Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik

METEOROLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT The elements which comprise the meteorological environment are: atmospheric pressure air temperature humidity rainfall direction and speed of wind and Movement of clouds and character of weather.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik CLIMATE It is a geographical concept representing a summation of the whole range of meteorological phenomena.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik ATMOSPHEIRIC PRESSURE The atmospheric pressure at earth’s surface close to the sea level averages 760 mm of Hg. This is called “one atmosphere of pressure”. Man is physiologically adapted to live at 760 mm of Hg pressure or close to it.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Cont…….. The atmospheric pressure falls as altitude increases, and rises as altitude decreases. Thus, at an altitude of 100,000 feet above mean sea level, the atmospheric pressure is less than 10 mm. of Hg. The pressure increases at the rate of “one atmosphere” for each 33 feet depth below sea level.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Effects of atmospheric pressure on health HIGH ALTITUDES: low pressure effects 1. Acute Mountain Sickness 2. High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema But as pulmonary Oedema develops, It develops a cough, Experience irregular Ceyne-Stokes breathing, Oligurea, mental confusion and hallucinations, Stupor, seizures

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik LOW ALTITUDES: (Caisson diseases) high pressure effects When man is exposed to high pressure, the gases in the air namely oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are dissolved in the blood and tissues proportionately tot the partial pressure of these gases, Excess concentration of nitrogen excerts a narcotic action leading to loss of mental functions and consciousness; excess of carbon dioxide increases the narcotic action of nitrogen; excess of oxygen can lead to convulsions and death.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Cont…….. When the person comes up to the surface, the gases which are dissolved in the blood under pressure are releases and cause air embolism, the effects of which are fatal, the effects of increased pressure are best observed in persons working in diving bells and compressed air chambers.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Effects of heat stress Heat stroke Heat hyperpyrexia Heat exhaustion Heat cramps Heat Syncope

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik PREVENTIVE MEASURES Replacement of water Regulation of work Clothing Protective devices Work Environment

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Effects of cold stress Injury due to cold may be general or local. In general cold injury (hypothermia), the individual is said to be suffering from exposure to cold. This is characterized by numbness, loss of sensation, muscular weakness, desire for sleep, coma and death.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Cont…….. Local cold injury may occur at temperatures above freezing (wet-cold conditions) as in immersion or trench food. At temperatures below freezing (dry-cold conditions) frostbite occurs; the tissues freeze and ice crystals form in between the cells. Frostbite is common at high altitudes

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Prevention It is extremely important to dress for the temperature with which the part will be in contact. The affected part should be warmed using water at 44 deg. C. Warming should last about 20 minutes at a time. Intake of hot fluids promotes general rewarding.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Global Warming Emission of green-house gases into the atmosphere have been increasing ever since the beginning of the industrial revolution. A major component of emission of carbon dioxide is from the composition of fossil fuels. It is generally conceded that the main effects of this include an increase of about 3 C in the average global surface temperature by the year 2030.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Cont…….. A rise in the sea level of meters by 2050, and an increase in the occurrence of extreme climatic events such as cyclones, Heatwaves and draughts. The temperature rise could overwhelm the capacity of many species

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Housing

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Housing Housing includes not only the physical structure providing shelter, but also the immediate surroundings, and the related community services and facilities.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik CRITERIA FOR HEALTHFFUL HOUSING Healthful housing provides physical protection and shelter; Provides adequately for cooking, eating washing, and excretory functions. It is designed,constructed,maintained and used in a manner such as to prevent the spread of communicable diseases,

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Cont…….. provides for protection from harmful effects of noise and pollution, It is free from unsafe physical arrangements due to construction or maintenance, and from toxic or harmful materials. It encourage personal and community development, promotes social relationships reflects a regard for ecological principles and by these means promotes mental health.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Housing and Health By deductive reasoning, a strong relationship can be establishment between poor

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Housing and the following conditions RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS: common cold, tuberculosis, influenza, diphtheria, bronchitis, measles, whooping cough, etc. SKING INFECTIONS: Scabies ringworm, impetigo, leprosy. RAT INFESTATION: Plague. ARTHROPODS: Houseflies, mosquitoes, fleas and bugs. ACCIDENTS: A substantial proportion of house accidents are caused by some defect in the home and its environment.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY: High morbidity and mortality rates are observed where housing conditions are sub-standard. PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS: These effects must not be overlooked. The sense of isolation felt by persons living in the upper floors of high buildings is now well known to have harmful effects. Often, also, people living in densely populated urban areas feel a similar sense of isolation which may lead to neurosis and behavior disorders.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Overcrowding Overcrowding refers to the situation in which more people are living within a single dwelling than there is space for, so that movement is restricted, privacy secluded, hygiene impossible, rest and sleep difficult.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik PERSONS PER ROOM The degree of overcrowding can best be expressed as the number of persons per room, i.e., number of persons in the household divided by the number of rooms in the dwelling.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik The accepted standards are: 1 room2 persons 2 rooms3 persons 3 rooms5 persons 4 rooms7 persons 5 or more rooms10 persons (additional 2 for each further room)

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik FLOOR SPACE: The accepted standards are: 110 sq. ft. or more2 persons sq. ft.1½ persons sq. ft.1 person sqft.Nil ( A baby under 12 months is not counted; children between 1 to 10 counted as half a unit)

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Indicators of Housing In recent years the used of indicators has become widespread for the measurement of quality of life.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik The indicators for housing may be classified as: Physical: theses are based on floor space, cubic space, room height, persons per room, rooms per dwelling, environmental quality (e.g., air, light, water, noise, sewage disposal, etc) Economic indicators: These are cost of the building, rental levels. Taxes, expenditure on housing, etc. Social indicators: The following were proposed at an inter-regional seminar on the Social Aspects of Housing, organized by the UN in 1975.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Indicators related to prevention of illness: Frequency of illness due to inadequate sewage and garbage collection. Frequency of illness associated with contaminated water source. Frequency of insect borne diseases Frequency of illness due to overcrowding. Frequency of illness due to accidents Frequency of illness due to proximity to animals. Access to medical facility.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Indicators related to comfort: Thermal comfort Acoustic comfort Visual comfort Spatial comfort

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik Indicators related to mental health and social well-being Frequency of suicides in the neighbourhood Neglected and abandoned youth in the neighbourhood Drug abuse (including alcohol) in the neighbourhood.

Dr. Muhammad Razzaq Malik