ENV221 Final Flashcards
1
Q
International Agreements on Chemical Management: Global Framework on Chemicals
A
- 2023: adopted at the 5th International Conference on Chemical management
- The only global comprehensive instrument that addresses all aspects of chemical and waste issues -> aims to phase out pesticides and provide adequate and sustainable funding to finance a toxin free future
- Involved governments, public interest orgs, and industry reps
- Based on 28 targets, and outlines a roadmap for countries to address the life cycle of chemical products and waste
- Negotiation on the ff: common but differentiated responsibilities, mutually agreed terms, and polluter pay principle
2
Q
Distributional Fairness
A
- Perceived fairness of how rewards and costs are shared
- What are the challenges of distributional fairness?
3
Q
Ethical Considerations in Policy
A
- Perfect moral storm: climate change is a global phenomenon with intergenerational effects
- Scientific uncertainty: uncertainty of magnitude and timing -> general consensus is that there will be adverse effects on human life and environment
- Precautionary principle: a duty to prevent harm if it’s in our power to do so
- Costs: strong economic rationale to not act; no nation has the right to endanger people’s lives at the expense of the economy
- Obligations to future generations: uses cost benefit analysis for decision making -> what if benefits/costs come not, and costs/benefits later?
- Who should bear the responsibility: ethical considerations
- Allocating future emissions: considers differences in needs and capacities
4
Q
Canadian Specific Challenges Dealing with Climate Change: Shared Jurisdiction
A
- Each province has their own land and authority over natural resources
- Federal government can step in and claim jurisdiction in the name of the peace, order, and good government ; regulation of trade and commerce powers ; national concern since provincial failure can create consequences for other provinces
5
Q
Bioaccumulation
A
accumulation of a substance in the tissue of an organism
6
Q
Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome
A
- Mortality seen in salmon as a result of stormwater runoff
- Found 6PPD-quinone in water, which is a additive in rubber tires
- 6PPD-Q provides a link between environmental microplastic pollution and chemical toxicity risks
7
Q
Sources of Toxins (In Life)
A
Drinking water, food consumption, air, medicinal drugs, occupational exposure, incidental and accidental exposure
8
Q
Pan-Canadian Framework
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Canada announced carbon tax (10$ a ton, and rising by $10 a year until $50) in 2016, meant to aid in achieving the INDC (reduce gg by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030)
9
Q
Toxicants of Concern
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Lead, mercury, endocrine/hormone disruptors
10
Q
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: National Pollution Release Inventory
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- Canadian database containing information on annual releases of substances into ecosystem as well as disposals and off-site transfers
- Tracked over 320 substances from over 7000 facilities
11
Q
Who is to blame for CC?
A
- Not useful to blame anyone
- Allocating emissions to a group does not mean they are responsible
12
Q
Infectious Disease Contact Routes
A
- Droplets: 5-100mm particles
- Fomites: particles left by evaporated droplets
- Aerosols: droplets <50mm that stay airborne for up to 30 mins and fall onto surfaces, clothing, or bodies
13
Q
Flame Retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
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Emerging contaminant found in furniture, clothing, electronics
14
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Relative Risks to Human Welfare: Low Risks
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- Oil spills
- Groundwater pollution
- Radionuclides
- Thermal pollution
15
Q
Policy Challenges
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Conflict within governments (federal and provincial/environmental department and others)
16
Q
Forever Chemicals
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12000 man made chemicals that are found in consumer products -> breaks down very slowly and creates prolonged exposure which builds up over time
17
Q
International Agreements on Chemical Management: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
A
- 2004: UNEP international agreement to deal with POPs
- Agreed to outlaw 9/12 of the dirty dozen chemicals, limit DDT for malaria control, and curtail inadvertent production of dioxins and furans
18
Q
Benefits of the Human Right to a Healthy Environment
A
- Promotes procedural rights such as rights to receive information, participate in decision making, and obtain access to justice systems
- Protects the elements of the natural environment that enable a dignified life
19
Q
20th Century Flu Pandemics: COVID-19 (2019~)
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- SARS-CoV-2 beta coronavirus
- Originated in bats (wet market in Wuhan, China)
- Transmission though cough, sneezes, or expelled droplets of infected
20
Q
Biomagnification
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increase in concentration of pollutants such as POPs and heavy metals at higher levels of the food chain
21
Q
Pathogens to be wary of
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COVID-19, ebola, marburg, lassa, MERS, SARS, nipah, rift valley, zika, Disease X
22
Q
20th Century Flu Pandemics: Annual Flu
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340M-1B infected, 250-500K deaths
23
Q
Economy Wide Policy (Already Done)
A
- Put a price on carbon pollution
- Launch low carbon economy fund and the climate action and awareness fund
- Joined the global methane pledge
24
Q
Chemical Cause and Effect relationship with environmental exposure
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- Chronic vs. Acute
- Modes of Action
- Low Concentrations
- Synergistic/Antagonistic Interactions
- Underlying Elements (race, gender, etc)
- Limited Tools in Finding concentration Levels
25
Environmental Health
- We cannot have well humans on a sick planet
- Environmental Health is everything around us: air, water, food, chemicals, radiation, microbes, etc.
26
Plastics and Microplastics
- Intake is high: 553/883 particles per capita per day for children and adults
- Impacts: endocrine disruptors, weight gain, insulin resistance, cancer
- Sources: bottled water, beer, air, tap water, seafood, air, personal products
27
Lead
- Sources: lead paint, lead gasoline, lead contaminated soils, lead in drinking pipes
- Lead poisoning interferes with development of the brain
- Symptoms: headaches, irritability, aggression, difficulty sleeping, abdominal pain, anemia, poor appetite
- Additional Complications: loss of developmental skills, hearing loss, kidney damage, reduces IQ, slow body growth
28
Health
- A state of complete physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of illness
- CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health strives to promote health and quality of life by preventing or controlling diseases and death
29
Chemicals In Canada
Over 23,000 chemicals in use in Canada, and only a small number (~2700) have been evaluated. Over 150 have been found to be toxic. Only 10% have been tested for harmful effects
30
Infectious Diseases
- Accounts for 25% of deaths (half in developing nations)
- Why is reemergence of diseases a concern?
31
Policy Challenges
May harm provinces/industries/people
32
Synthetic organic compounds / endocrine and hormone disrupting chemicals
- Disruption occurs when synthetic chemical mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts body’s normal functions
- Examples: dioxin, PCBs, DDT, pesticides, etc
33
Domination of Posterity
- We are inflicting undeserved harm and premature death on people
- Our responsibility is not to exacerbate domination
We are responsible knowingly
- Only acceptable excuse is necessity
- What does it take to live a decent human life?
- Climate change is a threat to american way of life (free market and economy)
- Opposition to climate change is a belief system
34
Risk
- Probability of harm X probability of exposure
- Risk assessment techniques: based on a stress-response model in which a contaminant is transported from a source through a known pathway to a receptor (plants, people, animals)
35
Relative Risks to Human Welfare: Medium Risk
- herbicides/pesticides
- Toxins and pollutants in surface water
- Acid deposition
- Airborne toxics
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Relative Risks to Human Welfare: High Risk
- Habitat alterations/destruction
- Species extinction and loss of diversity
- Stratospheric ozone depletion
- Climate change
37
5 components of Risk Assessment
Problem Identification
Receptor characterization
Exposure Assessment
Toxicity Assessment
Risk Characterization
38
Ways to prevent infectious diseases
Increase research, reduce poverty and malnutrition, reduce excessive antibiotics, immunize children, oral hydration, reduce HIV/AIDS
39
Rio Declaration and UNFCCC Norms on Responsibility
- Nations have the responsibility to reduce GHG in their jurisdiction
- Polluters must pay
- Nations have the responsibility to reduce emissions based upon equity to prevent anthropocentric interference (high polluters have high responsibility)
- Developed nations must take the lead
- Cannot use scientific uncertainty as an excuse
40
41
Canadian Specific Challenges Dealing with Climate Change
Climate, land surface area, growing population, extreme weather
42
Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights: Rights of Individuals
- Comment on environmentally significant govt proposals
- Ask ministry to review laws or ask for new laws
- Ask ministry to investigate env harms
- Seek permission to appeal ministry decision
- Use courts or tribunals to protect env
- Get whistleblower protection (protection against workplace retaliation)
- Right to public information and consultation on env decisions
43
Policy Challenges
Putting a price on carbon will influence the economy and competitiveness
44
Risk Perception
- Special interest groups downplay certain risks and emphasize others (capitalizes on public vulnerability)
- Social media exposure gives inaccurate information: irrational fear/disgust
- Exaggerated sense of immunity: leads to carelessness or selfishness
- Personal experiences carry much weight
- People have difficulty understanding and believing probabilities
- Feared risks: involuntary, unfamiliar, undetectable, catastrophic, threats
- Unfeared risks: voluntary and visible (smoking, drinking)
45
20th Century Flu Pandemics: Swine Flu (2009-2010)
- H1N1 pdm09: 700M-1.4B infected, 284K deaths
- Novel H1N1 is a cocktail of avian, swine, and human strains of influenza A -> bird and human flu affect pigs who then transmit their swine flu back to humans
- Symptoms: fever, cough, loss of appetite, breathing issues
- Illness is typically mild, but affects younger and healthier people more because older and more exposed individuals have better immunity
46
Policy Challenges: Energy and climate objective conflicts:
- Energy: fuels economic growth, secures supply, low price, promotes competitiveness, reduces env impact of energy use
- Climate: decrease fossil fuels, increase renewable energy, increase energy efficiency, increase adaptability to climate change impacts
- Balanced v. Contradictory approach: how to balance env and economy
47
Measuring Toxicity: Determinants
- amount of exposure
- frequency of exposure
- who is exposed
- genetic makeup
- how is material delivered
- at what rate is material delivered
- what is the route of entry
- what is the medium/form
48
International Agreements on Chemical Management: Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste
- 1992: UNEP international agreement on the control of transboundary movement of hazardous waste
- Put a stop to toxic waste trade (biomedical and healthcare waste, lead acid batteries, used oils, PCBs, POPs)
- Only USA did not agree
49
Measuring Toxicity: How is toxicity determined?
simulations, tissue cultures, animal models
50
Measuring Toxicity: Measuring Risks
- retrospective studies (living in ‘experiment’)
- prospective studies (measures exposure over time)
51
Environmental Health Hazards
- Physical: earthquakes, fires, floods, droughts
- Cultural: lifestyle hazards (smoking, drinking, diet)
- Chemical: disinfectants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals
- Biological: infectious diseases (malaria, covid, influenza)
52
COVID-19 ethics
- Resource allocation and priority setting: who gets access to tests, vaccines, etc
- Proximity tracking and COVID apps: ethics of knowing location of people
- Environmental racism and health equity: no trust between people and healthcare systems
- Individual freedom vs collective health measures: protect collective good against anti vax/mask
53
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)
- Developed following industrial accident in 1984 in Bhopal, India
- Recognition that public should have more access to pollutant information releases in their communities
54
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
- MERS-CoV (2012): coronavirus is a large family of viruses that can cause diseases
- Symptoms included fever, cough, shortness of breath
- Originated in saudi arabia as a zoonotic virus (linked between human and dromedary camel interaction) -> human-to-human transmission is possible but typically only in close contact/health care settings
- Transmission: direct or indirect contact with infected camels -> total 2600 cases reported globally with 940 deaths
55
Human Right to a Healthy Environment
- 1972 Stockholm Declaration: man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality, and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and will-being
- Over 155 states have established legal recognition of this right
In 2021, the UN human rights council adopted a resolution recognizing this
- Not legally binding, but its near-unanimous adoption shows consensus on formulation, content, and importance of this right
56
Pandemic
worldwide epidemic of a disease that:
- Emergence of a disease new to a population
- Agents infect humans, which causes illness
- Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans
57
What does Canada need to do to address the Human Right to a Healthy Environment?
- Recognize the right of all citizens to live in a healthy environment
- Develop a pan-canadian framework and environmental health strategy
- Invest in environmental health research
- Strengthen environmental laws and national standards on air quality, water, food safety, and chemicals
58
SARS
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome/SARS Coronavirus (2003)
- Believed to be an animal virus that was transmitted to humans (himalayan viet, ferret badger, racoon dog)
- By july 2003, over 8000 cases -> considered as a huge amount and v concerning at the time
59
SARS Vulnerabilities
Spread from person to person, required no vector, incubated silently, mugged symptoms of other diseases, killed 10% of infected, spread along air travel routes and in hospitals, damaged economies and societies
60
20th Century Flu Pandemics: Spanish Flu (1918-1919)
- H1N1: 500M people infected, 50-100M deaths
- First observed in Europe, but spread globally quickly -> 3 main waves: spring 1918, fall 1918, and winter 1919
- Symptoms: skin turns blue, lungs fill with fluid which causes suffocation, death within hours or days
- Citizens ordered to wear masks, stay indoors
61
Canadian Specific Challenges Dealing with Climate Change
Canadian economy depends on the resource extraction/fossil fuel industry
62
Infectious Disease Transmission
eyes, mouth, nose, inhalation
63
Measuring Toxicity: Cumulative Population Response (LD50)
- lethal dose 50 which measures how much of a substance is required to kill half a group of testers = determines short-term or acute toxicity
- Considers population that is very sensitive or very insensitive = finding the average lethal dose where 50% die from a given dose
64
Impacts of Toxicants
- Allergenics: cause allergies
- Neurotoxins: damages or destroys nerve tissues
- Mutagens: induces or increases frequency of mutation in an organism
- Teratogens: causes malformation of embryo/fetus
- Carcinogens: causes cancer
- Endocrine hormone disruptors: blocks hormones and causes body malfunction
65
International Agreements on Chemical Management: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
- 2004: promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions for handling, and inform purchasers of known restrictions/bans
- Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed, and exporting countries are obliged to comply
66
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights
- Provincial law established in 1993 to provide a bill of rights to ontario residents on env matters
- Gives residents a right to participate in ENV decision making
- Status today: auditor general has identified that govt is skirting environmental laws while industry benefits and public is left in the dark
67
Annual Influenza
- Subtype of influenza A (H1N1) and influenza A (H3N2) virus commonly found in people
- Estimated to affect 5-15% of global population
- Can cause severe illness in 3-5M people with 250000-500000 deaths
68
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) 1999
- 163 toxic chemicals listed
- Pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development
- Both minister of environment and minister of health administer task of assessing and managing risks associated with substances
- Push for sustainability, but still economics driven
69
CEPA (1999) Guiding Principles
- Sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations
- Pollution prevention: use of processes and materials that avoid creation of pollution or waste
- Virtual elimination: ensuring that release of substances are reduced to low levels
- Ecosystem approach: reflects dynamic relationships between organisms and non-living environment
- Precautionary principle: a duty to prevent harm when it is within our power to do so, even when all the evidence is not in (if action is suspected to cause harm, lack of info still does not justify it)
- Intergovernmental cooperation: al governments in canada face environmental problems that benefit from collaboration
- Polluter pays principle: producers and users of substances must bear responsibility
- Science backed decision making: decisions based on scientific information and aboriginal knowledge
70
Common but Differentiated Responsibility
- Largest share of historical and current global emissions of GHG originated in developed countries
- Per capita emissions is developing countries is still low
- Share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet social and development needs
71
Social Inequalities that exacerbate Environmental Injustice
- Exists within countries and states
- Socio-economic classes: poverty, race, gender = exposure to risks varies
- Targets minorities and marginalized groups = structural violence
- Goal is to provide healthy environments for everyone
- Ex. Arctic Inuit communities, love canal oil spill
72
Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Chemical used to make clear, hard plastic known as polycarbonate
- Classified as a hormone disruptor -> Canada is the first country to take action
- Identification: type 7 and 3 plastics may contain BPA -> hot liquids can cause chemicals to leach out of plastics
73
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Bill S-5 (strengthening environmental protection for a healthier canada act)
- 2023: meant to modernize CEPA -> recognizes right to healthy environment and protection for vulnerable people
- Develop implementation framework -> publicly available watch list for concerning substances
74
Sources of Toxins (Diet)
- Impact of industrial agriculture: large scale farming uses pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones
- Dirty Dozen vs. Clean Fifteen
75
Canadian Specific Challenges Dealing with Climate Change: Different provincial interests
- Climate change policy is a threat to alberta and saskatchewan, but may benefit bc, manitoba, and ontario
- Each province has a veto in national policy making
- Since 2003, all governments act unilaterally (no coordination)
76
Environmental Justice
- Public policy based on mutual respect and justice for all people, free from discrimination or bias
- Universal protection from toxic waste that threaten right to clean air, water, land, food
- Demands the cessation of production of toxins, hazardous wastes, and radioactive materials
- Equity at all jurisdictional levels, access to info, meaningful participation, and recognition and respect of diversity
77
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Toxic Reduction Act (Ontario)
- 2009: prevent pollution and protect human and env health by reducing the sue and creation of toxic substances, and inform residents of toxic substances around them
- Act was repealed in 2021
78
Influenza A Virus Types
- Divided into 2 subtypes based on the protein of the virus:
- Hemagglutinin (H): 16 types
- Neuraminidase (N): 9 types
- Labeling depends on the type of protein (ex. H5N1, H15N8, etc)
79
West Nile Virus
- Mosquito borne illness first identified in Uganda in 1937
- mild flu-like symptoms, but small percentage can develop neurological issues
- High of 5000 cases, but averages at 2000
80
Linking Global Environmental Change and Health
Widespread global environmental changes pose additional major challenges for human health
81
Sources of Toxins (in Homes)
Cleansers, disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaner, furniture, flame retardants, stain and water resistant clothing, treated wood, pesticides
82
Emerging health threats
- Large scale anthropogenic changes and interactions with environment
- Antibiotic and pesticide resistance: microbes have the ability to reproduce quickly and mutation ensures circumvention of human intervention
- Antibiotics must be taken in full to prevent mutation and reemergence
- Natural selection and quick evolution, increasing use of antibiotics and pesticides, unnecessary human antibiotic prescriptions, potential virulent pathogens
83
Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Relationship between AIDS and Tuberculosis
- Syndemic relationship: weakness of body due to AIDS allows for vulnerability against TB
- Inadequate anti-tuberculosis therapy lead to emergence of medicine-resistant strains of bacteria = mutations
- TB is associated with crowding = low income countries morse vulnerable
84
85
Malaria: Why did it take so long to develop a vaccine?
- Technical complexity (must consider mosquito genus)
- Structural violence priorities: most people affected are marginalized communities -> not a priority for public health initiatives
- Prevention is the best approach
86
Sources of Toxins (Cosmetics)
- Harmful chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products
- David Suzuki's dirty dozen in cosmetics: BHA, BHT, Petrolatum, parfum, SLS
87
Ways Forward (Policy)
- Economic and political packages to prepare public for a green economy
- Carbon pricing must reflect regional differences
- Showcase large scale projects as feasible examples
- Reach across regional divide with goodwill and understanding
88
Climate Change Policy Instruments
- Voluntary
- Subsidies
- Law
- Carbon Tax: increased price of fossil fuels relative to others (heavily debated)
- Cap and Trade: law, with increased efficiency through trading
89
Epidemic
occurs when there are more cases of that disease than normal
90
Zika Virus
- First discovered in a monkey in the Zika Forest in Uganda in 1947
- Related to dengue, yellow fever, and west nile virus
- Spread through the bite of an infected aedes mosquito -> mild or no symptoms, but can cause defects in pregnant women
- Outbreak in 2015-2016 affected Rio olympic games
- Worldwide estimate is 700,000 affected with 18 deaths -> no vaccine
91
International Agreements on Chemical Management: Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
- 2002 world summit on sustainable development: Voluntary international policy framework which fosters the management of chemicals worldwide
- Goal by 2020: chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize adverse impacts on human and env health
- Emphasis on chemical safety and sustainable development
- To measure progress: 20 indicators were developed (# of countries with waste management arrangements/# countries with informational websites)
92
Mercury
- Toxic element found naturally and as an introduced contaminant = persistent bioaccumulative toxin (top 10 chemicals for public health concerns)
- Sources: volcanic eruptions, weathering of rocks, forest fires, burning of fossil fuels, medical waste, evaporation of oceans, floods
- Mercury has many forms: methylmercury is the most toxic form -> causes damages to nervous system and loss of coordination of the senses
93
Toxics
- Chemical substances that have harmful effects on human life, wildlife, and the environment
- Chemical substances: deliberately created, produced as a by-produce of other processes, or occurring naturally in the environment (can be elements or compounds)
- A substance is toxic of it enters the environment in a quantity that may have a detrimental impact on human and environmental health
- Examples: heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, tin, zinc, copper), organic compounds (carbon based, synthetic organic, persistent organic pollutants, hormone disruptors)
- Dirty Dozen POPs: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, PCBs, polychlorinated dioxins, and polychlorinated furans
94
Canadian Chemical Management Agreements: Chemical Management plan 2006
- Tackles 500 most hazardous chemicals based on total use in canada and potential harm to environment and human health
- Updated 2023 to gather information on list of chemicals from manufacturers, importers, and users
95
Economy Wide Policy (New Actions)
- Expand low carbon economy fund
- Explore new measures to guarantee price of carbon tax
- Propose and invest in the advancement of the indigenous climate leadership
96
Re-emerging Disease: Malaria
- Caused by parasitic protozoa spread from anopheles mosquitoes to humans -> found in tropical countries
- Endemic in the US in 1950s, but eventually eliminated -> in 2023, first homegrown case was recorded
- Use of DDT to kill mosquitoes, but DDT is banned = malaria emerged
Parasite adapted quickly to antimalarial drugs
