FINAL Flashcards
What is environmental health?
- The branch of public health that focuses on all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health.
- Field of EH tends to focus on man-made (anthropogenic) environmental hazards that lie outside of an individual’s immediate control (involuntary)
What is epidemiology
The study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations……and the application of this study to control health problems; “population medicine”
What is environmental epidemiology
- Focuses on diseases linked to environmental exposures/hazards
- Usually focuses on factors that are beyond a persons control
goal of environmental policy
To reduce human risks or environmental damages resulting from pollution or environmental hazards
principles of environmental policy development
Precautionary principle
Environmental justice
Environmental sustainability
Polluter Pays Principle
principles of environmental policy development: Polluter Pays Principle
Polluter should bear the expenses of carrying out the pollution prevention and control measures introduced by public authorities, to ensure that the environment is in an acceptable state
principles of environmental policy development: Environmental Sustainability
Resources should not be depleted faster than they can be regenerated
There should be no permanent change to the natural environment
principles of environmental policy development: Environmental Justice
Fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to environmental laws and policies
principles of environmental policy development: Precautionary Principle
Look before you leap – err on the side of caution
Take preventative measures even if cause and effect relationship is not definitive
What trends do we see in chemical production in the USA?
increase in chemical production
chemical hazard regulations
The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
authorized the EPA to both assess new chemicals before they enter the marketplace and to review chemicals already on the market.
When the law was enacted, thousands of chemicals already being used were grandfathered in and accepted as just being okay in commerce
EPA has taken actions to regulate exposure to about 3,500 of 32,000 new HPV (High Production Volume - >1,000,000 pounds produced each year) chemicals submitted for review since TSCA was enacted
toxicology
the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects.
Goal of toxicology
To understand the causal relationships between toxicant exposure and adverse human health effects
Experimental Methods of toxicology
Highly controlled experiments, usually in a laboratory setting, typically using animals
Epidemiological Methods of toxicology
Observations on uncontrolled populations, usually in the natural environment
toxicology basic understanding:
Even innocuous (non-harmful) substances can become toxic in high doses
High O2 can lead to O2 intoxication
Too much water can cause osmotic imbalance or brain damage
Dose-response relationship
Type of correlative relationship between “the characteristics of exposure to a chemical and the spectrum of effects caused by the chemical”
Dose-response Curve
type of graph
Used to describe the effect of exposure to a chemical or toxic substance upon an organism such as an experimental animal
identify the minimum dosage needed to produce a biological effect
understand the rate of accumulation of harmful effects
Different curves used for individuals v populations
most rapid route of absorption, distribution, and excretion
most rapid effect: intravenous
ingestion: GI tract –> feces
Inhalation: lungs –> GI–> (either straight to feces or to liver to bile back to GI back to feces)
dermal: blood and lymph (urine or expired air)
Pesticide
Substances or mixture thereof intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.
ALSO any substance or mixture intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
Insecticide
pesticide used to kill insects
Herbicide
a chemicals to control or
destroy plants, weeds or grasses
Fungicide
used to deter or destroy fungi
Nematocide
chemical agents destructive to nematodes
Rodenticide
chemical or agent used to destroy rats or other rodent pests
Fumigant
vaporized to kill pests
pesticide classes
Organophosphates
Carbamates
Organochlorines
Herbicides/Defoliants
Organophosphates
organic esters of phosphoric acid
Carbamates
salts or esters of carbamic acid
Organochlorines
chlorinated hydrocarbon-based
Herbicides/Defoliants
Mixed structure; often hormone derived
atrazine
Invented by geigy in 1958
Binds to electron transport chain in chloroplasts (which animals lack)
Plants die of starvation & oxidative damage
The most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water in the USA
Banned in European Union in 2004
what is lead
Lead is a toxic heavy metal
Lead is a soft gray metal element that occurs naturally in the earth.
sources of lead
lead was added to paint, gasoline, ongoing or historic mining, commercial or industrial operations
Lead from old lead paint may contaminate household dust and nearby soil.
Soil may still have high lead levels resulting from pre-1976 gasoline.
Lead enters the dust or air in businesses that involve lead.
Lead mines or smelters may contaminate nearby soil or water.
how can people be exposed to lead?
- Inhalation of lead dust contributes to a build up in the body and may be the major route for workers in lead-related occupations..
- Ingestion of foods, water, and alcohol may be significant for certain populations.
- Ingestion is the primary way the general population, especially children, are exposed to lead.
- Ingestion of certain home remedies.
- Ingestion of lead paint or inhalation of lead dust or fumes is a major source for children in the United States.
Primary prevention of lead hazards
Lead hazard mitigation law (LHML) 2002
Intent: To prevent childhood lead poisoning in RI by:
Increasing the supply of safe rental housing in Rhode Island
Improving public awareness of lead issues
LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PREVENTION
Take a lead hazard awareness seminar Evaluate the property for lead hazards Correct identified lead hazards Get an independent clearance inspection Get a Certificate of Conformance
Landlord complaints for prevention
Costly
Burdensome
Should be responsibility of parents
No children at my property- why do I have to comply?
Compliance is low because there is no enforcement of the law: New in 2011 Code can cite if no COC
three ways to classify metals
major toxic metals, essential metals, metals and medicine
three ways to classify metals: major toxic metals
Not necessary to sustain life
Toxic at both acute and chronic exposure levels
Arsenic (semimetal), beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel
three ways to classify metals: essential metals
Essential for life at trace amounts, but have the potential for toxicity at high concentrations
Iron, copper, magnesium, zinc
three ways to classify metals: metals and medicine
Metals used for medical therapy
Aluminum, lithium, platinum
Top three metals humans are exposed to
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Mercury