Introduction Flashcards
Define Heath
Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but a state of complete physical, mental and social well being.
Where is health possible?
Where the living and working environment is protected from pollutants ,pathogens, physical hazards and where resources are available.
Define environment
All that which is external to an individual human host.
Can be divided into physical,biological,social cultural any or all of which can influence health status in populations.
Define environmental health.
Branch of public health that focuses on the interactions between people and their environment,promoting human health and we’ll being.
What does quality health depend on?
The environment
Define environmental pollution
Introduction of harmful materials into the environment.
List the types of pollution
*water
*air
*noise
*soil pollution
Give an example of a natural pollutant.
Volcanic ash
List the determinants of health
•personal lifestyle
•heredity
•environment
List the types of diseases
•infectious diseases (can be non communicable or communicable)
•deficiency diseases (marasmus, kwashiorkor)
•physiological diseases (obesity,diabetes,asthma)
•genetici/inherited diseases (cancer,heart disease,diabetes)
Give examples of anthropogenic pollutants
Runoff by factories
Define Health Promotion
Process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health
How can health be promoted?
•through health education
•environmental modifications
•lifestyle and behavioral changes
List the major environmental health issues
•pollution
•global warming
•natural resource depletion
•loss of biodiversity
•deforestation
•ozone layer depletion
•urban sprawl
What are the effects of global warming and loss of biodiversity on health?
•infectious diseases
•heatwaves
•loss of agricultural productivity
•nutritional impact which can cause deficiency diseases
What are the major issues in Zambia?
•deforestation
•endangered biodiversity (poaching)
•waste and disposal management
•overfishing
•climate change
•pollution
•land degradation
List the environmental spheres
•geosphere
•biosphere
•hydrosphere
•atmosphere
•cryosphere
What is included in the geosphere?
All the rocks, minerals and landforms on and below the Earth’s surface.
What is involved in the biosphere?
All living organisms including plants, animals and microorganisms.
What is involved in the cryosphere?
Includes all the frozen water on Earth such as glaciers and ice sheets.
List the layers of the atmosphere
*ionosphere (aurora)
*mesosphere
*stratosphere
*troposphere
List the health impacts of climate change.
•temperature related impacts
•flood related impacts
•storm related impacts
•drought related impacts
List the temperature related impacts
•heat strokes (direct)
•hypathermia (direct)
•heat stress exhaustion (direct)
•respiratory diseases (indirect)
•skin burns,skin rashes/bleeding (direct)
How is respiratory diseases a temperature related impact?
Increase in temperature leads to compromised air quality
List the flood related impacts
1.Vector borne diseases (malaria,the water becomes breeding sites for mosquitoes)
2.Water-borne diseases
3.Food-borne diseases
4.Deficiency diseases
How do food borne diseases cause flood related impacts?
Chemicals in water lead to contamination of fish.
And humans end up eating the contaminated fish.
List the storm related impacts
•Injuries resulting in severe bleeding which can also leave to death.
•Mental health issues due to loss of life and loss of property.
•Deficiency diseases
List the drought related impacts of climate change
•Deficiency diseases.No water for crops to grow and no water for animals to drink.
•Respiratory diseases(dry land).Dust particles enter the atmosphere.
•Gastro-intenstinal illnesses/diarrhoeal diseases because low water levels have high concentration of pollutants.
How do you reduce the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that is caused by deforestation?
•Practice agroforestry. (agriculture)
•practice vertical spacing (infrastructure)
•those who are into thermal production should get licenses.
•afforestation and reforestation.
The human body is a typical example of which system?
An open system because both matter and energy can enter and exit.
What does environmental health involve?
Study and management of environmental factors that can potentially harm our health.
Why do developed countries release more pollutants?
Due to industrialization
Which countries suffer more from environmental pollution?
Developing countries
Why do developed countries suffer less from environmental pollution?
Low exposure and high adaptive capacity
Why do developing countries suffer the most from environmental pollution?
High exposure and low adaptive capacity
Which vulnerable populations are affected by environmental pollution,
Children,the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
Define environmental diseases
These are illnesses caused by factors in our surroundings rather than genetic factors or infections.
These can include exposure to pollutants,chemicals, radiation and social factors like stress and racism.
List some of the environmental diseases.
•respiratory diseases
•cancers
•lead poisoning
•vector borne diseases
•Skin diseases
What are the measures to maintain a clean and safe environment?
•reduce,reuse,recycle
•conserve water
•choose sustainable transportation
•support renewable energy
•protect natural habitats
•reduce chemical use
•participate in environmental programs
Give an example of a short term change
Weather patterns
Define environmental health issues
These are problems that arise from the interaction between humans and the natural or built environment.
What usually influences environmental health issues?
Social, economic and political factors such as poverty, inequality and poor governance.
List the types of systems.
•closed system
•open system
•isolated system
What are the possible solutions to environmental health issues?
•promoting clean energy
•reducing greenhouse gas emissions
•improving sanitation and hygiene
•enforcing environmental regulations
•raising public awareness
Define an isolated system
Neither energy nor matter can enter or leave
Describe a closed system
Only energy can enter and leave the system
Describe an open system.
Both matter and energy can enter or leave the system.
Define a system
An arrangement of things or phenomena which act or work together.
An environment is a system which has different components (environmental spheres) working together
Give an example of a medium term change
Seasons
Give an example of a long term change.
Climate change
How is the environment viewed?
Through the complementary approach and the trade off approach
Discuss the complementary approach
Its about sustainability.
It explains how you can make money and still protect the environment
Discuss Trade off approach
States that the environment and economic growth are incompatible.
Its about choosing one.
Either you focus on making money and not sustain the environment.
Or you focus on sustaining the environment and not making any money.
What is the other name for trade off approach?
Environmentalism approach
