Environment Health and Climate change Flashcards
What is Environmental Health?
Environmental Health is an interdisciplinary academic field of Public Health focusing on the relationships between people’s health and their environment
What does Environmental Health involve?
Environmental Health involves the assessment and control of environmental hazards, which include physical, chemical, biological, and social factors.
What is the key focus of Environmental Health?
The key focus of Environmental Health is preventing diseases and creating health-supportive environments.
Environmental risk factors
- air pollution
- inadequate water, sanitation
- chemicals
- radiation
- community noise
- occupational risks
- agricultural practices
- built environments
- chemical built
street pesticides
type A: agricultrual pesticides decanted
type B: illegal street pesticides
What are acute health effects from environmental exposures?
Harm that occurs within a short time of exposure, such as headaches, tremors, vomiting, numbness, convulsions, difficulty breathing, rashes, and eye irritation.
Can you give examples of substances that can cause acute health effects?
Pesticides, mercury, and lead poisoning.
What are chronic health effects from environmental exposures?
Long-term or delayed effects from low and/or high exposures over a period of time, such as developmental problems, endocrine disruptions, immunological problems, and cancers.
How long can it take for chronic health effects to manifest after exposure?
Months or years after exposures.
Why is there less awareness of environmental hazards in communities?
Communities often have less awareness of hazards due to limited access to information and resources compared to workplaces
How does prolonged exposure to environmental hazards affect communities?
Prolonged exposure increases the risk of developing chronic health issues over time.
Why do communities have less opportunity for control over environmental exposures compared to workplaces?
Unlike regulated workplaces, communities often lack the mechanisms and resources to control or mitigate environmental hazards.
Who are the vulnerable persons in communities affected by environmental exposures?
Vulnerable persons include pregnant women, the elderly, children, and the poor
Why are children particularly vulnerable to environmental exposures?
- Unique exposures: Preconception, transplacental, breastfeeding.
- Physiological factors: Damage can occur during differentiation and maturation of body organs;
-more chemicals per unit body weight and immature organs to breakdown and remove toxic chemicals. - Behavioral factors: Crawling, hand-mouthing.Longer life expectancy: Higher chance to develop diseases with long latency periods.
Main causes of environment related deaths
- stroke
- ischemic heart disease
- diarrhoea
- lower RTI
- copd
- cancer
Burden of non- communicable disease
has increased significantly over past decade
who is at risk of environmental risks
children
elderly
low- and middle income countries
Why is it important for a GP to take an environmental exposure history?
It enables the GP to influence the course of the disease through correct diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
What are the challenges associated with diagnosing environmental diseases?
Most environmental diseases manifest as common medical conditions and have non-specific symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.
doctor’s role in preventing and treating environment related diseases
-Diagnose the EH exposure and treat
-Take an environmental exposure history
-Write a comprehensive case report and publish research
-Request a sample when exposure suspected
-Notify if a notifiable medical condition
-Advise/ educate your patients on how to prevent environmental exposure risks
-Provide advice and health promotion materials appropriate for different language and socio-economic groups
What are some non-specific symptoms that might indicate an environmental disease?
Headache, difficulty conceiving, and behavioral problems.
What are some examples of common medical conditions that can be caused by environmental exposures?
rashes, asthma, and spontaneous abortion.
What is a red flag indicating potential environmental exposure in a patient?
Linked Symptoms: Onset of symptoms linked to environmental exposures (self-reported).
Unidentifiable Origin: Diseases with no clear cause – consider environmental factors.
Frequent Visits: Repeated visits for the same conditions or non-specific symptoms.
Steps for Taking an Environmental Exposure History
Start Broad: Begin with general questions and narrow down to specifics.
Consider Pathways: Relate possible exposure pathways to the patient’s symptoms.
Key Factors:
Route of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion.
Exposure Media: Air, soil, water, food.
Types of Exposure: Physical, biological, chemical hazards.
The CH2OPD2 mnemonic for taking an environmental exposure history
community
home
hobbies
occupation
personal habits
diet
drugs
Benefits of environmental history taking
-Make more accurate diagnoses
-Prevent risks of incorrect treatments
-Influence the course of disease by stopping current exposure
-Prevent disease in others by avoiding future exposures, especially of children
-Prompt workplace evaluations and the protection of workers
-Protect vulnerable populations from long-term effects (e.g., children, pregnant women, immune compromised)
-Impact policies and laws regulating environmental factors (e.g., notifiable medical conditions)
What is a notifiable medical condition
Notifiable Medical Condition are diseases that are of public health importance because they pose significant public health risks that can result in disease outbreaks or epidemics with high case fatality rats both nationally and internationally
Components of workplace health and safety
Occupational safety
Occupational medicine
Occupational medicine
Multidisciplinary team for
risk assessment and
management
