Environmental Health Diana, Landon, Cristina, Allison, Quyen

What is Environmental Health?  Environmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health.  Goal: Promote health for everyone through a healthy environment.  The physical environment in which people live is an important determinant of health. At certain levels of exposure, contaminants in our air, water, food, and soil can cause a variety of adverse health effects.  Environmental health is committed to protecting the health of the public and enhancing quality of life by assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the environment that can adversely affect human health. Why is it Important?

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WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING? Temperatures are rising because we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, and by clearing forests.

Effects on the air we breathe  Carbon dioxide is the air that our body lets out when we breathe. With fewer trees, it is harder for people to breathe because there is more CO2 in the air. Plants collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they give back oxygen that we breathe in. With less trees and other plants, such as algae, there is less air for us, and more greenhouse gases are sent into the air.

Food and Water-borne Diseases  Higher temperatures & heavier rainfall events may increase occurrence of water-borne diseases  Sanitation services may be severely compromised contributing to potential contamination of local water supplies  There may also be increases in infectious illnesses in people using recreational waters (e.g. pools & beaches)  Food-related concerns:  outbreaks of toxic algae in saltwater that contaminate shellfish (e.g. “red tide”)  increased incidence of food poisoning related to warmer temperatures that increase the survival of microbes and the spread of toxins

Water-Borne Illness Demonstration

Air & Weather Ozone, or smog:  is a dangerous pollutant that poses a serious threat to human health. It is not emitted directly into the air, but rather is created through a chemical reaction. Nitrogen oxides & volatile organic compounds combine in the air & are heated by the sun to form ozone. Damage skin:  Toxins pollute and clog up our skin and can be the major cause of acne, puffiness, lack of circulation (creating dull, dry skin) discolored sports, age spots and other skin disorders.  The pollution particles increase the amount of melanin.

Traffic  Types of Air Pollution in Vehicles : High levels of nitrogen oxide (Toxic to humans) Sulfur dioxide (primary cause of acid rain) Carbon dioxide (cause climate change by insulating more heat from the sun) Ozone can impair lung function, especially in children and adults with asthma, with a higher number of sufferers resulting in high-traffic urban areas.  Ways to help the environment  1. Carpooling reduces pollution, traffic congestion, builds relationships, and saves money. And for every gallon of gas you save through commuting, you also prevent the emission of more than 19 pounds of carbon dioxide.  2. Alternative transportation Bus, train, and light rail, bike and walking Bike.  3. Telecommuting if the 41 million Americans with telework-compatible jobs worked from home once a week, we would reduce 423,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 77,000 cars off the road for a year.

Major Problems Facing the US  Air Pollution  Air pollution aggravates asthma, and depending on severity can contribute to eye irritation, difficulty breathing and lung cancer.  The CDC advises to spend time indoors, and lower intensity of exercise done outside to avoid particle pollution.  Commuting  Leads to stress and ‘road rage’. A study done by The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that the longer your commute is, the higher your blood pressure and BMI was likely to be.  Climate  Roughly 620 people die each from heat-related illnesses. Ozone depletion may lead to skin cancer, and cataracts.

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