Human Health ProjectBy: Emilie Gardam

Question 1The main pollutants and contaminants that can affect

human health are carbon dioxide and pesticides. Carbon dioxide comes from cars, burning smoke from fires and we humans breath out CO2. People use pesticides to kill pests but other animals lick it and can die from it. Also, pesticides can drain into waterways and contaminate the water we drink.

Question 2Higher concentrations of CO2 can affect respiratory

function and cause excitation followed by depression of the central nervous system. High concentrations of CO2 can displace oxygen in the air, resulting in lower oxygen concentrations for breathing.

Flushing of the skin, an impaired response of the circulatory system to exercise, a fall in blood pressure, decreased oxygen consumption, and impaired attentiveness have been reported as short term affects of exposure to CO2.

Question 2 continued..

A report by the World Health Organization that makes an approximation that over 200,000 people is killed owing to the toxicity of these dangerous chemical world-wide every year. In fact, the casualty figures do not tell the real picture about the vast impact of the poisoning caused by these poisonous chemicals. Pesticides lead to over three million poisoning cases annually.

Exposure to pesticides can lead to asthma, skin rashes, chronic disorders like emphysema and cancer.

Question 3There are many ways that contaminants can enter the body.

The four main ways are: Inhalation, skin contact, digestive system (ingestion or eating), and injection.

The eyes may also be a route of entry. Usually, however, only very small quantities of chemicals in the workplace enter through the mouth or the eyes.

Regardless of the way the chemical gets into the body, once it is in the body it is distributed to anywhere in the body by the blood stream. Therefore the chemicals can attack and harm organs which are far away from where they entered the body in the first place.

Question 4You can reduce exposure to environmental contaminants by

wearing rubber gloves, protective clothing, sun glasses, a respirator, reduce time outside/being exposed to chemicals.

Question 5Populations who are more susceptible to environmental

factors is Africa and undeveloped countries because they don’t have clean water and not a lot of healthy foods.

The young and the elderly are more likely to get sick from air pollution because there immune systems aren’t as strong. They are more likely to inhale the chemicals and get infected.

Question 5 continued…

The Inuit are more vulnerable to diseases because of their traditional diets. They eat animals right after they are killed which means they are more exposed to contamination. Right after you kill an animal, you should check them out in case they are carrying a disease or are pregnant.

Question 6Government initiatives that are intended to reduce the

impact of environmental concerns are becoming more and more popular because we are hearing more things on the television and on the radio.

Ontario has come up with the Clean Air Plan to reduce around 50 harmful pollutants. They plan to reduce emissions from Mills, Power Plants, and Coal Plants also.

Ontario has also come up with the Drive Clean Program. This involves vehicles getting checked once a year for harmful emissions.

CONCLUSIONAfter doing this project, I have learned a lot

of things about pollution. I was not aware that pesticides were harmful to the environment and that it was being used too often.

I also learned that the government has taken a lot of action to help reduce the emission being polluted in to the environment.