1. Environmental Health PA Environmental & Ecology Standard: 4.3.12.A,B,C

2. Pollutants are everywhere  Atmosphere- car exhaust, cigarette smoke smokestacks  Hydrosphere- sediment, toxic wastes, animal wastes  Lithosphere- radioactive leaks, pesticides  Biosphere- includes everything

3. Environmental awareness  Public awareness, laws, and other legislation have helped reduce or prevent pollution over the past few decades

4. Water pollution  Two most common: 1.Sediment 2.Nutrients Wash in through farmland, construction, other areas where the ground is disturbed

5. Effluent  The wastewater from factories and refineries that is released directly into urban water supplies

6. Effluent often contains harmful by-products 1.Heated wastewater- raises temperature of the waterway killing aquatic life 2.Sewage: polluted water that contains human waste, garbage, and other household wastewater 1.Heated wastewater- raises temperature of the waterway killing aquatic life 2.Sewage: polluted water that contains human waste, garbage, and other household wastewater

7. Sewage  In most countries, it is treated with screens, filters, and chlorine  In the US, about 80% of sewage goes through treatment plants  About 10% passes through septic tanks  Remaining 10% is untreated and passes directly into the Earth’s water systems  In most countries, it is treated with screens, filters, and chlorine  In the US, about 80% of sewage goes through treatment plants  About 10% passes through septic tanks  Remaining 10% is untreated and passes directly into the Earth’s water systems

9. Product of sewage: sediment  Commonly referred to as sludge  Most is dried or composted, tested, and used as fertilizers for forests and crops  The chemicals that can be found in the sludge determine where it can be spread  Commonly referred to as sludge  Most is dried or composted, tested, and used as fertilizers for forests and crops  The chemicals that can be found in the sludge determine where it can be spread

10. Water pollutants  Most can be dangerous to health  Examples: lead- causes brain damage iron & manganese- large amounts hydrogen sulfide- rotten egg smell radioactive- cancers  Most can be dangerous to health  Examples: lead- causes brain damage iron & manganese- large amounts hydrogen sulfide- rotten egg smell radioactive- cancers

11. Microbes:  Very tiny pathogens, or organisms that cause disease  Can be protists, bacteria, or viruses  Common water-related illnesses: cholera, dysentery, malaria,cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis  Very tiny pathogens, or organisms that cause disease  Can be protists, bacteria, or viruses  Common water-related illnesses: cholera, dysentery, malaria,cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis

12. Cholera  Intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae  Symptoms  Watery diarrhea & vomiting  Dehydration & even death if not treated  Preventive measures  Washing/peeling fruits and vegetables  Thoroughly cooking foods  Prevent cross-contamination of raw foods  Intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae  Symptoms  Watery diarrhea & vomiting  Dehydration & even death if not treated  Preventive measures  Washing/peeling fruits and vegetables  Thoroughly cooking foods  Prevent cross-contamination of raw foods

13. Cholera  Treated with rehydration fluids and antibiotics  World Health Organization (WHO) reports a pandemic in progress, mainly in developing countries  Pandemic: an outbreak of a disease that affects an exceptionally high portion of a population and occurs over a very large geographical area  Treated with rehydration fluids and antibiotics  World Health Organization (WHO) reports a pandemic in progress, mainly in developing countries  Pandemic: an outbreak of a disease that affects an exceptionally high portion of a population and occurs over a very large geographical area

14. Dysentery  Caused several types of bacteria  Symptoms:  Bloody diarrhea & abdominal cramps, fever  In severe cases can cause seizures and kidney failure  Spreads through person-to-person contact, eating and drinking contaminated foods  Resistant to antibiotics is high but can be treated  Caused several types of bacteria  Symptoms:  Bloody diarrhea & abdominal cramps, fever  In severe cases can cause seizures and kidney failure  Spreads through person-to-person contact, eating and drinking contaminated foods  Resistant to antibiotics is high but can be treated

15. Malaria  Parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that breed in still water  Parasite infects the liver and red blood cells  Symptoms: flu-like, headache, fever, and vomiting  Parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that breed in still water  Parasite infects the liver and red blood cells  Symptoms: flu-like, headache, fever, and vomiting

16. Malaria  Mainly occurs in tropical regions  Causes at least one million deaths a year  Mainly occurs in tropical regions  Causes at least one million deaths a year

17. Cholera, dysentery, & malaria  Common diseases in developing countries  Very rare in developed countries like the US  Common diseases in developing countries  Very rare in developed countries like the US

18. Cryptosporidiosis  Cryptosporidium cysts enter the human body and excyst, or “hatch”  The opening of the cysts allows millions of protozoa to complete their life cycles within the hosts intestines  Cryptosporidium cysts enter the human body and excyst, or “hatch”  The opening of the cysts allows millions of protozoa to complete their life cycles within the hosts intestines

19. Symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis  Appear 1 week after ingestion  Persistent diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, dehydration  Lasts 10-14 days to 2-4 months  Fatal to weakened immune systems  Appear 1 week after ingestion  Persistent diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, dehydration  Lasts 10-14 days to 2-4 months  Fatal to weakened immune systems

20. Transmission of Cryptosporidiosis  Inadequately or improperly treated drinking water  Eating contaminated food or fecal-oral transmission  Often found in surface water, so it must be treated with chemicals, filters, and disinfectants  Also, a rapid boil for minute will destroy the cysts  Inadequately or improperly treated drinking water  Eating contaminated food or fecal-oral transmission  Often found in surface water, so it must be treated with chemicals, filters, and disinfectants  Also, a rapid boil for minute will destroy the cysts

21. Giardiasis  Similar to Cryptosporidiosis in its infection, transmission, symptoms, and treatment  Common on PA streams  Can be killed with chlorine treatment, and treated with medication  Similar to Cryptosporidiosis in its infection, transmission, symptoms, and treatment  Common on PA streams  Can be killed with chlorine treatment, and treated with medication

22. Waterborne disease outbreaks in PA at an all time low

23. Air Pollution  Results from:  Natural events  Forest fires  Dust storms  Human activities  Burning of fossil fuels  Major source of pollution

24. Pollutants caused from Industrial processes & motor vehicles  Ozone  Carbon monoxide  Sulfur dioxide  Nitrogen dioxide  Particulate matter  Ozone  Carbon monoxide  Sulfur dioxide  Nitrogen dioxide  Particulate matter

25. Ozone: O 3  A form of oxygen high in the atmosphere that protects the Earth’s inhabitants from harmful solar radiation  Close to the surface, it can cause respiratory problems, eye irritations, nausea  A form of oxygen high in the atmosphere that protects the Earth’s inhabitants from harmful solar radiation  Close to the surface, it can cause respiratory problems, eye irritations, nausea

26. Carbon monoxide: CO  Colorless, odorless gas that forms from the incomplete burning of fuels  Source: motor vehicles, industrial furnaces, cigarette smoke  Headache, fatigue, flulike symptoms. In high concentrations, CO can cause death.  Colorless, odorless gas that forms from the incomplete burning of fuels  Source: motor vehicles, industrial furnaces, cigarette smoke  Headache, fatigue, flulike symptoms. In high concentrations, CO can cause death.

27. Sulfur dioxide: SO 2  Forms when coal containing pyrite is burned  Sulfur from pyrite combines with O 2 and moisture from air and creates sulfuric acid or acid precipitation.  Causes difficulty in breathing, decreased lung function  Forms when coal containing pyrite is burned  Sulfur from pyrite combines with O 2 and moisture from air and creates sulfuric acid or acid precipitation.  Causes difficulty in breathing, decreased lung function

28. Nitrogen dioxide: NO 2  Forms when fuel is burned. Industrial areas and high traffic areas  Can lead to smog (smoke and fog) and acid precipitation.  Eye irritation, stuffy nose, sore throat  Issue warnings about smog  Forms when fuel is burned. Industrial areas and high traffic areas  Can lead to smog (smoke and fog) and acid precipitation.  Eye irritation, stuffy nose, sore throat  Issue warnings about smog

29. Particulate matter  Solid particles in the air  Dust, tiny pieces of rubber from tires, asbestos from brake linings  Irritations of respiratory system  Solid particles in the air  Dust, tiny pieces of rubber from tires, asbestos from brake linings  Irritations of respiratory system

30. Toxic substances  Nearly 200 various metals and compounds  Lead- cancer  Mercury- brain damage, developing fetuses  Nearly 200 various metals and compounds  Lead- cancer  Mercury- brain damage, developing fetuses

31. Allergies & Asthma  Respiratory diseases caused by indoor and outdoor pollutants

32. Allergy  A reaction by the body to a foreign substance that is harmless to most other people  Molds, bacteria, pollen, cigarette smoke, dust, foods, dyes  A reaction by the body to a foreign substance that is harmless to most other people  Molds, bacteria, pollen, cigarette smoke, dust, foods, dyes

33. Asthma  A disorder of the lungs in which airways tend to constrict, resulting in episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, coughing  Dust, mites, dander, pollen, air pollutants, bacteria  Asthma tends to be more serious than allergies  A disorder of the lungs in which airways tend to constrict, resulting in episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, coughing  Dust, mites, dander, pollen, air pollutants, bacteria  Asthma tends to be more serious than allergies

34. PA Air Quality  Although vehicle number has increased, pollution has not due to maintenance and inspections

35. Soil Pollutants  Mainly agriculture-sediments, pesticides, fertilizers, animal wastes  Landfills- can leak harmful substances  Industrial processes- heavy metals  Mining- AMD  Radioactive waste- nuclear power plants  Mainly agriculture-sediments, pesticides, fertilizers, animal wastes  Landfills- can leak harmful substances  Industrial processes- heavy metals  Mining- AMD  Radioactive waste- nuclear power plants

36. Radioactive wastes: 2 Types 1.High-level wastes(HLW)- highly radioactive, can pose health risks for thousands of years  Used nuclear fuel  Govt. responsibility 2.Low-level wastes(LLW)-materials contaminated with radioactive and emit small amounts of radiation  Individual state’s responsibility 1.High-level wastes(HLW)- highly radioactive, can pose health risks for thousands of years  Used nuclear fuel  Govt. responsibility 2.Low-level wastes(LLW)-materials contaminated with radioactive and emit small amounts of radiation  Individual state’s responsibility

37. Indoor Air pollution  Paints, cleaning products, oils, pesticides can become household hazard waste(HHW)  Follow instruction on label for use and disposal  Use required amount, not more  Paints, cleaning products, oils, pesticides can become household hazard waste(HHW)  Follow instruction on label for use and disposal  Use required amount, not more

38. Manufacturing of household products  When created these products can cause a great deal of pollution  Ex: bleach: chlorine gas causes upper respiratory problems  Ammonia: nitrogen can pollute the air and form nitrogen dioxide.  When created these products can cause a great deal of pollution  Ex: bleach: chlorine gas causes upper respiratory problems  Ammonia: nitrogen can pollute the air and form nitrogen dioxide.