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© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Environment and Your Health
Chapter Sixteen
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The EnvironmentRange of conditions that can influence your health:
– Availability of resources
– Physical conditions• Temperature• Humidity• Toxins• Allergens• Pathogens• Noise• Radiation
– Other organisms
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Environmental Problems and Solutions
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Personal Environment• Home
• Neighborhood
• Workplace
• Health concerns of personal environment:– Indoor air quality– Drinking water– Endocrine disrupters– Noise
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks• Carbon monoxide
– Odorless, colorless byproduct of combustion– Effects range from mild discomfort to death– Keep appliances in working order– Install a carbon monoxide detector
• Volatile organic compounds (paint, paint stripper, solvents)– Effects range from eye irritation in the short term
to organ and nerve damage in the long term– Minimize use of products
– Use and dispose of properly
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Tobacco smoke
– Increases risk for respiratory problems and cancer
– Reduce exposure
• Asbestos (building material)– Minerals with a fibrous crystal structure– Causes lung damage and cancer if
inhaled– Leave undamaged asbestos-containing
materials alone– Hire qualified professional to remove
damaged asbestos
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Lead
– Toxic metal used in house paint, as gasoline additive, in plumbing solder
– Causes organ damage, delayed physical and mental development, and death
– Replace lead-based paints and test tap water in older houses
• Biological pollutants (bacteria, molds, mildew, viruses, dust mites, plant pollen and other allergens)– Minimize exposure by keeping your home clean,
dry, and free of mold and sources of allergens
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Radon
– Naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted during uranium decay in soil, rock, water
– Causes lung cancer– Test homes and install a radon reduction
system if needed
• Nonionizing (electromagnetic) radiation– Cannot break chemical bonds but may
excite electrons or heat biological materials– Effects still under study
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Drinking Water• Source of water supply
– Safety of drinking water is affected by environmental factors in home and community
– Water supply is typically from ground water (rural) or river/lakes (urban)
• Drinking water contaminants– Agricultural fertilizers– Pathogens from home septic systems– Contaminants from underwater fuel storage tanks– Lead, copper, PVC from pipes
• Taking action– Private water supplies should be tested annually – If needed, contact your local health department
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Endocrine Disrupters• Dangerous pollutants
– Dioxin, PCBs, DT
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Antiseptics
• Chemicals used in manufacturing plastics– Phthalates, bisphenol A
• Teflon
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Noise• Defined as any undesirable sound
• Health effects are dependent upon intensity, frequency, and nature of the noise– Anxiety, frustration– Inability to concentrate, reduced
productivity– Anger, stress– Long-term hearing loss can occur at noise
levels of 120 decibels
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Community and Regional Environment• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution
• Loss of green space
• Ionizing radiation
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Air Pollution• Sources
– Internal combustion engines– Oil refineries, chemical production
• Health effects– Carbon monoxide
• Impaired respiration
– Nitrogen and sulfur oxides• Lung tissue damage• Respiratory effects
– Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)• Cancer• Fetal effects
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Air Pollution (cont.)– Tropospheric ozone (“smog”)
• Lung damage• Reduced lung capacity• Health risk to those who suffer from asthma,
emphysema, or heart disease
– Air toxics• Cancer• Reduced fertility, birth defects
• Taking Action– Check information on local air quality
• Avoid outdoor activities during alerts
– Limit personal contribution
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Exposure to Unhealthy Air
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Water Pollution• Sources
– Point sources (e.g., sewer overflow)
– Urban and agricultural runoff
• Types– Biological water pollutants
• Disease-causing organisms from human or animal sewage
– Toxic pollutants• Naturally occurring elements• Industrial and agricultural activities
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Water Pollution (cont.)• Health effects
– Biological pollutants cause diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera, and other diseases
– Toxic chemicals cause cancer, organ damage, infertility, and birth defects
• Taking action– Read annual water quality reports for your
area– Avoid eating contaminated fish– Pay attention to “don’t swim” warnings
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Land Pollution• Sources
– Municipal solid waste– Sewage sludge
• Disposal– Sanitary landfill– Incineration
• Taking action—Three Rs:– Reduce– Reuse– Recycle
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Loss of Green Space• Urban development
– Increases commute time– Decreases physical activity, increases
rates of overweight/obesity– Reduces quality of life
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Ionizing Radiation• Sources
– Medical X-rays– Naturally occurring radioactive minerals– Nuclear reactors and waste products– Nuclear bomb explosions
• Health Effects– Organ damage– Birth defects– Death
• Challenge of nuclear waste disposal
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Global Environment• Atmosphere, oceans, continental
land masses, and all living organisms that exist on Earth
• Concerns– Human population explosion– Global climate change– Stratospheric ozone depletion– Loss of natural habitats and species
extinction
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Human Population Growth• Effects
– Resource depletion and starvation– Habitat destruction– Political tensions, terrorism, and war
(competition for limited resources)
• Reducing population growth– Increase infant survival– Provide education opportunities for girls– Provide universal access to birth control
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Human Population Growth
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Global Climate Change• Greenhouse gases
– Trap heat radiated from the earth; increase global temperature
– Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone, water vapor
• Effects of climate change– Coastal flooding– Increased frequency and severity of
destructive weather events– Expanded range of disease-carrying insects– Decreased air and water quality– Decreased food availability
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Global Climate Change (cont.)• Taking action
– Conserve electricity– Drive fuel-efficient vehicles– Use mass transit– Reduce, reuse, recycle– Purchase energy-efficient appliances– Vote, volunteer
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion• Ozone layer of upper atmosphere
protects surface of Earth from harmful UV radiation
• Causes of depletion– Human-made air pollutants, especially
CFCs
• Effects– Skin cancer, cataracts, weakened
immunity, reduced crop yields
• Taking action– Have refrigerators and air-conditioning
systems serviced by licensed technicians who can properly dispose of old CFCs
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Loss of Habitat and Species Extinction• Causes
– Population growth– New technologies
• Health effects– Loss of genetic diversity and possible drug
treatments– Degradation of overall environment and its ability
to support life– Lessened emotional, psychological, and spiritual
well-being
• Taking action– Conserve energy– Reduce, reuse, recycle– “Buy green”
© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
The Environment and Your Health
Chapter Sixteen
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