LECTURE 2 (Environmental Health)

Question 1

What is Environmental Health?

Answer 1

The science and practice of preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by:
- identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents
- limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical and biological agents in air, water, soil, food and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health

Question 2

What is the impact of climate change on human health?

Answer 2

• Severe weather = injuries, fatalities, mental health impacts
• Air pollution = Asthma, cardiovascular disease
• Changes in vector ecology = Malaria, Dengue, Encephalitis etc
• Increasing Allergens = Respiratory allergens, asthma
• Water quality impacts = Cholera
• Water and food supply impacts = Malnutrition, diarrhoea
• Environmental degradation = Forced migration, civil conflict, mental health impacts
• Extreme heat = Heat-related illness and death, cardiovascular failure

Question 3

What are the largest sources of natural air pollution?

Answer 3

• Airborne dust in the world’s deserts
• Fires
• Sea spray
• Pollen
• Volcanoes

Question 4

What are the largest anthropogenic sources of air pollution?

Answer 4

• Electricity production
• Burning of solid fuels for cooking and heating in poor households
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Road transport

Question 5

Who is most impacted by the environment?

Answer 5

• The poor
• Children under 5 and adults between 50 and 75
• Males due to occupational risks and injuries
• Women bear higher exposures to traditional environment risks (e.g smoke from cooking with solid fuels)

Question 6

What do Multisectoral policies to protect the environment entail?

Answer 6

Coordination between agencies at international, national, regional and local levels

Question 7

What do Rising public awareness of global climate and the health effects of environmental health entail?

Answer 7

Promote agricultural policies, promote alternative fuels and chemical construction

Question 8

Which is the major source for carbon monoxide?

Answer 8

Motor Vehicle Exhaust

Question 9

What is the major source for sulphur dioxide?

Answer 9

Coal

Question 10

What occupation agents can be responsible for peripheral neuropathy?

Answer 10

• Acrylamide
• Lead
• Arsenic

Question 11

Which of the following isn’t an environmental component of causes for human diseases?
- Behavioural
- Chemical
- Biological
- Physical

Answer 11

Behavioural

Question 12

What occupational agent can cause Pulmonary fibrosis?

Answer 12

Asbestos

Question 13

Which one of the following causes harm to human health?
- Protecting forests
- Using solar vehicles
- Using of pesticides
- Organic farming

Answer 13

Using of pesticides

Question 14

Example of Cognitive disorders include, except:
- Motor skill disorders
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Bipolar disorder
- Dementia

Answer 14

Bipolar disorder

Question 15

Mood disturbances are associated with which symptoms?
- Disturbances in appetite
- Feeling of sadness/hopelessness
- Sleep disturbances
- All of the above

Answer 15

All of the above

Question 16

Mood disturbances can include which following condition?
- Major depression
- OCD
- Amnesia
- Schizophrenia

Answer 16

Major depression

Question 17

What is Psychosis?

Answer 17

Disorders of perception and thought process

Question 18

What are the most commonly observed psychotic symptoms?

Answer 18

Delusions

Question 19

What type of respiratory symptoms can be caused by air pollutants?

Answer 19

• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Question 20

What is Anxiety?

Answer 20

Physiological response to dangerous situations that prepares one to evade or confront a threat in the environment

Question 21

What are Cognitive disorders?

Answer 21

Any disorder that significantly impairs the cognitive function of an individual to the point where normal functioning in society is impossible without treatment

Question 22

What is an example of anxiety disorders?
- Suicidal thoughts
- Paranoia
- Alzheimer disease
- Phobias

Answer 22

Phobias

Question 23

Which water-related disease can cause severe, life-threatening diarrhoea?

Answer 23

Cholera

Question 24

Which virus is the most common etiologic pathogen for viral diarrhoea?

Answer 24

Norovirus

Question 25

Which diseases are the most prominent cause of death among children under 5 related to environmental impacts?
a) B and C
b) Diarrhoea diseases
c) Respiratory infections
d) Oncologic diseases
e) All of the above

Answer 25

a) B and C

Question 26

Which occupational agent can be responsible for behavioural changes?

Answer 26

Lead

Question 27

What is the main source of Nitrogen oxides?
a) Off-road equipment
b) Power plant emissions
c) On-road motor vehicle exhaust
d) All of the above

Answer 27

All of the above

Question 28

Which occupational agent is responsible for Leukemia?
a) Ionising radiation
b) Beta-naphthylamine
c) Asbestos
d) Cotton dust

Answer 28

Ionising radiation

Question 29

Which occupational agent can cause lung cancer?

Answer 29

Uranium

Question 30

What are the most commonly observed psychotic symptoms?

Answer 30

• Delusions
• Paranoia
• Hallucination

Question 31

Which of the following food-borne bacterial pathogen can cause meningitis?

Answer 31

Listeria

Question 32

What is the greatest portion in composition of municipal solid waste?

Answer 32

Paper

Question 33

Which occupational agent can cause Extrapyramidal syndrome?

Answer 33

Manganese

Question 34

Which one of the following is a result of high exposure of radiation?
- Leg fracture
- Hair loss
- Loss of white blood cells
- Tooth decay

Answer 34

Loss of white blood cells

Question 35

Which organisation is dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms?

Answer 35

Environmental Protection Agency