ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Conservation  Protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources.  Ways to conserve:  Water?  Energy?  Resources?

Ways to Reduce Waste  Replace disposable with reusable  Buy used instead of new  Reupholster a raggedy old sofa instead of throwing it out  Keep tires inflated, they'll last longer and your car will pollute less  ?  Close the drapes to keep the room cool  Bring a "no garbage" lunch to work or school, using reusable containers, bags, and a thermos  Buy the large size of items you use often  Rotate your tires; they'll last longer  ?

Benefits to Saving the Environment  Well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, landfilling, and incineration.  Recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls.  Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries.  Recycling builds community  ?

Types of Pollution  Air pollution is defined as any contamination of the atmosphere that disturbs the natural composition and chemistry of the air. Air pollution  Vehicle or manufacturing exhaust; forest fires, volcanic eruptions, dry soil erosion, other natural sources; and building construction or demolition.  How to reduce?  Soil, or land pollution, is contamination of the soil that prevents natural growth and balance in the land whether it is used for cultivation, habitation, or a wildlife preserve.  Hazardous waste and sewage spills; non-sustainable farming practices, such as heavy use of inorganic pesticides; strip mining, deforestation, other destructive practices; and household dumping and littering.  Reduce?  Radioactive pollution is one of the types of pollution that is rare but extremely detrimental, even deadly, when it occurs.  Nuclear power plant accidents or leakage; improper nuclear waste disposal; and uranium mining operation  Reduce?  Light pollution is the over illumination of an area that is considered obtrusive.  Large cities; billboards and advertising; and nighttime sporting events and other nighttime entertainment.  Reduce?  Water pollution involves any contaminated water, whether from chemical, particulate, or bacterial matter that degrades the water's quality and purity. Water pollution  Increased sediment from soil erosion; improper waste disposal and littering; leaching of soil pollution into water supplies; and organic material decay in water supplies.  How to reduce?  Noise pollution refers to undesirable levels of noises caused by human activity that disrupt the standard of living in the affected area.  Traffic; airports; railroads; manufacturing plants; construction or demolition; and concerts.  Reduce?  Thermal pollution is excess heat that creates undesirable effects over long periods of time.  Power plants; urban sprawl; air pollution particulates that trap heat; deforestation; and loss of temperature moderating water supplies  Reduce?  Visual pollution - eyesores - can be caused by other types of pollution or just by undesirable, unattractive views.  Power lines; construction areas; billboards and advertising; and neglected areas or objects like polluted vacant fields or abandoned buildings  Reduce?  Personal pollution is the contamination of one's body and lifestyle with detrimental actions.  Excessive smoking, drinking or drug abuse; emotional or physical abuse; poor living conditions and habits; and poor personal attitudes  Reduce?

CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY HEALTH

How to access reliable information regarding health products and services  Where did this information come from?  Any website that provides health-related information should tell you the information's source.  How current is this information?  Health information is constantly changing.  Who is responsible for the content of the website?  Before you believe any health-related information you find on the Web, find out who is responsible for information on the site.  Websites published by an organization Vs. by an individual.

Characteristics of false advertising and fraud  False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising.advertising  Types:  Hidden fees  Manipulation of standards.  Fillers and oversized packaging.  Undefined terms.  Bait and switch  Broken promises

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.  FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to maintain and improve their health. FDA also has responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors.  Finally, FDA plays a significant role in the Nation’s counterterrorism capability. FDA fulfills this responsibility by ensuring the security of the food supply and by fostering development of medical products to respond to deliberate and naturally emerging public health threats.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  The FTC deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers’ interests by sharing its expertise with federal and state legislatures and U.S. and international government agencies; develops policy and research tools through hearings, workshops, and conferences; and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies.  When the FTC was created in 1914, its purpose was to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce as part of the battle to “bust the trusts.” Over the years, Congress passed additional laws giving the agency greater authority to police anticompetitive practices. In 1938, Congress passed a broad prohibition against “unfair and deceptive acts or practices.” Since then, the Commission also has been directed to administer a wide variety of other consumer protection laws, including the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Pay-Per-Call Rule and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. In 1975, Congress gave the FTC the authority to adopt industry- wide trade regulation rules. The FTC’s work is performed by the Bureaus of Consumer Protection, Competition and Economics. That work is aided by the Office of General Counsel and seven regional offices. Consumer ProtectionCompetitionEconomicsOffice of General Counselregional offices

Center for Disease Control (CDC)  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, near Atlanta. [1][2][3] It works to protect public health and safety by providing information to enhance health decisions, and it promotes health through partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. The CDC focus national attention on developing and applying disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases), environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, injury prevention and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.United States federal agencyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDruid Hills unincorporatedDeKalb CountyGeorgiaAtlanta [1][2][3]public healthsafetyinfectious diseasesenvironmental health occupational safety and healthhealth promotioninjury preventioneducation health

Better Business Bureau (BBB)  A Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides services and programs to assist consumers and businesses. The focus of a Bureau's activities is to promote an ethical marketplace by encouraging honest advertising and selling practices, and alternative dispute resolution. The services and programs offered by your Better Business Bureau can help you be a more informed, knowledgeable and satisfied consumer.