Environmental Health Flashcards
(22 cards)
Percentage of global deaths attributed to modifiable environmental risks
24%
precautionary principle
–social responsibility to protect the public from exposure to harm when scientific investigation has found a plausible risk
–precautions can only be relaxed if further scientific findings emerge that provide sound evidence that no harm will result
examples of environmental risk factors
–air pollution
–inadequate water, sanitation
–chemicals
–radiation
–community noise
–occupational risks
–agricultural practices
–built environments
–climate change
what is a hazard?
something that can potentially cause harm
what is a risk?
hazard + exposure
what is an environmental health hazard?
a substance that has the ability to cause an adverse health event
examples of environmental health hazards
–pesticides
–chemicals in consumer products
–radiation
methods of surveillance/assessing exposures
–toxicology studies
–epidemiologic studies
–environmental monitoring
–biological monitoring
–product surveillance
control strategies for environmental health hazards
–at the source
–along the path
–at the level of the person
–secondary prevention
toxicology studies
characterize toxicity of a hazard and study the effects of those on human health
epidemiologic studies
monitor the distribution of a disease within a population
environmental monitoring
evaluates the quality of the environment by sampling air and water
biological monitoring
a way of measuring how much substance has gotten into a person’s body
product surveillance
a way to monitor the environmental impacts of products
built environment
buildings and community spaces created by humans that influence health behaviors and health outcomes
air quality
result of emission into the air of hazardous substances at a rate that exceeds the capacity of natural processes in the atmosphere to convert, deposit, or dilute them
contaminants of indoor air quality
–burning of fuel for cooking and heating
–secondhand smoke
–radon
–formaldehyde
–asbestos
mitigating climate change
reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
adaptation to climate change
learning to live with, and adapt to, the climate change that has already been set in motion
environmental justice
fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies
populations at special risk in terms of environmental justice
–pregnant women
–children
–elderly
–individuals with disabilities
–vulnerable populations
–workers
environmental racism
–differentially affects or disadvantages individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color
–benefits white people while shifting costs to POC
