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Final Exam (Environmental health) Flashcards

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1
Q

Study and management of environmental conditions that affect the health and well-being of humans

A

Environmental health

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2
Q

Factors or conditions in the environment that increase the risk of human injury, disease, or death

A

Environmental hazards

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3
Q

An event of nature that increases the probability of disease, injury, or death of humans; tsunamis, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.

A

Natural hazards

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4
Q

Consequences of natural hazards

A

Contaminated water and food, high temperatures, and loss of shelter

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5
Q

Primary needs after a disaster

A

Food, water, shelter, health care, clothing

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6
Q

Prepares communities for all hazards and manages the federal response and recovery efforts after any natural incident

A

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

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7
Q

Quasi-governmental agency that provides relief to victims of disasters

A

American Red Cross

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8
Q

Unwanted by products of human activities

A

Residues and Wastes

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9
Q

Water that has been used in washing, flushing, etc.; Sewage

A

Waste water

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10
Q

Food waster, paper products, or most things that come out of the kitchen or bathroom

A

Garbage

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11
Q

Lots of things including grass clippings, twigs, hedge clippings, junk or rubbish (anything not from the kitchen or bathroom)

A

Trash

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12
Q

Waste material containing radionuclides

A

Radioactive wastes

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13
Q

Major source of solid waste

A

Agricultural (51%)

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14
Q

3% of solid waste. Paper and paper board, glass, rubber, food wastes, metals, plastics, yard trimmings, and appliances are examples of this.

A

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

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15
Q

Each person produces an average of ____ of MSW/day

A

4.5 lbs.

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16
Q

The primary law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste

A

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976

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17
Q

National goals set by the RCRA (1976)

A
  • Protecting human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal
  • Conserving energy
  • Reducing waste generated
  • Ensuring wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner
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18
Q

Types of solid waste management

A
  • Collection and disposal
  • Source reduction
  • Recycling
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19
Q

T/F 80% of waste management money is spent on source reduction

A

FALSE.

80% is spent on collection and disposal

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20
Q

Highly regulated waste disposal sites on land suited for solid waste management

A

Sanitary Landfills

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21
Q

Most common and economical method of waste disposal world wide

A

Sanitary landfills

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22
Q

Liquids created when water mixes with waste and drains from beneath a landfill

A

Leachates

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23
Q

Second most common method of waste disposal. Used when landfills are not available

A

Combustion (Incineration)

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24
Q

Advantages of combustion

A
  • Forms heat, steam, gas, and ash which can be harvested for energy
  • Completely destroys microbes
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25
Benefits of source reduction
- Conserves natural resources - Less waste disposal - Reduces toxicity of wastes - Reduces costs and saves money
26
Benefits of recycling
- Decreases the need for landfill and incineration - Saves energy - Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases - Conserves natural resources - Minimizes risk to the environment - Cleaner land, water, and ecology
27
A solid waste or combination of solid wastes that is dangerous to human health and the environment
Hazardous waste
28
The _____ established a strict system of controlling hazardous wastes from generation to disposal (_________________ regulation)
RCRA | Cradle to Grave regulation
29
Most common means of hazardous waste management (handles 34%)
Deep well injection
30
Similar principles to deep well injection, but restrictions are greater because of danger to health and environment. (handles 7%)
Secured landfill and Incineration
31
Best solution for handling hazardous waste
Hazardous waste recycling (source reduction)
32
Treating hazardous waste with chemicals to render them harmless
Chemical methods
33
Using microorganisms that destroy hazardous substances
Bioremediation
34
Created priority list, makes responsible parties pay, and cleanup program called Superfund
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)
35
Big problem with leakage. Concern over contaminated water and build up of gases
Underground Storage Tanks
36
Abandoned industrial sites where cleanup and reuse are difficult
Brownfields
37
Contamination of the air that interferes with the comfort, safety, and health of living organisms
Air pollution
38
People most susceptible to air pollution
Children and elderly
39
Passed by congress in 1963. Amendments in 1970, 1977, and 1990. Sets limits on pollution.
Clean Air Act
40
Pollution of greatest concern outlined in the Clean Air Act are called ___________. Examples of these are:
Criteria pollutants - Particulate matter - Ground level ozone
41
Results from emissions of burning fossil fuels that react with water vapor.
Acid Rain
42
Caused in part by green house gases that can hold heat. Even small increases in temperature can affect air quality, water, and health.
Global warming
43
Examples of green house gases
Chlorofluorocarbons | Carbon dioxide
44
Major cause of the destruction of the ozone layer
Chlorofluorocarbons
45
Causes ground level smog
a.k.a. Photochemical smog | Caused by a combination of NO + VOC + sunlight Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
46
___________ has severe monetary penalties if industrial plants release excess pollutants
Clean Air Act (1990)
47
Common indoor pollutants
Asbestos, biogenic pollutants, combustion bu products, VOC, Radon, environmental tobacco smoke.
48
Air quality creates ill health in building occupants
Sick building syndrome
49
T/F There are significant monetary standards set form by the federal government to stop sick building syndrome
FALSE. | There are no standards set by the federal government
50
Key component of environmental health
Water
51
___% of the planet is covered in water. ___% is fresh water while __% is easily attainable
70% 3% 1%
52
Underground soil formation saturated with water and available for human use by pumping
Aquifers
53
Any physical or chemical change in the water that can harm living organisms or make it unfit for other uses
Water pollution
54
Single identifiable source that discharges pollutants into the water
Point source pollution
55
All pollution that occurs through the runoff, seepage, or falling of pollutants into the water
Nonpoint source pollution
56
2 new pollutants over the past decade that have been detected in our waterways and are raising health concerns
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC's) | - Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP's)
57
Other name for EDC's
Xenoestrogens
58
T/F PPCP's have been detected in water supplies around the world
True
59
Regulates water for human consumption
State and federal laws
60
Act that deals to control point source pollution of clean water
Clean Water Act (1972)
61
Act that regulates drinking water supply
Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)
62
Quality of municipal drinking water is regulated by the ___
EPA
63
Steps in treatment of water for domestic use
1) Coagulation and Flocculation 2) Sedimentation 3) Filtration 4) Disinfection (Cl-, Ozone, UV light)
64
Synonyms for waste water
Liquid waste | Sewage
65
Purpose of wastewater treatment
To improve quality to be able to release back into the environment
66
What % of pollutants are removed from waste water?
85-95%
67
Energy released when atoms split. Large doses are harmful to living organisms
Radiation
68
Natural sources of radiation
- Extraterrestrial (sun and outer space) - Terrestrial (earths minerals) - Internal (inside the body from ingestion)
69
Examples of human made radiation
X-rays, nuclear medicine, consumer products, nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons
70
Largest natural source of ionizing radiation
Radon
71
Radiation energy with a wavelength shorter than visible light, but longer than X-rays
Ultraviolet radiation
72
UV light that causes the most harm to humans
UV-B
73
Wavelength of UV-B
290-330 nm
74
What type of cancers does UV-B exposure cause?
Skin cancers (basal and squamous cell)
75
ABCD's of skin lesions
Asymmetry Border irregularity Color Diameter
76
If _____ becomes trapped in a building, it can cause great harm
Radon gas
77
There are ____ nuclear power plants in the U.S.
103
78
T/F Disposal of nuclear waste is not a problem in the U.S. now that the facility in Nevada is open.
FALSE. | Nevada facility is controversial and nuclear waste disposal is a problem in the U.S.
79
T/F Children are must more vulnerable to chemical assaults then adults
True
80
Naturally occurring mineral element that is found throughout the environment and used in industrial products
Lead
81
Children are at greatest risk of lead exposure via _____________ dust
Lead based paint dust
82
Acts helped to regulate the disposal of lead based products
RCRA | CERCLA
83
Act that allowed the CDC to provide grants to allow states to screen infant and children for elevated lead levels, ensure referral for medical and environmental intervention, and provide education to parents and children about lead poisoning
Lead Contamination Control Act (1988)
84
Any organism that has an adverse effect on human interests
Pest
85
Natural or synthetic chemicals that have been developed and manufactured for the purpose of killing pests
Pesticides
86
Pesticide poisonings occur most frequently with ______ and _______________
Children | Workers who apply pesticides
87
Occur when contaminated food with a disease agent is consumed by a susceptible person
Foodborne diseases
88
The occurence of 2 or more cases of a similar illness resulting from the ingestion of a common food
Foodborne disease outbreak (FBDO)
89
Top 5 pathogens of Foodborne illnesses (2011)
1) Norovirus (58%) 2) Salmonella, nontyphoidal (11%) 3) Clostridium perfringens (10%) 4) Campylobacter spp. (9%) 5) Staphyloccus aureus (3%)

Public Health (6 decks)

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