environmental health hazards final_dr[1]. anthony

8/2/2019 Environmental Health Hazards Final_dr[1]. Anthony

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ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH HAZARDSDr Leela Anthony

Medical Research OfficerInstitute for Medical research


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Definition

World Health Organization (WHO, 1993): defines

"Environmental health comprises those aspects ofhuman health, including quality of life, that aredetermined by physical, chemical, biologic, social,

and psychosocial factors in the environment." And any external factor that negatively affects

your health can be considered anenvironmental health hazard.
http://www.fep.paho.org/english/env/Indicadores/Page06.asp?Valida=okhttp://www.fep.paho.org/english/env/Indicadores/Page06.asp?Valida=ok


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Introduction

In developing countries with large ruralpopulations , people continue to suffer fromtraditional risks

Like unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and

hygiene, and indoor smoke from domesticcooking and heating. In developing countries with large urban

populations and more industry, people areexposed to additional environmental risks

including exposure to urban, industrial andagrochemical pollution, as well as industrialaccidents.

More recently, concerns about the health impactof changes in climate and ecosystems have been

raised.


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Environmental health hazards

Land and climate related hazards

Atmospheric hazards

Water related hazards-

Food Borne hazards Vector Borne Hazards

Domestic Hazards

Occupational Hazards Infrastructural hazards

Others


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Land and climate related hazards

Floods : Common in both lowland coastaland inland areas, especially in Tropics andmonsoon areas

Storms Hurricanes

Volcanic activity

Earthquakes Soil erosion

Drought


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Atmospheric hazards

Out Door Pollution /Air

Increasing problem in many urbanareas due to road traffic;

Also associated with old, heavy andmanufacturing industries and miningwind-blown dust also a significantproblem in some areas


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Outdoor pollution- sources

Industry

Vehicles: Cars and trucks

Other sources such as gasolinestations, farm equipments, fires, andoutdoor pesticide use.


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Primary outdoor air pollutants

Pollutants of concern are

Ozone (O3)

Particulate Matter (PM)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Lead (Pb)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
http://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/ozone.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/pm.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/co.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/nox.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/sulfur.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/lead.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/voc.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/voc.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/lead.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/sulfur.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/nox.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/co.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/pm.htmlhttp://envirohealthhouston.org/hazards/ozone.html


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Water related hazards

Surface water

In urban areas, primarily from industrialand domestic wastes

In rural related pollution areas with co-useof waters for humans and livestock

Drinking water Especially in areas

without access to treated/piped watercontamination


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Water pollution

Common pollutants of area rivers, streams, bayous, lakes,ponds, estuaries and bays include:

fertilizers from home lawns and gardens, as well asagriculture;

mercury from power plants and industrial waste;

herbicides and insecticides; oil and other chemicals from roadway runoff; prescription medications, paint and other toxic substances

disposed down household sinks and toilets; trash and sediment from construction sites; pet waste; faulty septic systems; run-off from industrial sources or sewage treatment plants;

and hormone and prescription medications in human waste.


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Health risks associated with waterpollution

Drinking or washing withcontaminated water;

Eating seafood from polluted riversor bays;

Eating crops watered with pollutedwater; and/or

Swimming in polluted waterways.


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Food Borne hazards

Biological Contamination

Associated with poor domesticsanitation and hygiene arrangements

Chemical Contamination

E.g. food additives, pesticides


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Vector Borne Hazards

Water related vectors

E.g. malaria, guinea worm,schistosomiasis

Animal related vectors

E.g. sleeping sickness, bubonic

plague


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Domestic Hazards

Indoor Air Pollution Domestic problems -Often associated

with over-crowding and poor livingconditions

Sanitation: Severe problem in areaslacking organized sewerage system (e.g.in informal settlements)

Waste handling: Associated especially

with open waste dumps

e.g.communities living on, or regularly sortingtrough, waste sites


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Common Indoor Air Pollutants second-hand tobacco smoke; airborne mold and mildew; pet dander; lead-impregnated dust from old paint and some vinyl mini

blinds; cockroach shedding;

dust mite particles; combustion gases released by stoves, heaters, candles and

fireplaces; and chemicals released by

dry cleaned clothes;

cleaning products;

room deodorizers;

office supplies;

carpets;

paints and sealers;

new furniture and pressed wood;

personal care products; and pesticides


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Things You Can Do To Reduce Indoor AirPollution

To reduce the levels of indoor air pollution you can: never allow smoking indoors; use less toxic cleaning products; make certain that the indoor space is properly ventilated; reduce levels of cockroach and dust mite particles;

reduce pet dander; avoid or minimize use of pesticides indoors; use low toxicity paints, sealers reduce the use of solvent-based dry cleaning and/or air out

dry-cleaned clothes thoroughly before bringing into one'shome;

avoid idling an internal combustion engine, such as a car,lawn mower or fork lift, in an enclosed space or near theentrance to one's home or workplace; and

change air filters frequently.


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Occupational Hazards

Industrial Pollutants: Especially inhazardous and unregulated industries(e.g. informal sector)

Occupational Accidents: Especially inhazardous/unregulated industries (e.g.informal sector)


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Workplace Hazards

Many jobs expose workers to environmental toxins

Exposure to

Lead,

solvents,

Asbestos,

Pesticides,

Inks,

Dry cleaning chemicals

Molds and other substances in the workplace.


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Infrastructural hazards

Traffic : Accidents and noisepollution, Growing problem in majorcities

Industrial Accidents: Associatedmainly with poorly regulatedchemical industries

Contaminated land: Old industrialsites and waste-dumps


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Noise Pollution

Traffic, trains, buses, lawn mowers, leafblowers, helicopters, construction noise,low-flying recreational planes, jet skis, air-conditioning units,

Exposure to noise levels higher than 85decibels for long periods of time can causepermanent hearing damage

Lower levels have been shown to cause

stress, increase blood pressure, causesleep disturbances which affect sleepquality as well as mood and performance


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Hazards from Waste

Municipal solid waste includes residential andindustrial waste. Solid waste is usually disposedof in landfills or recycled

Hazardous waste, defined as that which istoxic, corrosive, flammable, or ignitable needs to

be disposed of properly.

Nuclear waste raise concerns about potentialradiation exposure.

Sources are commercial power plants, hospitals,

and non-military sources nuclear power plants


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Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors

Include income

Ethnicity, sense of community and other

such factors.

Studies have shown that certain segmentsof society are disproportionately exposed

to environmental hazards, and may bemore vulnerable to such hazards thanother populations


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Residents in low income

In general, residents in low income,minority neighborhoods are more likely tolive near:

chemical waste dumping sites; electric power plants;

municipal incinerators;

solid waste landfills; industrial plants; and

heavily traveled roadways.


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Other Environmental Health Hazards

Heat and Humidity

High humidity impedes thebody's ability to cool itself.

This is a particular problem

for the elderly. Stress

Excessive stress isassociated with decreasedimmune function and an

increased risk ofenvironmentally relatedillness.


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Climate Change andEnvironmental health

Hazards


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Climate change

Over the ages, human societies have altered localecosystems and modified regional climates

Climate and weather has a powerful impact on humanhealth and well-being.

The recent rapid increase in population size, energyconsumption, intensity of land use, international trade andtravel, and other human activities has an impact on thehealth of the population

Abnormally high temperatures in Europe in the summer of2003 were associated with at least 27,000 deaths

Climate change was estimated to be responsible in 2000 forapproximately 2.4% of worldwide diarrhoea, and 6% ofmalaria in some middle-income countries

Global climate change is, therefore, a newer challenge toongoing efforts to protect human health


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Health Impacts due to Climate Change

Certain infectious diseases

including vector-borne infections such as malaria and denguefever, and food-borne infections (e.g.salmonellosis) which peak in the warmer months.

Extremes of both heat and cold can cause

potentially fatal illnesses, e.g. heat stress orhypothermia, as well as increasing death ratesfrom heart and respiratory diseases.

Others are food-producing ecosystems, risingsea-levels and population displacement forreasons of physical hazard, land loss, economicdisruption and civil strife,


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Summary

The big 3 are physical, chemical, andbiological.

Physical- noise, lighting, vibration,temperature, electricity

Chemical-solvents, acids, metals, dust,pesticides

Biological- bacteria, virus, fungus/molds The fourth is probably the occupational

side of environmental health Ergonomic-repetitive movement, poorly

designed equipment,

environmental health hazards final_dr[1]. anthony

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