Environmental health

1. Environmental Health
By Dr Zahid Khan
Senior Lecturer King Faisal University,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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2. Environmental Health
• Planet supplies us with: food, water, air, and everything
that sustains our life.
• Historically environmental health focused on preventing
infectious diseases spread by water, waste, food,
rodents, and insects.
• Expansion of the modern day definition.
• Encompassing all the interactions of humans with their
environment and the health consequences of these
interactions.
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3. Water Pollution
Causes:
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Rapid growth of human population
• Industrial outputs
Contaminants:
• toxic chemicals
• human and animal excrements
• heavy metals
• pesticides
• silt
• fertilizers
Sources of pollution:
• Point sources
• Non-point sources
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4. Groundwater
• Groundwater resources are valuable:
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Purity
Dependability
Costs of Transportation
Treatment costs
• Groundwater pollution:
– Waste storage, treatment or disposal facilities
– Septic systems
– Pipes, materials transport and transfer operation
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5. Water Contaminants
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1. Biological
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Bacteria : Typhoid fever, Cholera, Shigella (dysentery), Salmonella and E. coli
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Viruses: Hepatitis A, poliomyelitis and Rotavirus.
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Resistant to disinfection by chlorination
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Protozoans: Giardia Lambia, Cryptosporidium, amoebic dysentery.
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Resistant to disinfection by chlorination
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2. Chemical
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Industrial solvents, pesticides
Lead
Nitrates
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6. Waste Disposal
• Humans generate large amounts of
waste.
• Sewage
• Septic system
• Heavy metal like lead, mercury etc
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Solid waste
• Garbage like newspapers, plastic bags etc.
• Sanitary landfill
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7. Waste Disposal
• What You Can Do to Reduce Garbage
• Products with least amount of packaging
• Products made of recycled paper or recyclable
products
• Avoid using foam or paper cups
• Store food in glass jars and reusable plastic containers
• Recycle newspapers, glass, cans, paper, and any other
recyclables
• Do not throw electronic items
• Start a compost pile
• Stop junk mail
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8. Why does sewage need to be treated?
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To improve the quality of wastewater so it can be
discharged in waterways without seriously
disrupting the aquatic environment or causing
human health problems.
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9. Recreational Waters
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In the year 2000, there were 1,266 beach closings, in Southern
California, 92% due to elevated bacteria of undetermined causes.
The remaining 8% was due to rain advisories and known sewage
discharge.

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11. Global Air Pollution Issues
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Major causes:
Introduction of atmospheric pollutants in unusual amounts
Changing the concentrations of natural atmospheric components
• Significant impacts:
1. Ozone depletion
2. Global warming
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12. Air Pollution in Los Angeles
• We have some of the worst air in the nation, and
the highest number of emergency visits caused by
smog and air pollution
• Air pollution contributes to heart disease, lung
disease, asthma and lung cancer
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13. Air Pollutants with Greatest Impact
on Health
Outdoor
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Ozone
Carbon monoxide
Airborne particles
Nitrogen oxides
Lead
Sulfur oxides
Diesel emissions
Indoor
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Smoking
Mold
Dust mites
Radon gas
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14. What You Can Do To Prevent Air Pollution
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Cut back on driving
Keep your car tuned up
Buy energy-efficient appliances
Replace incandescent bulbs
Homes well insulated
Plant trees and shrubs
Proper disposal of ozone-depleting appliances
Keep house well ventilated
Don’t smoke
Clean and inspect chimneys, furnaces and other
appliances
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15. Solid Wastes
Classification
• Municipal
• Hazardous
Disposal methods
• Unacceptable
• Acceptable
• Alternatives

16. FOOD SANITATION
According to Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), the following factors contribute to
mainly to foodborne illness:
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63% Inadequate Cooling and Cold Holding Temperatures
29% Preparing Food Ahead of Planned Service
27% Inadequate Hot Holding Temperatures
26% Poor Personal Hygiene/Infected Persons
25% Inadequate Reheating

17. Food Inspection
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Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Overall the food distribution in the U.S. is safe and efficient.
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18. Population Growth
• World’s population currently estimated at 6.5 billion.
• 150 people every minute.
• Increasing by 76 million per year
• To exceed 9.1 billion by 2050
• How Many People Can the World Hold?
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Food
Available land and water
Energy
Minimum acceptable standard of living
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19. Factors That Contribute to
Population Growth
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High fertility rates
Lack of family planning resources
Lower death rates
Population
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20. Any Questions !!
•Thank You
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