1. CHAPTER 34 ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS Lesson 2
Journal Question: What is the role of environmental health workers in protecting the environment and preserving the resources necessary for life?

2. Chapter 34 Learning Objectives
Identify at least five areas of pollution control that are monitored and regulated by environmental health services.
List at least five health conditions that are affected by environmental pollution.
Describe the natural recycling process or chain of life in an ecosystem.

3. Other Support Service Personnel
Departments of support personnel in a health care facility
Sterile supply
Central supply
Biomedical engineering
Laundry
Security
Maintenance operations

4. Other Support Service Personnel
Ancillary services
Groundskeeping
Housekeeping
Other personnel necessary to run a large institution

5. Other Support Service Personnel
Housekeeping staff may be responsible for concurrent and terminal cleanings of all parts of the health care environment
Supervised by an infection control nurse
Concurrent cleaning
Disinfecting contaminated objects
Disposing of soiled articles used by an infected patient
Using a method that prevents spread of the pathogen

6. Other Support Service Personnel
Biomedical equipment technician
Installs, calibrates, inspects, and maintains electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment
Areas of certification
Biomedical equipment technician (CBET)
Clinical laboratory equipment specialist (CLES)
Certified radiological equipment specialist (CRES)
Education
2-year degree in biomedical equipment technology or on-the-job training
Biomedical equipment technician works with the biomedical engineering staff in the facility.

7. Other Support Service Personnel
Surgical technician (operating room technologist [ORT])
Works under the direction of a surgeon
Maintains the sterile field and passes instruments to the surgeon during the operation
Education
Completion of a vocational or hospital-based based training program of 9 to 12 months
Certification leads to certified surgical technologist (CST).
The surgical technician is also called an operating room technologist (ORT).

8. Other Support Service Personnel
Central service or sterile supply technician
Sterilizes, assembles, cleans, and stores diagnostic and surgical equipment
Education or training
Vocational and 2-year college programs
On-the-job training
Central supply assistant
Inventories, receives, stores, and distributes equipment and products
Refer students to Figure 34-4, and discuss use of the autoclave.

9. Autoclave
FIGURE 34-4 The autoclave sterilizes instruments by using steam under pressure to kill all microorganisms, including viruses and spores. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical procedures for medical assistants, ed 7, St. Louis, 2008, Saunders.)

10. Environmental Resources and Hazards
Biosphere is the air, crust of the earth, and water
Made up of ecosystems
Ecology
Study of living organisms and how they relate to their environment
Humans produce more waste than can be recycled.
Pollution of water, air, and land endangers life.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency that sets and regulates the standards for environmental factors.
Discuss the term ecosystems, and have students provide examples. Refer students to Figure 34-6.

11. Chain of Life: The Ecosystem
FIGURE 34-6 The chain of life ecosystem. The chain of life is composed of the following elements. A, Sunlight, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, organic compounds, and nutrients found in the ecosystem. B, Plants or “producers” on land and in water convert carbon dioxide and other nutrients from the ecosystem in carbohydrates through photosynthesis, releasing oxygen. C, Herbivores (cows, sheep), carnivores, and other “consumers” feed on the producers and on each other. D, “Decomposers” such as bacteria, fungi, and insects break down dead producers and consumers, thereby returning their compounds into the ecosystem for reuse.

12. Environmental Resources and Hazards
Many diseases and health conditions are linked to environmental conditions.
Emphysema and other lung disorders
Lead poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Mercury poisoning
Chemicals found in the environment act as mutagens and cause many cancers.
Discuss the term ecosystems, and have students provide examples. Refer students to Figure 34-6.
Discuss the term mutagens, and have students give examples.

13. Air Pollution
Composed of dust and soot, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides
Thinning of ozone layer has resulted from air pollution.
Increased the intensity of ultraviolet rays reaching the surface of the earth, resulting in higher incidence of skin cancer
Physical effects of air pollution have been documented.
Discuss causes of air pollution in large cities, and compare with causes of air pollution in rural areas.

14. Air Pollution Facts

15. Noise Pollution Sound is a form of energy.
Measured by pitch and loudness
Loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB).
Lowest sound that can be heard by the human ear is 1 dB.
One third of hearing loss is attributed to environmental causes and can be prevented.
There is excessive noise in homes and offices and in traffic and outdoor environments.
Ask the students to give examples of excessive noise in home, offices, traffic, and outdoor environments.

16. Sources and Effects of Noise

17. Water Pollution Water pollution
Water is tested for quality, bacteria, and pollutants.
Determinations of water quality
Water temperature
Turbidity
Odor
Animal and plant life pH
Presence of debris

18. Water Pollution Water contamination
Industrial plants
Oil discharges
Pesticides
Fertilizers
Heat from plants producing electricity
Water can be polluted by chemicals and waste seeping into ground water.
Standards for acceptable drinking water are set by the federal government.

19. Other Environmental Hazards
Americans produced 250 million tons of solid waste in 2008.
Represents 4.5 lb of trash per person per day
83 million tons recycled or composted
Average size of a landfill is increasing.
Disposal of radioactive and other hazardous waste materials becoming a concern of environmental health services.
Possible harmful effects of electromagnetic fields
Discuss sources of electromagnetic fields and links between exposure and cancers or birth defects.

20. Biohazard Symbol
FIGURE 34-9 A biohazard symbol.

21. Ten Leading Work-Related Diseases and Injuries
Work-related injuries and illnesses are the concern of public health personnel. Discuss the 10 leading work-related disorders and injuries.

22. Performance Instruction
Food preparation
Medical asepsis must be maintained.
Using good handwashing technique
Wearing nets to contain hair and gloves to protect food
Appropriate storage of all prepared food to prevent contamination
Menu planned to meet individual patient’s medical needs and to provide a balanced 24-hour diet
Counters and equipment in the kitchen area must be cleaned and disinfected.
Refer students to Skill List 34-5 Preparing Meals.

23. Performance Instruction
Water analysis
Tests
Determination of the turbidity
Odor
Presence of microorganisms pH
Refer students to Skill List 34-6“Analyzing Water.

24. Performance Instruction
Instrument maintenance
Maintaining medical asepsis by
Using good handwashing techniques and wearing disposable gloves
Contaminated instruments cleaned by
Rinsing them in cold water
Scrubbing with a brush in warm, soapy water
Drying them well with a clean cloth or in a hot-air oven
Cleaning small instruments in an ultrasonic cleaner
Other instruments may be wrapped and then sterilized by using steam or chemicals.
Refer students to Skill List 34-7 Cleaning Instruments and to Skill List 37-8 Wrapping Packages for Sterilization.

25. Washing Instruments
FIGURE 34-10 A, Instruments are washed thoroughly before being placed in the ultrasound. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical procedures for medical assistants, ed 7, St. Louis, 2008, Saunders.)

26. Washing Instruments
FIGURE 34-10 B, Instruments are washed thoroughly before being placed in the ultrasound. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical procedures for medical assistants, ed 7, St. Louis, 2008, Saunders.)

27. Washing Instruments
FIGURE 34-10 C, Instruments are washed thoroughly before being placed in the ultrasound. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical procedures for medical assistants, ed 7, St. Louis, 2008, Saunders.)

28. Washing Instruments
FIGURE 34-10 D, Instruments are washed thoroughly before being placed in the ultrasound. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical procedures for medical assistants, ed 7, St. Louis, 2008, Saunders.)

29. Wrapping Instruments for Sterilization
FIGURE A, A wrapper must be selected so that no area of the items to be sterilized remains uncovered. Many items are wrapped twice to provide easier use after sterilization.

30. Wrapping Instruments for Sterilization
FIGURE B, A wrapper must be selected so that no area of the items to be sterilized remains uncovered. Many items are wrapped twice to provide easier use after sterilization.

31. Wrapping Instruments for Sterilization
FIGURE C, A wrapper must be selected so that no area of the items to be sterilized remains uncovered. Many items are wrapped twice to provide easier use after sterilization.

32. Wrapping Instruments for Sterilization
FIGURE D, A wrapper must be selected so that no area of the items to be sterilized remains uncovered. Many items are wrapped twice to provide easier use after sterilization.

33. Summary
Five areas of pollution control that are monitored by the environmental health care team are air quality, water quality, sound, food, and waste management.
Five health conditions that are affected by environmental pollution are emphysema, heart disease, lung cancer, lead poisoning, and nervous system disorders.

34. Summary The chain of life in an ecosystem starts with the sun.
A producer makes food for a consumer.
When it dies, the compounds that make the consumer are returned to the soil by a decomposer.

35. Review
Health and regulatory inspectors must: a. Develop methods to control hazards b. Enforce laws and regulations regarding employment hazards c. Test air for radiation d. Analyze contamination problems e. Identify hazards

36. Review Health and regulatory inspectors must:
a. Develop methods to control hazards
b. Enforce laws and regulations regarding employment hazards
c. Test air for radiation
d. Analyze contamination problems
e. Identify hazards