Environmental Health Hazards

1. ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH HAZARDSHEALTH HAZARDS

2. DefinitionDefinition
► World Health Organization (World Health Organization (WHO, 1993WHO, 1993): defines): defines
"Environmental health comprises those aspects of human"Environmental health comprises those aspects of human
health, including quality of life, that are determined byhealth, including quality of life, that are determined by
physical, chemical, biologic, social, and psychosocialphysical, chemical, biologic, social, and psychosocial
factors in the environmentfactors in the environment."."
► And anyAnd any external factor that negatively affects your healthexternal factor that negatively affects your health
can be considered ancan be considered an environmental health hazard.environmental health hazard.

3. Environmental health hazardsEnvironmental health hazards
► Land and climate related hazardsLand and climate related hazards
► Atmospheric hazards –Atmospheric hazards –
► Water related hazards-Water related hazards-
► Food Borne hazardsFood Borne hazards
► Vector Borne HazardsVector Borne Hazards
► Domestic HazardsDomestic Hazards
► Occupational HazardsOccupational Hazards
► Infrastructural hazardsInfrastructural hazards
► OthersOthers

4. Land and climate related hazardsLand and climate related hazards
► Floods : Common in both lowland coastal andFloods : Common in both lowland coastal and
inland areas, especially in Tropics and monsooninland areas, especially in Tropics and monsoon
areasareas
► StormsStorms
► HurricanesHurricanes
► Volcanic activityVolcanic activity
► EarthquakesEarthquakes
► Soil erosionSoil erosion
► DroughtDrought

5. SponsoredSponsored
Medical Lecture Notes –Medical Lecture Notes – All SubjectsAll Subjects
USMLE Exam (America) –USMLE Exam (America) – PracticePractice

6. Atmospheric hazardsAtmospheric hazards
►Out Door Pollution /AirOut Door Pollution /Air
►Increasing problem in many urban areasIncreasing problem in many urban areas
due to road traffic;due to road traffic;
►Also associated with old, heavy andAlso associated with old, heavy and
manufacturing industries and mining wind-manufacturing industries and mining wind-
blown dust also a significant problem inblown dust also a significant problem in
some areassome areas

7. Outdoor pollution- sourcesOutdoor pollution- sources
►IndustryIndustry
►Cars and trucksCars and trucks
►Other sources such as gasoline stations,Other sources such as gasoline stations,
farm equipments, fires, and outdoorfarm equipments, fires, and outdoor
pesticide use.pesticide use.

8. Primary outdoor air pollutantsPrimary outdoor air pollutants
►Pollutants of concern arePollutants of concern are
►Ozone (O3)Ozone (O3)
►Particulate Matter (PM)Particulate Matter (PM)
►Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO)
►Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
►Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
►Lead (Pb)Lead (Pb)
►Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

9. Water related hazardsWater related hazards
► Surface waterSurface water
► In urban areas, primarily from industrial andIn urban areas, primarily from industrial and
domestic wastesdomestic wastes
► In rural related pollution areas with co-use ofIn rural related pollution areas with co-use of
waters for humans and livestockwaters for humans and livestock
► Drinking waterDrinking water Especially in areas withoutEspecially in areas without
access to treated/piped wateraccess to treated/piped water
contaminationcontamination

10. Water pollutionWater pollution
Common pollutants of area rivers, streams, bayous, lakes, ponds,Common pollutants of area rivers, streams, bayous, lakes, ponds,
estuaries and bays include:estuaries and bays include:
► fertilizers from home lawns and gardens, as well as agriculture;fertilizers from home lawns and gardens, as well as agriculture;
► mercury from power plants and industrial waste;mercury from power plants and industrial waste;
► herbicides and insecticides;herbicides and insecticides;
► oil and other chemicals from roadway runoff;oil and other chemicals from roadway runoff;
► prescription medications, paint and other toxic substances disposedprescription medications, paint and other toxic substances disposed
down household sinks and toilets;down household sinks and toilets;
► trash and sediment from construction sites;trash and sediment from construction sites;
► pet waste;pet waste;
► faulty septic systems;faulty septic systems;
► run-off from industrial sources or sewage treatment plants; andrun-off from industrial sources or sewage treatment plants; and
► hormone and prescription medications in human waste.hormone and prescription medications in human waste.

12. Health risks associated with waterHealth risks associated with water
pollutionpollution
►Drinking or washing with contaminatedDrinking or washing with contaminated
water;water;
►Eating seafood from polluted rivers or bays;Eating seafood from polluted rivers or bays;
►Eating crops watered with polluted water;Eating crops watered with polluted water;
and/orand/or
►Swimming in polluted waterways.Swimming in polluted waterways.

15. Workplace HazardsWorkplace Hazards
Many jobs expose workers to environmental toxinsMany jobs expose workers to environmental toxins
Exposure toExposure to
► Lead,Lead,
► solvents,solvents,
► Asbestos,Asbestos,
► Pesticides,Pesticides,
► Inks,Inks,
► Dry cleaning chemicalsDry cleaning chemicals
► Molds and other substances in the workplace.Molds and other substances in the workplace.

16. Infrastructural hazardsInfrastructural hazards
►TrafficTraffic : Accidents and noise pollution,: Accidents and noise pollution,
Growing problem in major citiesGrowing problem in major cities
►Industrial AccidentsIndustrial Accidents : Associated mainly: Associated mainly
with poorly regulated chemical industrieswith poorly regulated chemical industries
►Contaminated landContaminated land : Old industrial sites: Old industrial sites
and waste-dumpsand waste-dumps

17. Noise PollutionNoise Pollution
► Traffic, trains, buses, lawn mowers, leaf blowers,Traffic, trains, buses, lawn mowers, leaf blowers,
helicopters, construction noise, low-flyinghelicopters, construction noise, low-flying
recreational planes, jet skis, air-conditioningrecreational planes, jet skis, air-conditioning
units,units,
► Exposure to noise levels higher than 85 decibelsExposure to noise levels higher than 85 decibels
for long periods of time can cause permanentfor long periods of time can cause permanent
hearing damagehearing damage
► Lower levels have been shown to cause stress,Lower levels have been shown to cause stress,
increase blood pressure, cause sleepincrease blood pressure, cause sleep
disturbances which affect sleep quality as welldisturbances which affect sleep quality as well
as mood and performanceas mood and performance

18. Hazards from WasteHazards from Waste
► Municipal solid wasteMunicipal solid waste includes residential andincludes residential and
industrial waste. Solid waste is usually disposed of inindustrial waste. Solid waste is usually disposed of in
landfills or recycledlandfills or recycled
► Hazardous wasteHazardous waste , defined as that which is toxic,, defined as that which is toxic,
corrosive, flammable, or ignitable needs to be disposedcorrosive, flammable, or ignitable needs to be disposed
of properly.of properly.
► Nuclear wasteNuclear waste raise concerns about potential radiationraise concerns about potential radiation
exposure.exposure.
► Sources are commercial power plants, hospitals, andSources are commercial power plants, hospitals, and
non-military sources nuclear power plantsnon-military sources nuclear power plants

19. Socioeconomic FactorsSocioeconomic Factors
► Socioeconomic factorsSocioeconomic factors
► Include incomeInclude income
► Ethnicity, sense of community and other suchEthnicity, sense of community and other such
factors.factors.
► Studies have shown that certain segments ofStudies have shown that certain segments of
society are disproportionately exposed tosociety are disproportionately exposed to
environmental hazards, and may be moreenvironmental hazards, and may be more
vulnerable to such hazards than other populationsvulnerable to such hazards than other populations

20. Other Environmental Health HazardsOther Environmental Health Hazards
► Heat and HumidityHeat and Humidity
► High humidity impedes the body's ability to cool itself.High humidity impedes the body's ability to cool itself.
► This is a particular problem for the elderly.This is a particular problem for the elderly.
► StressStress
EExcessive stress is associated with decreased immunexcessive stress is associated with decreased immune
function and an increased risk of environmentally relatedfunction and an increased risk of environmentally related
illness. illness.

21. SummarySummary
► The big 3 are physical, chemical, and biological.The big 3 are physical, chemical, and biological.
► Physical- noise, lighting, vibration, temperature,Physical- noise, lighting, vibration, temperature,
electricityelectricity
► Chemical-solvents, acids, metals, dust, pesticidesChemical-solvents, acids, metals, dust, pesticides
► Biological- bacteria, virus, fungus/moldsBiological- bacteria, virus, fungus/molds
► The fourth is probably the occupational side ofThe fourth is probably the occupational side of
environmental healthenvironmental health
► Ergonomic-repetitive movement, poorly designedErgonomic-repetitive movement, poorly designed
equipment,equipment,