Environmental Health

Question 1

Percentage of global deaths attributed to modifiable environmental risks

Answer 1

24%

Question 2

precautionary principle

Answer 2

–social responsibility to protect the public from exposure to harm when scientific investigation has found a plausible risk
–precautions can only be relaxed if further scientific findings emerge that provide sound evidence that no harm will result

Question 3

examples of environmental risk factors

Answer 3

–air pollution
–inadequate water, sanitation
–chemicals
–radiation
–community noise
–occupational risks
–agricultural practices
–built environments
–climate change

Question 4

what is a hazard?

Answer 4

something that can potentially cause harm

Question 5

what is a risk?

Answer 5

hazard + exposure

Question 6

what is an environmental health hazard?

Answer 6

a substance that has the ability to cause an adverse health event

Question 7

examples of environmental health hazards

Answer 7

–pesticides
–chemicals in consumer products
–radiation

Question 8

methods of surveillance/assessing exposures

Answer 8

–toxicology studies
–epidemiologic studies
–environmental monitoring
–biological monitoring
–product surveillance

Question 9

control strategies for environmental health hazards

Answer 9

–at the source
–along the path
–at the level of the person
–secondary prevention

Question 10

toxicology studies

Answer 10

characterize toxicity of a hazard and study the effects of those on human health

Question 11

epidemiologic studies

Answer 11

monitor the distribution of a disease within a population

Question 12

environmental monitoring

Answer 12

evaluates the quality of the environment by sampling air and water

Question 13

biological monitoring

Answer 13

a way of measuring how much substance has gotten into a person’s body

Question 14

product surveillance

Answer 14

a way to monitor the environmental impacts of products

Question 15

built environment

Answer 15

buildings and community spaces created by humans that influence health behaviors and health outcomes

Question 16

air quality

Answer 16

result of emission into the air of hazardous substances at a rate that exceeds the capacity of natural processes in the atmosphere to convert, deposit, or dilute them

Question 17

contaminants of indoor air quality

Answer 17

–burning of fuel for cooking and heating
–secondhand smoke
–radon
–formaldehyde
–asbestos

Question 18

mitigating climate change

Answer 18

reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

Question 19

adaptation to climate change

Answer 19

learning to live with, and adapt to, the climate change that has already been set in motion

Question 20

environmental justice

Answer 20

fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies

Question 21

populations at special risk in terms of environmental justice

Answer 21

–pregnant women
–children
–elderly
–individuals with disabilities
–vulnerable populations
–workers

Question 22

environmental racism

Answer 22

–differentially affects or disadvantages individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color
–benefits white people while shifting costs to POC