Chapter 8 - Environmental Context of Health Flashcards
Miasma theory of disease vs germ theory
focus in the 19th century
Spontaneous generation of disease
Urban crowding lack of sanitation
19th – > 20th century
Environmental health shifted from social and environmental risk factors to focus on infectious agents and genes
20th century –> 21 century
Exploration of many social, behavioral, environmental, and biological contributors to health and disease
What killed more children every year than AIDS, malaria, and measles
Dirty water
Drinking water.
Access to water requires:
Quality Quantity Proximity Reliability Cost
Minimum water per person per day FOR SURVIVAL
4/5 gallons = 15-20 liters
How many liters for drinking?
1-3 liters
how many liters for food prep?
2-3 liters
how many liters for cleanliness
6-7 liters
how many liters for laundry?
4-6 liters
How many gallons per person per day for HEALTHY LIVING
13 gallons
Improved drinking water sources
Piped water into home or yard Borehole/ tube well Standpipe/ public tap Protected dug well Protected spring Rainwater collection
Unimproved drinking water sources
Unprotected well Unprotected spring Surface water Water from vendors Some bottled water ***
Water source
only 2.5% of world’s water is fresh water
2/3 of freshwater is in glaciers
70% of fresh water is used for agricultural use
Sanitation
About 1/2 of the people in low-income countries practice open defecation
Factors contributing to diarrhea
Fingers, field, flies, fluid, feces, food
Improved sanitation facilities
connection to a public sewer system connection to a septic system pour-flush lactrine Ventilated-improved pit lactrine Composting toilet Simple pit latrine
Unimproved sanitation
Open pit latrine Pour/flush toilet that drains to the street Public or shared latrine Bucket or bag Open defecation
Open defecation
About 50% of people who live in developing countries
Access to electricity
Only 80% of the world’s population have electricity in their homes
Proportion of the rural and urban population with access to electricity in 2008
Kenya, Sierra Leone and India has lower proportion than other countries
Global work environment
Each year, nearly 300 mil workers miss at least 4 days due to on job injury
How many people die as a result of job-related diseases and injuries?
2 mil/year
Toxicology
Study of harmful effects that chemicals and other environmental hazards have on living things
Carcinogens
Cause cancer
Teratogens
Cause birth defects
Environmental risk factors
Are major risk factors in the global burden of disease
Such as unsafe water, hygiene and excreta disposal, outdoor air pollution, and indoor air pollution
Central of the Millennial Development Goals
Addressing environmental health
Key environmental health burdens
Indoor air pollution
Outdoor air pollution
Sanitation, water, and hygiene
Burden of environmentally related disease
Indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels - 3.7%
Unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene - 3.2%
Urban air pollution - 1.5%
Environmental health problems
- 4 % of the total deaths in environmentally related disease
- 2% of their total burden of disease
Burden of disease affects poor disproportionately
Negative consequences on productivity
Young children especially at risk
How to improve outdoor air pollution?
Eliminate lead and two stroke engines, shift to Liquefied Natural Gas
How to improve indoor air pollution?
Improve stove and switch to Kerosene
How to improve sanitation?
Implement low-cost sanitation and behavior change
How to improve water supply?
Promote better hygiene and implement appropriate water systems
How to improve hygiene?
Enhance knowledge and practice of hygiene and hand washing
