Environmental Influences on Health

Question 1

Direct pathological effects on health:

Answer 1

• Physical = ionising and non-ionising radiation; noise and vibration
• Chemical = pesticides; VOCs
• Biological = infectious agents; allergic substances

Question 2

Indirect effects on health:

Answer 2

• Housing e.g. overcrowding
• Transport e.g. does it encourage walking/car use
• Town planning e.g. access to amenities, social networks
• Income/welfare/wealth distribution

Question 3

Hazard:

Answer 3

something with the potential to cause harm

Question 4

Risk:

Answer 4

the likelihood of harm occuring

• factors that influence degree of risk include how much a person is exposed, how the person is exposed, conditions of exposure
• risk combines the probability that a particular outcome will occur and the severity of the harm involved

Question 5

Risk factor:

Answer 5

increases the risk of harm

Question 6

Protective factor:

Answer 6

decreases the risk of harm

Question 7

Susceptibility:

Answer 7

influences the likelihood that something will cause harm

Question 8

Broad categories of hazard:

Answer 8

• Biological
• Chemical
• Mechanical
• Physical
• Psychosocial

Question 9

Routes of environmental exposure:

Answer 9

• Blood
• Skin
• Inhalation
• Ingestion
• Sexual transmission

Question 10

3 principles that govern the perception of risk:

Answer 10

1. Feeling in control - involuntary vs voluntary risks
2. Size of possible harm - risks that involve greater possible harm are perceived as greater than those involving less harm, even if the less harmful events are more likely
3. Familiarity with the risk - risks that are less familiar are perceived as being greater than more familiar risks

Question 11

Individual variables in risk perception:

Answer 11

• Previous experience
• Attitudes towards risk
• Values
• Beliefs
• Socio-economic factors
• Personality
• Demographic factors