Environment Health Flashcards

1
Q

Take home message

A

If we take care of the environement, it will take care of us

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2
Q

Environmental health

A

The collective interactions of humans with the environment and the short & long term consequences of these interactions

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3
Q

Anthropocene

A

A geological epoch that represents the beginning of human’s substantial impact on earth systems

  • World’s increasing population strains limited resources
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4
Q

Factors that contribute to population growth

A
  • Fertility rate
  • Lower death rates (better medical care)
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5
Q

Environmental impacts of humans

A
  • Air pollution & water pollution
  • Climate change
  • Toxic substance and hazardous waste management
  • Ozone depletion
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6
Q

Brundtland Report (1987)

A

Highlights the importance of the global environement to our survival

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7
Q

Human Energy Consumption

A

Used to drive cars, light and heat homes, power industry

Non-renewables:
- Oil (41%), gas, coal, hydro-electric, nuclear

Renewable (17%):
- Solar, wind, water, bio fuels

Alternate fuels: Ethanol

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8
Q

Human Energy Consumption Health Impacts

A
  • Pollutants
  • De-forestration
  • Waste products
  • Sewage
  • Eco-system impacts
  • Greenhouse effect
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9
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

The warming of earth caused by a buildup of carbon dioxide and certain other gases

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10
Q

Global warming

A

An increase in Earth’s atmospheric temperature when averaged across seasons and geographical regions

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11
Q

Possible consequences of Global warming

A

Climate change impacts human health in many ways:

Increase in CVD, more allergies, mental health impacts, more diseases, etc.

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12
Q

Climate change affect on mental health

A

Ex. wildfire in 2016 gave evacuees PTSD

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13
Q

How to reduce energy consumption

A
  • Use public transit, car pool
  • Turn the heat down
  • Turn off lights
  • wash and dry dishes by hand
  • Choose renewable energy sources
  • Consider electronic vehicles
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14
Q

Land pollution

A

solid waste:
- average Canadian generates more than 700 kg of household waste yearly

Hazardous waste:
Nuclear, biological, chemical

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15
Q

Solid waste reduction

A

Choose products with less packaging

  • Using recyclables is also a great option

Reduce, reuse, recycle

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16
Q

Air pollution

A

Air pollution weakens protective ozone layer.

  • Build-up of gases increases the risk of cancer and pollutants contribute to acute respiratory illnesses

Also contributes to global warming

17
Q

Types of air pollution

A

Hydrocarbons:
- product of fuel combustion
- Linked to respiratory illness

Particulate Matter:
- Ash, smoke, pollen, dust
- Linked to respiratory damage

Carbon Monoxide:
- Colourless, odorless, poisonous
- Linked to headaches, impaired visual perception, increased risk of CVD, death

Sulfur oxides:
-Main cause of acid rains
- produced by combustion of oil and other fuels
- linked to lung disease and CVD

Nitrogen oxides:
- component of acid rain
- produced by engine exhaust

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Destroy ozone layer

18
Q

Indoor air pollution

A
  • Computers, fax machines
  • Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products
  • Biological pollutants such as mold
  • Asbestos, lead, mercury

may contribute to “sick building syndrome”
- headaches, fatigue, decrease in work productivity

  • Asthma in children is associated with indoor air pollution
19
Q

How to reduce air pollution

A
  • Less driving
  • Plant trees
  • Dont smoke
  • Buy energy-efficient appliances
20
Q

Water pollution

A

Sources:
- water delivery systems
- domestic, agricultural, industrial wastes
- Pharmaceutical chemicals
- Nanoplastics

Most water in Canada is purified in water-treatment plants (some indigenous communities do not)

some regons have water shortages in Summer

  • 2.1 billion people do not have safe drinking water
  • 4.5 billion people do not have access to baic sanitation
21
Q

Protecting water supply

A
  • Take showers not baths
  • Fix leaks
  • Dont pour toxic material or old medicines down the drain
  • Dispose of wastes properly
22
Q

Chemical pollution

A

Pesticides:
-sprayed, dusted, fogged, dumped into environment

linked to lung and bladder cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma

Asbestos:
- Formelry used as insulation in walls
Particles from it cause respiratory damage

Lead:
- paints were lead-based
- found in plumbing, vehicle emissions, tobacco smoke

Linked to CNS damage, mental impairment, coma, death

23
Q

Chemical pollution continued

A

Mercury:
- can contaminate water sources and orgsnisms that live in water
- linked to brain damage, heart, kidneys

PCBs:
- polychlorinated biphenyls
- carcinogen, immune system damage

Trihalomethanes:
- synthetic chemical that forms when chlorine in water reacts with natural organic compounds in water
- associated with liver and kidney disorders, CNS problems, cancer

24
Q

Preventing Chemical pollution

A
  • Buy organic products
  • Lock up pesticides
  • Only use X-rays if necessary
24
Q

Radiation

A
  • Linked to cancer
    Ex. cel phones, X-rays, ovens

Nuclear weapons and energy give of radiation

25
Q

Noise pollution

A

Excessive noise in workplace, sporting events, concerts, etc.

Prolonged exposure to sounds > 80 - 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss

  • Most hearing loss occurs within 2 hours of exposure
  • Continued or repeated exposure makes damage permanent
26
Q

How to reduce noise pollution

A
  • Wear ear protectors in noisy environements (ear plugs)
  • Listen to music at moderate volume
  • Avoid exposure to painfully loud sounds
27
Q

Light Pollution

A

occurs when we have too much artificial light that enters the night sky and reflects off airborne water droplets and dust particles

Effects:
- Disrupts sleep
- Decreases production of melatonin
- May increase risk of cancer

Others: Disrupts wildlife

Ex. flight path of birds

28
Q

How to reduce impact of light pollution

A
  • don’t use computer late at night
  • Avoid long time exposure to artificial light
  • Turn off lights
29
Q

Environment & Health: What can we do?

A

Live as green as we can

  • Choose organic
  • conserve energy
  • be environment consciously
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle

Educate: Educate others about health impacts of glibal ecological issues

Research/Knowledge:
- Look for evidence of local ecological systems that are negatively effected and help

Advocate: Advocate for human and ecological health; become part of a larger environmentally conscious community

Build networks/coalitions:
- Join environmental groups
- establish coalitions with health organizations to address health implications of global ecological issues