Environmental Health

Objectives Define environmental health. List the various types of ecosystems. Define urban ecosystem. Explain how the agricultural ecosystem provides goods and services. Describe how trees affect the urban environment. Describe the relationship of the environment to human health. Explain how toxins get into the environment and how to prevent this from happening.

Two Definitions of Environmental Health Science that studies how humans and nature interact to affect human health. It addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, including the assessment and control of factors that can affect health (WHO 2008). Protection against environmental factors that may adversely affect human health or the ecological balances essential to long-term human health and environmental quality, whether natural or man-made environment (National Environmental Health Association 1996).

Rangeland Soil Food Web

Ecosystems Forest Freshwater Grassland Agricultural (agroecosystems) Urban Coastal

Forests Forests make up 25% of the earth’s land surface. In most developed countries, laws restrict logging that depletes forests. Underdeveloped countries with less strict laws clear their forests to supply wood to the world.

Freshwater Ecosystems 40% of fish species come from fresh water. 18% of fish are in danger of extinction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests the balance of fish, insects, algae, plants, and other aquatic life.

Grasslands Grasslands are biological communities (such as prairies, meadows, and savannas) with ground cover of grasses. Grasslands have few trees. Many wild plants from grasslands are used in alternative medicine. The greater sage grouse population is an indicator of the health of grasslands.

Agroecosystems Agroecosystems include the soil, plants, and animals that make up farms, croplands, orchards, pastures, and rangelands. If 30% of land is used for cropland or pasture, the land is considered an agroecosystem. Agroecosystems cover 28% of the earth’s land area, or 12.16 billion acres (4.92 billion hectares).

Urban Ecosystems Plants, animals, and humans make up urban ecosystems. Urban ecosystems can lack indigenous plants. Washington, DC, has 115 bird species. Chicago contains wild prairie grasses.

Urban Trees Trees remove up to 70% of particulates on a tree-lined street. Urban forests in Baltimore and Washington, DC, remove 17,000 tons of air pollution per year. This air purification system is valued at $88 million.

Coastal Ecosystems The United States has four coastal ecosystems: Great Lakes Chesapeake Bay Everglades Gulf of Mexico They include estuaries, reefs, mangroves, islands, and salt marshes. Natural disasters such as hurricanes have a devastating effect on coastal ecosystems.

Effects of the Environment on Health Environmental issues affect public health. People get sick from things in the environment. Humans must use environmental products carefully and dispose of waste properly.

Global Warming Global warming is an increase in the temperature of the atmosphere that contributes to changes in global climate patterns. Scientists now prefer the term climate change because it suggests more than just temperature changes. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that helps regulate temperature. It’s said to be the major contributor to the current climate changes. Greenhouse gases act as an insulating blanket, trapping solar energy that would otherwise escape into space.

Toxins 47% of households with children have at least one pesticide stored in an unlocked area. 75% of households without children have chemicals in unlocked areas. 13% of all pesticide poisonings of children happen outside the home.

Asbestos Asbestos is a mineral fiber. Used as insulation Flame retardant It’s found in pipe and furnace insulation, shingles, floor tiles, and paints. Undisturbed asbestos poses no danger. Asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, or cancer of the chest lining.

Radon Gas Radon is a radioactive gas. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. It’s important to check for radon in all homes, regardless of the age or location of the home.

Six Major Air Pollutants Ozone Particulate matter Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Sulfur dioxide Lead

Major Water Pollutants Arsenic Benzene Disinfection by-products Contaminated sediment and dredged material Lead Microbial pathogens

Waste Management Strategies for waste management include: Designing products that turn into clean garbage Reducing, reusing, and recycling Recovering energy from waste treatment The goal of waste management is to reduce the toxicity of garbage before it gets into the landfills.

Waste Management Hierarchy

Environmental Diseases and Disorders Some people are more susceptible than others. Diseases or conditions caused by environmental factors include these: Asthma Myocardial infarction Cancer Lead poisoning (from ingesting lead-based paint) Carbon monoxide poisoning

Going Green To go green is to reduce your negative impact on the environment. Some ways to go green include reducing the amount of trash that is sent to landfills, reducing the amount of water that is used by households, using recycled products, and using energy efficiently.