Lecture 2 - Environment Flashcards
What is a hazard?
Something with potential to cause harm.
What is risk?
Likelihood of harm occurring
What is a risk factor?
Something that increases the risk.
Name 5 categories of hazard in health.
Physical Chemical Mechanical Biological Psychological
Susceptibility means…?
How likely that something will cause harm.
Name 4 routes of exposure in health.
Skin
Blood/sexual
Inhalation
Ingestion
Name 3 factors that increase risk (in terms of exposure).
How much a person is exposed.
How the person is exposed.
Conditions of the exposure.
What are the 3 principles that govern perception of risk?
- Feeling in control
- Size of possible harm
- Familiarity with risk
Elaborate on feeling in control.
Involuntary risks are perceived as greater risk.
Voluntary risks are deemed as smaller risk.
Possible harm - elaborate.
If the possible harm is greater then it is perceived as a bigger risk - even if smaller harm is more likely.
If risk is more familiar is it perceived as greater or smaller?
Smaller.
Individuals have variables in their risk perception. Name 3.
Previous Experience.
Attitudes.
Beliefs.
What are the three categories of direct pathological effects of the environment?
Physical
Chemical
Biological
Give 2 examples of Physical.
Ionising/non-ionising radiation.
Noise and vibration.
Give 2 examples of Chemical.
Pesticides, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Give 2 examples of Biological.
Infectious agents
Allergens
What are three indirect pathological effects of the environment?
Housing e.g overcrowding
Transport e.g. does it encourage walking
Town Planning e.g. access to social networks.
Diet can have hazardous exposure, give some examples.
Fat, Salt, bacteria
How is inhalation hazardous?
If smoke, smog or asbestos is inhaled.
What are environmental hazards to our skin?
UVA, UVA, Bacteria and cosmetics.
Is occupational disease a risk?
YEs - 171 were fatally injured in 2010/2011 alone.
Give 3 examples of how global health and hazards are linked.
Inequality in health between countries.
Ineffective use of limited resources.
Human rights issues.
What aspects of health are likely to be worse in children growing up in deprived areas?
Lower birth weight Poorer dental health Less likely to benefit from breast feeding in infancy Higher rates of poor nutrition/obesity Higher rates of teen pregnancy Less likely to benefit from promotions/immunisations More likely to be admitted Greater risk of infant mortality More likely to take up smoking
What are risks to foetus?
Alcohol Smoking Illicit drugs X-rays Diet Prescription drugs OTC drugs, herbal remedies
