Environmental determinants Flashcards
What is health?
A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Environmental health
Surroundings under which any living thing exists or develops
Public health definition
All organised measures to prevent disease, promote health and prolong life among the population as a whole. It’s activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not individual patients or diseases.
What is environmental health?
Creating and maintaining environments which promote good public health
Focuses on those aspects of health health determined by physical, chemical, biological, and social factors in the environment
Elements of mgmt of the physical environment
Drinking water safety Recreational water safety Food safety Air quality Waste management OSH Noise control Radiation
Mgmt of chemical hazards
Standards for air, water,waste water, soil, and food
Contaminated sites
Pesticide safety
Management of biological hazards
Control of insects and other pests
Vector borne disease control
Microbiological control
Psychosocial hazards
A social environment of uncertainty, anxiety and lack of control
May include
Uncertainty about future health effects of radiation exposure after Chernobyl e.g.
2 Drivers of EH issues
Trends in global population and urbanisation
Trends in pattern of consumption
Issues associated with urbanisation and industrialisation
Air quality problems
Food hygiene
Hazardous materials
Occupational health and injury
Why are developing countries most vulnerable to CC
Impacts worse
Lower capacity to adapt
Likely to impact disproportionately upon the poorest countries and the poorest persons within countries
3 main categories of pollutants
Liquid organic
Liquid inorganic
Waterborne / water based pathogens such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Shistosomes
4 main pollutants of air
Nitrogen dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Particulates
Sulphur dioxide
Facts associated with IAP
Associates with furnishings
Lack of adequate ventilation
Chemicals (formaldehyde)
“sick building syndrome”
Building related illness
Eg of IAP
Mold and bacteria
Chemical fumes from paints and solvents
Carbon monoxide from garage
Animal hair and dander
Combustion gases from fireplaces and woodburning stoves
Chemicals released from modern building and furnishing materials
