1 Major Issues in Community Health: Environmental Health John Krezoski, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Dept. of Environ. Health, Safety and Risk Mgt.

2 Introduction n Viewpoints n Ecological Review n Contemporary Management of High Standard of Living n Human Impact on Environmental Resources Atmospheric Aquatic Terrestrial

3 Introduction - 2 n Other sources of Community Health Risks Accidents Social Interactions Radiological n Conclusions

4 Viewpoints n Environmentalist n Industrialist n Regulator Government Agency Political Agenda n Scientist Epidemiologist Sociologist Ecologist Toxicologist

5 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems require environmental resources for survival Air Water Nutrients (Food) Shelter Social Interaction

6 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems require optimum levels of resources for survival Air Water Nutrients –C, H, N, P Trace Metals –Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe

7 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems are sensitive to un-needed/undesirable (harmful) resources Volcanoes –H 2 S, CO 2, Toxic metals, etc. Hurricanes –H 2 O, Wind Earthquakes Industrial Pollution

8 Elements of Environmental Health n Higher order living systems have adaptive strategies for survival Seeking –Food –Shelter –Social interactions Avoiding –Danger –Hazardous materials

9 Elements of Environmental Health n Exceeding optimum useful levels of environmental resources or exposure to harmful resources causes system stress Reduced wellness Onset of disease Community health problems

10 Management of High Standards of living n Post industrial economic theory and management practices have focused on short term gains and have often overlooked or ignored long term costs n Environment receives cultural byproducts n Pollution = excessive amounts of any undesirable material

11 Management of High Standards of living n Toxic substance = a biological or chemical agent which interferes with normal metabolic processes

12 Atmospheric Impacts n Outdoor vs Indoor n CO 2, Global Warming n VOC’s n Acid Rain n di-Benzo Furans n Cd, Ni, NO x, O 3, Pb, Rn-222 n Photochemical n PCB’s n Particulates

13 Atmospheric Impacts n Indoor Air Quality n CO 2, Rn-222 n Bacteria, Molds, Fungus n Asbestos n Particulates n HVAC

14 Aquatic Impacts n Atmospheric Inputs n Acid Rain n Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn n Oil, Coal, PCB, PAH n di-Benzp Furans n Tributary Inputs n As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg n Pesticides n Pathogens

15 Aquatic Impacts n Groundwater n Ra-226 n Injection Wells n Landfill Seepage n Remediation n Bioaccumulation

16 Terrestrial Impacts n Landfills (Solid Wastes) n Non-hazardous Wastes n Hazardous Wastes n Agriculture Pesticides Nutrients n Natural Asbestos Volcanoes Actinide Ores

17 Other Community Health Risks n Accidents n Social Interactions Controlled Uncontrolled n Stress n Diet n Lifestyle n Radiological Non-Ionizing Ionizing

18 Conclusions n American society has one of highest standards of living in the world n We are striving to do even better n High standard has caused environmental problems n Short term gains have not been weighed against long term consequences

19 Conclusions - 2 n “Hidden Costs” often paid for in terms of community health. n Barry Commoner: Everything is related to everything else Everything has to go somewhere Nature knows best There is no free lunch