Lecture 2 - Environmental + Occupational Influences on Health

Question 1

Hazard

Answer 1

Something with the potential to cause harm

Question 2

Risk

Answer 2

The likelihood of harm occurring

Question 3

Risk factor

Answer 3

Increases the risk of harm

Question 4

Protective factor

Answer 4

Decreases the risk of harm

Question 5

Susceptibility

Answer 5

Influences the likelihood that something will cause harm

Question 6

What are some examples of hazards?

Answer 6

Physical
Chemical
Mechanical - e.g. heavy lifting
Biological - diseases
Psychosocial

Question 7

What are the different routes of exposure?

Answer 7

Skin
Blood
Sexual
Inhalation
Ingestion

Question 8

What are the factors that influence the degree of risk?

Answer 8

1) How much a person is exposed
2) How the person is exposed
3) Conditions of exposure

Question 9

What does ‘risk’ combine?

Answer 9

The probability that a particular outcome will occur and the severity of the harm involved

Question 10

Do people perceive risks differently?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

What are the three principles that govern the perception of risk?

Answer 11

Feeling in control
Size of the possible harm
Familiarity with the risk

Question 12

How is feeling in control affected?

Answer 12

Involuntary risks = situations where we believe we have little control e.g. plane trip are perceived as having greater risk

Voluntary risks = situations we believe we have some control over e.g. driving a car are perceived as less risk

Question 13

How does the size of harm affect our perception?

Answer 13

Risks that involve greater possible harm are perceived as greater than those involving less harm - even if the less harmful events are more likely

e.g. tornado vs chip pan fire

Question 14

Familiarity with risk - e.g. nuclear plant accident vs. food poisoning

Answer 14

Risks that are less familiar are perceived as being greater than more familiar risks

Question 15

So what does all this mean for health?

Answer 15

We’re more frightened by catastrophic risks, single events with large immediate consequences, than chronic risks where the damage is spread out over time and location.

For example cancer vs. blood pressure

Question 16

What are individual variables in risk perception?

Answer 16

Previous experience
Attitudes towards risk
Values
Beliefs
Socio economic factors
Personality
Demographic factors

Question 17

Why do young people undertake risky behaviours when they are aware of the risks?

Answer 17

Influences include parenting relationships, socioeconomic disadvantage and low educational attainment.

Personality traits include impulsiveness, sensation seeking, susceptibility to peer pressure…

Question 18

How can environment affect health?

Answer 18

Direct pathological effects:

• Physical = ionising and non-ionising radiation / noise and vibration
• Chemical = pesticides and VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• Biological = infectious agents and allergic substances

Indirect effects:

• Housing e.g. overcrowding
• Transport e.g. does it encourage walking/car use
• Town planning e.g. access to amenities, social networks
• Income / welfare / wealth distribution

Question 19

What are some examples of hazardous exposure in diet?

Answer 19

Fat 
Salt
Bacteria
Pesticides
Acrylamide
Phthalates

Question 20

What are some examples of hazardous exposure via inhalation?

Answer 20

Environmental - air pollution
Tobacco smoke
Smog
Asbestos
Legionella
Pesticides

Question 21

What are some examples of hazardous exposure via dermal?

Answer 21

UV-A / UV-B
Bacteria
Cosmetics
Pesticides

Question 22

What did the Seveso Disaster give rise to?

Answer 22

Numerous scientific studies and standardised industrial safety regulations

Question 23

What can disasters have?

Answer 23

Long term health effects

Question 24

What can occupation cause?

Answer 24

Fatal injuries
Non-fatal injuries e.g. slips, trips and falls
Cancer
Deaths due to occupational exposure to fumes, chemicals - e.g. asbestos exposure and dust
Ill health