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Careers in Biomedical Technology

Objective 3

Environmental careers, resources, and hazards

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Objective Content

A. Nutritional Services

B. Environmental Control

C. Other Support Service Personnel

D. Environmental Resources and Hazards

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A. Nutrition Services

Career Ladder Dietician

Nutritionist

Dietary Technician

Dietetic Assistant

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DieticianEducational Requirements:• Bachelor’s Degree

Job Tasks:• Plan nutrition programs for

both sick and healthy people• Provide counseling and

education for their clients or

patients with a goal of improving

both their nutritional and overall health status• Works as a member of the health care team in many different types

of settings

For more information go to: http://gahec.org/nchc/default-old.htm

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Nutritionist Also known as “Public Health Nutritionist”

Job Tasks:• Counseling and making recommendations to individuals and whole

communities• Typically work on education programs for adults and children to

teach practical ways to prevent disease and improve health• May also specialize in clinical settings and focus on areas such as

pediatrics, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc.

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree

For more information go to: http://gahec.org/nchc/default-old.htm

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Dietary Technician

Educational Requirements:• Associates Degree

Job Tasks:• Extends and supports the work of the dietician’s role• Works under the supervision of a dietician• Plans menus and supervises preparation of meals

For more information go to:http://gahec.org/nchc/default-old.htm

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Dietetic Assistant

Educational Requirements:

• No formal education required

• On-the-job training

Job Tasks:

• Works under the supervision of a dietician

and/or dietary technician

• Prepares food, assists in distributing food trays

to patient areas

• Maintains safe, clean food preparation areas

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Weight Reduction Specialist

Is one of the specialty areathat a nutritionist couldchoose to specialize in.

Their job is to counselobese patients using dietaryand activity guidelines.

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B. Environmental Control

Environmental

Engineer

Health and Regulatory

Inspectors

Sanitarian

Career Ladder

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Video: Environmental Protection Careers

http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com

Environmental Engineer

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Environmental Engineer

Educational Requirements:Bachelor’s Degree

Salary Range:$43,180.00 - $106,230.00

Job Tasks:• Design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental health hazards• Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology• Usually works within industry as a consultant to industry

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Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree

Job Duties:• Collect, synthesize, study, report, and take action based on data

derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water,

and other sources • Manage environmental health problems and promote public

awareness of the need to prevent and eliminate environmental health hazards

• Conduct inspections and take enforcement actions for environmental health laws and regulations

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Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians

Areas of Specialization:

- Air and Industrial Hygiene- Child-Care Centers- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention- Environmental Management- Food, Lodging and Institutions- Food Protection- Migrant Housing- On-Site Wastewater- Private Wells- Public Swimming Pools- Tattoos- Water Resource- Others

For more information go to: http://gahec.org/nchc/default-old.htm

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Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians set and enforce standards concerning their area of

specialization.

FoodWaste Disposal

Sewage

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Video: Food Safety

http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com

Great Books: The Jungle

Skills for Healthy Living: Playing It Safe Food Safety

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C. Other Support Service Personnel

Career Ladder

For more information go to: http://gahec.org/nchc/default-old.htm

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Equipment Technician

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Biomedical Engineer Educational Requirements:Bachelor’s Degree

Areas of Specialization:1. Clinical Engineering - the

biomedical engineer designs and maintains diagnostic and health care delivery systems

2. Medical Engineering - the biomedical engineer develops artificial organs and limbs, diagnostic and therapeutic devices, pacemakers, and imaging equipment

3. Research and Design

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Video: Biomedical Engineers

http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com

Emerging Careers: Biotechnology Occupations

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Biomedical Equipment Technician

Educational Requirements:

Associates Degree

Job Tasks:

• Install, operate, repair, and maintain equipment such as X-ray machines, incubators, electronic thermometers, dental equipment, cardiac pressure monitors, and sterilizers

• Instructs other health care personnel in the correct use of the equipment and assists in the evaluation of new devices

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Central Service Technician

Educational Requirements:No formal education requiredOn-the-job training

Job Tasks:• Include sterilizing, assembling and cleaning diagnostic and surgical equipment

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D. Environmental Resources and Hazards – Related Terminology

1. Biosphere

2. Ecosystems (ecology)

3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

4. Diseases and health conditions linked to environment:

a. Emphysema

b. Lead Poisoning

c. Carbon monoxide poisoning

d. Lung Cancer

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• Biosphere -The biosphere is simply "life on Earth"—the sum total, that is, of all living things on Earth.

• Ecosystems (ecology)- An ecosystem is a complete community of living organisms and the nonliving materials of their surroundings.

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A young tapir searching for food. This species is threatened by loss of habitat and over-hunting for food. 

The balancing of development with conservation is the most important challenge in developing countries.

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•Environmental Protection Agency\

The federal agency responsible for setting

and regulating the standards for the

environment.

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Diseases and health conditions linked to environment:Emphysema – a chronic lung disorder characterized by the inability to exhale normally due to collapsedand stiffened alveoli. Symptoms include shortness ofbreath, fatigue, barrel chest and clubbed fingers. It can becaused or worsened by air pollution as well as smoking.

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Lead Poisoning

caused by increased

levels of the lead in the

blood. Lead may cause

irreversible neurological

damage as well as renal

disease, cardiovascular

effects, and

reproductive toxicity.

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Some of the places lead is found in are paint, leaded gasoline, old brass water pipes and lead mines.

Government programs have helped reduce lead poisoning in the population by regulating the amount of lead in paints and gasoline additives.

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• Carbon monoxide poisoning- Carbon monoxide is a significantly toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect.

Symptoms of mild poisoning includeheadaches,vertigo, and flu-likeeffects; larger exposures canlead to significant toxicity of thecentral nervous system,and heart,even death.

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Sources of carbon monoxide exposure:

House fires, faulty furnaces, heaters, orwood-burning stoves, motor vehicle exhaust,propane-fueled equipment such as kitchenand portable camping stoves, and gasolinepowered tools such as leaf blowers, lawnmowers, high-pressure washers, concretecutting saws, power trowels, and welders.Riding in the back of a pick- up truck canexpose the riders to carbon monoxide from thetruck exhaust pipe.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Boys' deaths determined to be from carbon monoxide

The Medial Examiner's Office has determined that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of the deaths of two brothers on Monday.

Twelve-year-old Parker and 14-year-old Jules Baudin were found dead in their home in Florida.

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• Lung Cancer – is the mutation of lung cell cycles that can be caused by, or initiated by environmental exposures.

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Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung Cancer• Radon – a naturally occurring gas that is

emitted as uranium decays in the soil.

• Asbestos – used to insulate homes built prior to 1970, if left alone is considered safe. Certified contractors should supervise removal if remodeling or destruction of building containing asbestos is considered.

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Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung Cancer• Air pollution – it is uncertain exactly what the

correlation is but there is a 10% higher incidence rate of lung cancer in urban areas compared to rural areas.

• Industrial chemicals – always read warning labels and use personal protective equipment as indicated if working with known carcinogens. Employers are required to notify employees of all known hazards in the workplace.

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Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung CancerRadiation exposure - Exposure to medical radiation to the chest for other cancers, for example Hodgkin’s lymphoma or breast cancer, can increase the risk of lung cancer, although the benefits of treatment usually far outweigh this risk.

•Second hand smoke - Secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in an exposed nonsmoker two- to- three-fold times. It is currently felt to be responsible for 1.6% of lung cancers in the United States.

http://lungcancer.about.com/od/causesoflungcance1/a/envirocause.htm

Question for Monday

• People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion.

• The professional that designs instruments and machines that are used to monitor and treat disease is the______________

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End of Objective 3

Describe environmental careers, resources

and hazards.