Environmental Health

Question 1

Groups of environmental hazards that have been found to have the biggest impact on global burden of disease

Answer 1

Indoor air pollution from solid fuel use
Outdoor air pollution
Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene

Question 2

3 most common diseases caused by environmental hazards

Answer 2

Diarrhoea
Acute respiratory tract infections
Injuries

Question 3

What are 5 critical outdoor air pollutants

Answer 3

Airborne particulates - cars, coal
Sulphur dioxide - cars, coal
Nitrogen dioxide - cars, coal
Carbon monoxide and dioxide - cars, coal, tobacco
Ozone - smog
Benzene - cars, industry
Lead - cars

Question 4

What are some important air pollution problems in Cape Town?

Answer 4

Domestic burning of paraffin, coal, refuge
Burning of waste at waste sites
Motor vehicle emissions
Industrial emissions
Poor air pollution ventilation
Biogenic emissions (vegetation)

Most NB are the smog, acid rain and lead

Question 5

Causes of global warming

Answer 5

Greenhouse gases (absorb UV light) - cars and coal
Substances that deplete the ozone layer - chlorofluorcarbons

Question 6

SA Air pollution legislation

Answer 6

Air pollution act of 2004:
Control industrial, recreational and domestic production of smoke, diesel vehicles, standards established, lead reduced in petrol

Question 7

Environmental health

Answer 7

Study of adverse effects on human health by adverse impacts on the environment from human activities

Question 8

Pollutant

Answer 8

An agent that has an impact on the environment

Question 9

SA waste legislation

Answer 9

The Health Act (63/77):
Local authorities responsible for control of health impacts from domestic waste site
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (1994). Minimum requirements for the handling and disposal of hazardous waste

Question 10

SA water legislation

Answer 10

SA drinking water guidelines (DWAF, 1996) have detailed standards for inorganics (typically metals) and coliform content, but few standards for organic contaminants - meaning there is very little monitoring of water for e.g. pesticides

Question 11

Radiation sources

Answer 11

Natural: solar system, Earth’s core

Man-made: radiology, electronics

Question 12

Types of radiation

Answer 12

Ionising: cosmic, X-ray, Gamma rays

Non-ionising: lower frequency UV, visible and infrared light, radar, microwaves, ultrasound