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Samia (Environmental Health) > Comprehensive Midterm Review > Flashcards

Comprehensive Midterm Review Flashcards

1
Q

Which population graph shape would you describe a developing (3rd world) country?

A

A pyramid shape would describe a third world country with more people at a younger age and fewer people at an older age.

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2
Q

Why do families in countries with inadequate drinking water and waste water systems continue to have high birth rates?

A

Due to a high level of mortality and low growth rates because of poor waste disposal, unsafe food, unsafe drinking water, there are higher birth rates to compensate for those who would die and sustain family size from these poor conditions.

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3
Q

List two environmental health programs that can be introduced to modify the shape of the graph.

A
  1. Clean drinking water program (reducing microbe causing diseases)
  2. Waste water system (preventing contamination from run off water)
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4
Q

Briefly describe why population is increasing in urban areas and decreasing in rural areas.

A

Pull to Urban:
- Perceived increased job opportunities, higher wages, and quality of life.
Push from Rural:
- Civil unrest & rural conditions such as less jobs, transportation challenges, drought, food conditions, etc. Urban Problems:
- Increase in heat islands, increasing costs of cooling, heat waves, increased mortality among elderly and infants, increase in air pollution, and issues with sanitation.

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5
Q

What document does the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) require to assure the protection of environment prior to the approval of construction projects using federal funds?

A

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

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6
Q

What is the role of the US Army Corps of Engineers in the EIS process?

A

US ACE has jurisdiction of interstate navigable waters and since every EIS would involve water (ground/surface) they work alongside EPA for NEPA purposes.

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7
Q

What requirement was put in place to assure the involvement of the public regarding EIS?

A

Public Hearings

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8
Q

Define the term “environmental justice or environmental equity”.

A

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

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9
Q

Give an example of a site/facility where environmental justice (equity) could present a public health problem.

A

Uranium mines in New Mexico are causing great deal of lung cancers and kidney damage due to the communal inhalation of this element. They are placed in low SES/minority neighborhoods.

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10
Q

List three confounding variables (conditions) that are not environmental that will make it difficult to determine the direct impact of the site/facility on the health of the people living in the area closest to the site.

A
  • Genetics
  • Alcoholism
  • Smoking
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11
Q

Briefly describe the differences between pollution prevention and enforcement programs in reducing the pollution due to waste water discharge.

A

Pollution prevention reduces/eliminates pollution from even occurring (like the elimination of storm sewers). Standards only treat the amount we have now (end of pipe).

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12
Q

Describe how credits (cap and trade) similar to the air pollution control program could be used to reduce pollution from waste water discharges.

A

Credits could be used, reserved, or sold. If used, the producer is only producing a certain amount of waste water discharge specified by the amount of credits. Reserved credits could be used to either increase output at one point or they can be sold. If credits are sold, the new producer cannot produce the same amount of waster water that it initially states, there must be a reduction in order to reduce the overall waster water discharge internationally.

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13
Q

List 4 changes that occurred since 1965 with federal laws and the way we have managed and disposed of solid/hazardous wastes.

A
  • Established landfills
  • Moved towards recycling
  • Categorizing hazardous waste
  • Requiring notifications of chemicals used and stored
  • TRI
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14
Q

Describe the role of the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR).

A
  • Conduct risk assessments starting with NPL and superfund sites
  • Registry, surveillance
  • No delegation to states to collect data, conduct surveillance

(So basically they keep a list of all the people who are in the vicinity of these places because they keep track of health conditions.So they’re put on that registry. CDC contracts with state/local/county health depts to do this monitoring. As soon as there’s something notifiable, they figure out whose going to do the monitoring and whether it’s going to meet the criteria for a superfund site. It took over 20 years to establish an agency to establish if there are any diseases associated)

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15
Q

What role does the manifest play in the disposal of hazardous waste?

A

A manifest tracks hazardous wastes.

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16
Q

List FIVE parties involved with the manifest that assures that compliance is achieved.

A

Producer, transporter, storage keeper, disposer, and agency.

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17
Q

List 3 environmental/public health problems that are controlled when a community changes from open dumping to the disposal of solid waste using a sanitary landfill.

A
  1. Reduction of breeding grounds for rodents and insects
  2. Reduction of wind blown debris after fire
  3. Reduction in surface water pollution
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18
Q

Describe the process that has been established to determine which of these hazardous sites (open dumps) will be cleaned up first.

A

The NPL ranks these hazardous waste sites based on the severity/need for clean up

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19
Q

What is the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)?

A

A database/list of information regarding the release and transfers of toxic materials. Also requires facilities to report the total amount of toxic chemicals produced in wastes. The purpose is to give public awareness about how much material is being released into the air/water (public pressure).

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20
Q

What environmental achievement has been obtained as a result of the requirement of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)?

A
  • Public awareness about how much material is being released into the air/water
  • Outcome: Public pressure because of the access of information causing companies to become motivated in reducing their emissions
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21
Q

What are coliform organisms used for?

A

A form of testing for possible contamination of Class A public water supply.

22
Q

List two advantages and two disadvantages when using coliform for this purpose.

A

Advantages: 1. Inexpensive 2. Easy to use
Disadvantages: 1. Doesn’t distinguish between pathogenic and non pathogenic coliforms. 2. Results are not immediate 3. Doesn’t say anything about chemical exposures, 4. If negative, doesn’t mean there is no contamination.

23
Q

What is an appropriate response when coliform organisms are found in the distribution system of a public drinking water supply?

A
  • Test for ecoli (above/below site)

- Find and fix problems

24
Q

Describe the symptoms that a person experiences with Cryptosporidiosis.

A

Acute Watery Diarrhea:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
25
Q

In 1993 Milwaukee acquired its drinking waster from Lake Michigan. Describe the events that may have contributed to the 1993 Cryptosporidiosis outbreak.

A
  • Cattle along two rivers that flow into Milwaukee harbor.
  • Slaughter houses
  • Human sewage
  • Swelling rivers from spring ran causing run off into lake Michigan
  • Change of chemicals used to treat the water in the flocculation process
26
Q

Why are stool specimens not routinely analyzed for Cryptosporidium?

A

Because the symptoms reflected is very similar to GI and flu like symptoms making it harder to identify as a potential Cryptosporidium, therefore, less likely to request a stool sample.

27
Q

Describe a watershed protection program and its goals.

A

A program to protect water sheds by land use restrictions in areas affecting water sheds, household waste disposal, regulating septic systems, combine regulation of human waste with protection of water supplies from contaminants particular to the state.

Goals:
- protect water sheds from water borne disease

28
Q

The Gostin article indicates that there is no uniform federal requirement concerning Boil Water Advisories. Describe the steps that should be taken to implement BWA once one is notified that coliform are present in the drinking water.

A
  • Screening for coliform + existing illness in community OR positive result for ecoli
  • The water company receives an order from DPH to issue the advisory.
  • The notice advises to stop using water for food/drink unless it has been boiled for 5 minutes
  • Strong recommendation for bottled water.
  • After the problem has been resolved, DPH approves for the water company to lift the advisory.
29
Q

What advice would you provide to a person with a compromised immune system when asked the question, “is it safe to drink the public water supply drinking water or should I purchase bottled drinking water”?

A
  • Bottled & public water are probably have to meet the same standards but public is often more tested and maintained then bottled
  • boiled will prevent more illness if a
    filtered water
  • bottled water (ozone treated)
30
Q

List two goals of the federal clean water act.

A
  1. Enhance water so it is swimmable and 2. fishable
31
Q

Describe secondary treatment in the waste water treatment process.

A

The addition of oxygen to water to prevent algal blooms/fish kills through disinfection.

32
Q

Describe tertiary treatment and the environmental problem eliminated when it is used.

A

It is an enhancement of normal sewage treatment operations to provide water of potable quality using further chemical and physical treatment. The highest drinking water standard achieved in the US through removal of phosphates & nitrates as well as UV & Ozone treatment. Environmental problem eliminated –> potential of algae growth in drinking water (algae growth reduces O2 –> lead to fishkills). So tertiary treatment prevents fish kills.

33
Q

What is a combined sewer overflow?

A

It’s an overflow at a treatment plant which has waste water and additional run off from (storm sewers) running through the same pipe entering the facility during moderate to heavy rainfall.

34
Q

List two reasons why “combined sewers” were constructed in many US cities.

A
  1. Cost effective in building one system rather than two separate ones.
  2. Initially there was no perceived threat.
35
Q

Why is it important to eliminate combined sewer overflow and how is it accomplished?

A

Why: Increase contamination of possible coliforms/overflowing leads to diversions created by treatment centers, which further pollutes local bodies of water.
How: Separate pipelines of waste waters from run-offs to eliminate form sewers.

36
Q

Define the term non-point source pollution.

A

It is a polluted run off.

37
Q

List three examples of non-point source pollution.

A
  1. Run off containing oil (urban)
  2. Pesticides (agricultural)
  3. Sediment (construction sites)
38
Q

When is non-point source pollution a threat to public health?

A

When it decreases the quality of drinking water or the turbidity/toxicity of fisheries, recreational, and wildlife waters.

39
Q

List 4 criteria pollutants as described in the Federal Clean Air program as determined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

A
  1. Carbon Monoxide (primary)
  2. Lead (primary & secondary)
  3. Ozone (primary & secondary)
  4. Nitrogen Dioxide
  5. Particulate Matter
    (Primary: PH protection, Secondary: public welfare protection)
40
Q

Why is ozone environmentally beneficial in the upper atmosphere by is associated with unhealthy air at ground level?

A

It provides protection from excessive UV rays from reaching Earth’s surface.

41
Q

What can be done to reduce an ozone problem at ground level (in CT)?

A
  1. Reduce green house gas concentrations emitted and the use of fossil fuels, aerosols, and cement.
  2. Adaptation: implement green initiatives to “adapt”
42
Q

Define climate change/Global warming.

A

An increase in temperature on Earth’s surface for an extended period of time.

43
Q

List two public health concerns associated with climate change.

A
  1. Increase heat islands in cities can lead to increase mortality of low SES elderly during the summer months. 2. Increase GHSs? lead to respiratory issues especially in asthmatics.
44
Q

Which air pollutants are involved in climate change?

A

CO2, O3, Water Vapor (can trap heat affecting the water in the air)

45
Q

Define mitigation and adaptation with examples as used to classify actions relating to global climate change.

A

Mitigation of green house gases causing climate change can be done by the reduction of CO2 emissions and an adaptation would be creating “green” initiatives that can reduce our carbon footprints.

46
Q

Briefly describe a program to reduce lead poisoning in children less than 6 years of age for a city such as Hartford, CT.

A
  • Door to door screening could be used to test the presence of lead by blood testing. If lead is detected through blood testing, homeowners or renters could remediate the problem prior to exposure or illness onset of their children. The program can also include education to the occupants.
47
Q

You’ve received an MPH degree. A person with 2 kids (ages 5 and 2) called you and is seeking info concerning the following: The person lives in a house constructed in 1952 and is planning on doing extensive renovation and remodeling work including new windows, interior painting, and the expansion of a room by removing a wall. 1. Could these activities present a lead poisoning hazard? If not, why not?

A

Yes, these can lead to lead poisoning because it wasn’t until 1978 where legislation was passed to cease lead in paint and since he did renovations in 1952, there is a high possibility the paint is lead based. By remodeling, this will cause increased exposure as lead paint is reduced to small flakes.

48
Q

Regarding the remodeling scenario with the two kids, if these activities to be performed are hazardous, what advice would you provide to reduce the threat of lead poisoning to the individual and family members.

A

Advice to the homeowner regarding reducing the threat of lead can include: taking precaution with the use of wet stripping, encapsulation, or HEPA vacuuming. No dry scraping or burning. You can also remove the child from the area during this time and hire a lead abatement contractor.

49
Q

According to Billick’s article “Lead: A Case Study in Agency Policy Making”, described the value of good data in policy making, what data was he describing?

A
  • HUD data showing a direct correlation between blood lead levels and lead gas concentrations.
50
Q

What was Billick’s outcome of having the data available and presented in an easily understood manner?

A
  • So people can understand the data, Petroleum companies wanted an extension to remove lead from gasoline but it was not granted because data supporting the negative effects of lead gas were strong
51
Q

What reasons did Billick give in describing why childhood lead poisoning is such a difficult problem to solve?

A
  • Multi exposure sources

- Poor communication between gov. agencies that have control over those sources

Samia (Environmental Health) (3 decks)

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