is The Primary Air Pollutant
DefinedForm of oxygen that is harmful when in the lower atmosphere
ImpactMost influence on young, senior citizens, outdoor enthusiasts and workers, those with respiratory disease
Effects
Premature death
Shortness of breath, wheezing
Chest pain on inhalation
Susceptibility to respiratory infections
Particle Pollution Is Most Dangerous
DefinedSmall particles in air which get trapped in lungs
Effects
Diminishes lung function in everyone
Increases number and severity of asthma attacks
Increased risk of heart attack and stroke in elderly and prior heart condition
Increased mortality of infants and young children
High RiskLive within 1/3 mile of highway
Spending time in heavy traffic
Sustainability Has Three Components
DefinedUse of as little as possible of resources that cannot be renewed
3 Parts
Precycle – consider before purchase
Recycle – reusing materials that would be considered trash
Composting – turning organic material into rich soil
Figure 19-2 p631
Greening Your Space
The Water You Drink
• According to CDC, each year, there are about 7,400 cases of illness related to water contamination.
• Sources of water contamination:
Parasites Lead Viruses
Bacteria Chemicals• Most consumer water filters can block certain
pathogens that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.
Bottled Water or Tap Water?
No scientific reason to recommend bottled water over tap water
Disposable bottles pose risk to environment
30 million PET bottles require 17 million barrels of oil to make
Switching to reusable bottles reduces waste Glass is safest and eco-friendly Metal (aluminum or stainless steel) Hard plastic (polycarbonate)
Leading Pollutants Of Indoor Air
Tobacco smoke
Radon
Molds
Household Products
Formaldehyde
Pesticides
Asbestos
Lead
Indoor Pollutants
Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke, including children, face increased risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
ETSSmoke burning from end of pipe, cigarette or cigar or exhaled from smoker’s mouth
TypesSecondhand– passive smoking
Thirdhand – tobacco residue on surfaces and in dust
Effects
Irritation of eye, nose and throat
Headaches
Lung cancer and possibly heart disease
Children: lung and ear effects
Radon
RadonFrom breakdown of uranium in rocks, soil and water