Enviro health

Question 1

What is an environmental health risk assessment?

Answer 1

A systematic approach to characterising the nature and magnitude of the risks associated with environmental health hazards on a specified human population or ecological system under a specific set of conditions and for a certain timeframe.

Question 2

What are some general considerations in a EHRA?

Answer 2

Urgency of the threat
Number of people affected
Whether the exposure is increasing
The consequences of doing nothing
Vulnerable groups
Amenability of issues to investigation
Availability of interventions and remedies

Question 3

What are the 3 key options in risk management?

Answer 3

1. Reduce the hazard at it source e.g. cleaner emissions
2. Protection at the community level e.g. drinking water treatment, boil water
3. Protection at the individual level e.g. vaccination, PPE, stay indoors

Question 4

What are the 6 ‘criteria’ air pollutants listed in the NEPM Air quality standards?

Answer 4

• carbon monoxide
• sulfur dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• particulate matter (10 and 2.5)
• ozone (photochemical smog)
• lead