Environmental Health & Disease Flashcards
(13 cards)
How does the WHO define “Environment” in relation to health?
It includes the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all related behaviors.
What is the role of environmental factors (EFs) in health?
They influence physical fitness, disease vulnerability, and overall wellness.
List five key environmental factors that affect health.
Air pollution, chemical exposure, climate change, poor water quality, and lack of healthcare access.
What percentage of global deaths are linked to preventable environmental causes?
25% of global deaths and 28% of deaths in children under 5.
What is a DALY?
Disability-Adjusted Life Year; it measures overall disease burden as years lost to illness or early death.
What do YLL and YLD stand for in public health?
YLL = Years of Life Lost (premature death)
YLD = Years Lived with Disability
Which regions bear the highest burden from environmental factors?
Low- and middle-income countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa.
Why is mortality alone not a sufficient indicator of environmental health impact?
Because it doesn’t account for non-fatal disease and disability; DALYs give a fuller picture.
What are some of the top global environmental health risks?
Unsafe water, poor sanitation, indoor smoke, urban air pollution, and vector-borne diseases.
What are the annual global death estimates from diarrheal diseases, indoor smoke, and urban air pollution?
Diarrheal: 1.7 million
Indoor smoke: ~1.6 million
Urban air pollution: ~0.8 million
What is the WHO’s list of chemicals of public health concern?
Pesticides, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, dioxin, fluoride imbalance, lead, mercury, and air pollution.
What is environmental health?
Prevention/control of disease, injury, and disability related to environmental exposures.
What is the goal of maintaining a healthy environment?
Longer, healthier life; improved quality of life; reduced exposure to diseases and toxic agents.
