environmental health Flashcards
principles of environmental health for nursing practice
-nurses participate in assessing the quality of the environment in which they practice and live
-nurses, and other health care workers, clients, and communities have the right to know relevant and timely information about the potentially harmful products, chemicals, pollutants, and hazards to which they are exposed
-nurses participate in research of best practices that promote a safe and healthy environment
-nurses must be supported in advocating for and implementing environmental health principles in nursing practice
risk assessment
-process used to determine the likelihood or probability that adverse effects such as illness or illness will occur in a group of people if they are exposed to an environment containment
-risk= hazard + exposure
exposure pathway
-process by which someone is exposed to a contaminant that originates or is has a specific source
-has to be complete for exposure to occur, if disrupted then there should not be a risk to humans
5 parts to exposure pathway
-source of contamination: what are the contaminants and where did they come from
-environmental media/transport: how does it spread? determining how it’s spread can determine who’s exposed or at risk
-point of exposure: where contact happens
-route of exposure: how it enters the body (ingestion, inhalation, skin contact)
-receptor population: who is affected or likely to be exposed
Lead exposure pathway
-source: paint/homes painted before 1978; lead vapor (dust) if lead heated
-transport: paint chips->dust form w/ lead->dust accumpulates or deposits in soil
-point of exposure: inside house or soil
-route of exposure: ingestion, inhalation
-receptor population: children– exposure d/t hands & objects in mouth; eat paint & soil; high resp. & closer to ground
lead health effect
-damage to nervous system, brain development, and learning problems
mercury exposure pathways
-source: thermometers used in industry batteries; burning coal releases it into the air
-media: spills of elemental mercury, can settle into water & bioaccumulates in fish
-point of exposure: area near spill, indoor levels can become unsafe
-routes of exposure: ingestion
-receptor population: people near spill, children
asbestos exposure pathway
-source: occurs naturally; used in building materials, friction products, packaging, etc.
-media: can enter air from breakdown of natural deposits, or manufactured asbestos products
-point of exposure: indoor/outdoor
-route of exposure: inhalation
-receptor population: those who work w/ asbestos & their family, those who live/work in near area with asbestos fiber
pesticides exposure pathway
-source: chem. used to kill pests- protects plants & crops from pests
-media: water, soil, foods
-point of exposure: indoor/outdoor air
-routes of exposure: inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact
-receptor population: people who live/work close to where it’s applied; people who eat foods that have pesticide
exposure estimate
-estimate a person’s level of exposure to a contaminant
-factors: how long exposed to contaminant, concentration of chemical, how often, body size, and bioavailability
bioavailability
-amount of substance that’s absorbed or becomes available at the site of the physiologic activity
exposure history
-identify current or past exposure, eliminate exposures, and try to mitigate or reduce a client’s adverse health effects from exposure
-if reveals possible exposure, nurse to refer the person/community to the proper resources for follow-up
interventions
-short or long term
-focused on breaking the exposure pathway to prevent contaminants getting to the people/communities
-must include input from community, be evidenced based as possible, and be feasible given the political and economic limitations`
