Environmental Health Flashcards

1
Q

What are the types of air pollution?

A

Particulate matter
Nitrogen dioxide
Sulphur dioxide
Ozone

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2
Q

What is the epidemiology of lung diseases?

A

Disproportionate morbidity in low and middle income countries.
Affects those living in urban areas, those aged 40+, history of asthma, exposure to second-hand smoke, occupation, and family history.

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3
Q

Which type of air pollution has the greatest impact on health?

A

Particulate matter, which are a mix of solid and liquid droplets that come from traffic and fuel combustion. It is the most toxic and associated with cardiorespiratory disease and lung cancer.

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4
Q

Which type of air pollution arises from fossil fuel burning?

A

Sulphur dioxide which arises from burning fossil fuels, that leads to poor lung function and contributes to asthma development.

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5
Q

What does pollution arise from?

A

Nitrogen dioxide which arises from road traffic and indoor gas cooking.

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6
Q

What is ozone?

A

Caused by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants from vehicle emissions, and is a major factor associated with asthma.

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7
Q

Which lung diseases caused by the environment?

A

Asthma
COPD
Pneumonicosis
Cancer of the lung and pleura
Pneumonitis

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8
Q

What are sources of particulate matter?

A

Indoor smoke fires used for cooking and tobacco smoke, that contributes to COPD and childhood respiratory infection.

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9
Q

How does air pollution affect children?

A

Increases the risk of asthma and lung development, with beginnings of atherosclerosis.

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10
Q

What is the most common occupational lung disease?

A

Occupational asthma, due to the over-exposure to irritants. Respiratory sensitisation will occur after exposure where following a latency period, asthma-like symptoms will develop after future exposure.

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11
Q

Which workers have a risk of occupational asthma?

A

Bakers due to flour and amylase enzyme
Veterinarians
Painters
Construction workers
Carpenters
Healthcare and veterinarians due to latex gloves

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12
Q

What is pneumonicosis?

A

Interstitial lung disease caused by repeated inhalation of dust typically through occupation which has a latency between exposure and disease development. These diseases include:
Silicosis
Asbestos

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13
Q

What is simple pneumonicosis?

A

AKA coal-worker’s pneumonicosis, Caused by inhalation of coal dust, which leads to carbon aggregates and scar tissue as small nodual aggregation. There are mild symptoms which include black sputum.

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14
Q

What is complicated pneumonicosis?

A

Exposure to coal dust that leads to progressive massive fibrosis of the lungs with large masses of fibrotic nodules that impacts the functional symptoms of a patient.

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15
Q

What is silicosis?

A

Caused by inhalation of silica dust that leads to damage to the lungs and prevents macrophages action, which affects the hilar lymph nodes and causes calcification, leading to a higher predisposition of TB and lung cancer.

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16
Q

What is asbestosis?

A

Type of pneumonicosis caused by prolonged exposure to hydrated silicate asbestos serpentine fibres through occupation exposure that can lead to development of plaques on the lungs and cause:
Mesothelioma, Lung plaques, lung cancer and lung fibrosis

17
Q

What is malignant mesothelioma?

A

Cancer of the pleural lining of the lungs due to asbestos exposure which has a latency period, which is incurable and leads to palliative and chemotherapy.

18
Q

What is occupational lung cancer?

A

Estimated to cause lung cancer in 10% of men, with the majority caused by asbestos exposure.

19
Q

Which governmental bodies are responsible for work-related health?

A

The Health and Safety regulator, an independent regulator that provides guidance to prevent work-related death, injury and health.

20
Q

Which governmental agencies are important for environment and health?

A

Public Health England
World Health organisation
Department for Environment, Food and rural affairs
The Health and Safety Executive