The Environment and your Health

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Environment and Your Health

Chapter Sixteen


The EnvironmentRange of conditions that can influence your health:

– Availability of resources

– Physical conditions• Temperature• Humidity• Toxins• Allergens• Pathogens• Noise• Radiation

– Other organisms


Environmental Problems and Solutions


Personal Environment• Home• Neighborhood• Workplace

• Health concerns of personal environment:– Indoor air quality– Drinking water– Endocrine disrupters– Noise


Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks• Carbon monoxide

– Odorless, colorless byproduct of combustion– Effects range from mild discomfort to death– Keep appliances in working order– Install a carbon monoxide detector

• Volatile organic compounds (paint, paint stripper, solvents)– Effects range from eye irritation in the short term

to organ and nerve damage in the long term– Minimize use of products– Use and dispose of properly


Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Tobacco smoke

– Increases risk for respiratory problems and cancer

– Reduce exposure• Asbestos (building material)

– Minerals with a fibrous crystal structure– Causes lung damage and cancer if

inhaled– Leave undamaged asbestos-containing

materials alone– Hire qualified professional to remove

damaged asbestos


Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Lead

– Toxic metal used in house paint, as gasoline additive, in plumbing solder

– Causes organ damage, delayed physical and mental development, and death

– Replace lead-based paints and test tap water in older houses

• Biological pollutants (bacteria, molds, mildew, viruses, dust mites, plant pollen and other allergens)– Minimize exposure through cleaning, vacuuming,

pest control, and other strategies


Indoor Air Quality: Health Risks (cont.)• Radon

– Naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted during uranium decay in soil, rock, water

– Causes lung cancer– Test homes and install a radon reduction

system if needed• Nonionizing (electromagnetic)

radiation– Cannot break chemical bonds but may

excite electrons or heat biological materials (e.g., microwave)

– Effects still under study


Drinking Water• Source of water supply

– Safety of drinking water is affected by environmental factors in home and community

– Water supply is typically from ground water (rural) or river/lakes (urban)

• Drinking water contaminants– Agricultural fertilizers– Pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, viruses– Lead, copper, PVC from pipes

• Taking action– Flush water through plumbing– Have water tested and take any needed action


Endocrine Disrupters• Dangerous pollutants

– Dioxin, PCBs, DT• Pesticides• Herbicides• Antiseptics• Chemicals used in manufacturing

plastics– Phthalates, bisphenol A

• Teflon


Noise• Defined as any undesirable sound• Health effects are dependent upon

intensity, frequency, and nature of the noise– Anxiety, frustration– Inability to concentrate, reduced

productivity– Anger, stress– Long-term hearing loss can occur at noise

levels at 120 decibels for over 2 hours


The Community and Regional Environment• Air pollution• Water pollution• Land pollution• Loss of green space• Ionizing radiation


Air Pollution• Sources

– Internal combustion engines– Oil refineries, chemical production

• Health effects– Carbon monoxide

• Impaired respiration– Nitrogen and sulfur oxides

• Lung tissue damage• Respiratory effects

– Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)• Cancer• Fetal effects


Air Pollution (cont.)– Tropospheric ozone (“smog”)

• Lung damage• Reduced lung capacity• Respiratory distress

– Air toxics• Cancer• Reduced fertility, birth defects

• Taking Action– Check information on local air quality

• Avoid outdoor activities during alerts– Limit personal contribution


Exposure to Unhealthy Air


Water Pollution• Sources

– Point sources (e.g., sewer overflow)

– Urban and agricultural runoff• Types

– Biological water pollutants• Disease-causing organisms from

human or animal sewage– Toxic pollutants

• Naturally occurring elements• Industrial and agricultural activities


Water Pollution (cont.)• Health effects

– Biological pollutants cause diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera, and other diseases

– Toxic chemicals cause cancer, organ damage, infertility, and birth defects

• Taking action– Read annual water quality reports for your

area– Avoid eating contaminated fish– Pay attention to “don’t swim” warnings


Land Pollution• Sources

– Municipal solid waste– Sewage sludge

• Disposal– Sanitary landfill– Incineration

• Taking action—Three Rs:– Reduce– Reuse– Recycle


Loss of Green Space• Urban development

– Increases commute time– Decreases physical activity, increases

rates of overweight/obesity– Reduces quality of life


Ionizing Radiation• Sources

– Medical X-rays– Naturally occurring radioactive minerals– Nuclear reactors and waste products– Nuclear bomb explosions

• Health Effects– Organ damage– Birth defects– Cancer– Death

• Challenge of nuclear waste disposal


The Global Environment• Atmosphere, oceans, continental

land masses, and all living organisms that exist on Earth

• Concerns– Human population explosion– Global climate change– Stratospheric ozone depletion– Loss of natural habitats and species

extinction


Human Population Growth• Effects

– Resource depletion and starvation– Habitat destruction– Political tensions, terrorism, and war

(competition for limited resources)• Reducing population growth

– Increase infant survival– Provide education opportunities for girls– Provide universal access to birth control


Human Population Growth


Global Climate Change• Greenhouse gases

– Trap heat radiated from the earth; increase global temperature

– Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone, water vapor

• Effects of climate change– Coastal flooding– Increased frequency and severity of

destructive weather events– Expanded range of disease-carrying insects– Decreased air and water quality– Decreased food availability


Global Climate Change (cont.)• Taking action

– Conserve electricity– Drive fuel-efficient vehicles– Use mass transit– Reduce, reuse, recycle– Purchase energy-efficient appliances– Vote, volunteer


Stratospheric Ozone Depletion• Ozone layer of upper atmosphere

protects surface of Earth from harmful UV radiation

• Causes of depletion– Human-made air pollutants, especially

CFCs• Effects

– Skin cancer, cataracts, weakened immunity, reduced crop yields

• Taking action– Have refrigerators and air-conditioning

systems serviced by licensed technicians who can properly dispose of old CFCs


Loss of Habitat and Species Extinction• Causes

– Population growth– New technologies

• Health effects– Loss of genetic diversity and possible drug

treatments– Degradation of overall environment and its ability

to support life– Lessened emotional, psychological, and spiritual

well-being• Taking action

– Conserve energy– Reduce, reuse, recycle– “Buy green”


The Environment and Your HealthChapter Sixteen

Health & Medicine

The Environment and your Health