Midterm pt 2 Flashcards
List (2) advantages when onsite sewage disposal is used to dispose of waste water
Cost, private not public, little training, maintenance, recycles/disperses pollution
List (2) disadvantages when onsite sewage disposal is used to dispose of waste water
Site limitations with new installations,
size,
repair costs,
oversight/responsibility
What is the “greenhouse effect”?
The thermal radiation from the earth’s surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases (Water vapor, CO2, O3, and methane) and re-radiated into the atmosphere. As greenhouse gas concentrations increase more of this thermal energy is trapped into the earth’s atmosphere and less is re-radiated into outer space resulting in increased temperatures. The increase in greenhouse gases is primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation
What strategies would you suggest to reduce this greenhouse effect?
Reduce the burning of fossil fuels by using alternate sources of energy – nuclear, wind and solar.
Reduce emissions through cap and trade.
Reduce automobile emissions – cleaner burning fuels, less driving via better public transportation and reduction of urban sprawl (community hubs).
Stop deforestation and develop a plan to replenish forests. Fund research for ways to decrease CO2 levels in the atmosphere.
What contributes to acid precipitation in the Adirondack Mountains
Midwest burns bituminous coal which has a high concentration of SO2 and Hg as compared to the more expensive anthracitic coal in the western US. As the smokestack emissions mix with water vapor in the atmosphere dilute sulfuric and nitric acid are formed. The prevailing west winds blow the emissions over the Adirondack Mountains where it falls as acid rain.
What is “Climate Change”?
Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time. Climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in the time variation of weather around longer-term average conditions
List two (2) public health concerns associated with climate change.
Increased temperatures leading to higher mortality especially in older Americans.
Rising sea levels and extreme weather events leading to flooding increased vector borne diseases
Which gases are involved with climate change
CO2, N2O (nitrous oxide),
fluorinated gases
CH4 (methane
Why are populations moving to urban areas
Education, jobs, health are pulling them and resources, civil unrest lack of work is pushing them out of rural areas.
What are the public health impacts that urban areas must be prepared to respond to with this increasing population/urban areas?
Increased population density so increased risk of disease spread if unsanitary conditions
vector control,
increase in resources and capacity for sewage treatment,
increase for clean water provision, and for household waste.
Need to increase resources for health care especially vaccination and health education and screening.
Increased need for transportation –
increased electrical demand so unless mitigate increase in emissions from power plants will have increased air pollution.
Need to plan for alternate energy sources.
What is a categorical grant?
Categorical grant is a grant for a specific purpose and must be spend on that program/category.
A block grant?
A block grant is a grant that covers several programs/areas and can be spent on any (or all) of them
What happened with regard to funding for lead poison prevention from the early 1980s to date?
started in the 1980’s as categorical grant funding. It then transitioned to block grant funding. Once this happened only 3 cities in CT maintained any funding for lead poison prevention – Hartford, Waterbury and New Haven. Surveillance showed an increase in Pb blood levels so funding has now transitioned back to categorical funding.
Explain the difference between a building code and a housing code. Which code is more prevalent in communities and why?
a. Building code is for the whole state of Connecticut
b. Housing code is adopted by communities
c. Housing code is more prevalent so communities can address their local issues
Explain the difference with examples between sick building syndrome and building related illness.
a. Sick building results in temporary conditions such as eye irritation, headache, sore throat or cough that typically goes away when leave the building
b. Building related illness is an illness contracted from the building such as legionnaire’s disease, asthma or allergies. The illness doesn’t go away when leave the building.
You are the director of health. A person living in an apartment calls your office with a complaint of a black mold on the ceiling of the bedroom and requesting an inspection and sampling of the material. How will you respond?
There are no standards for mold. However, mold should be cleaned off any hard surface and any soft surface with mold should be discarded. Mold is typically an indication of a leak and/or moisture collection. Look for the source of the mold and fix the source.
What is the disease concern associated with radon exposure and what environmental steps can be taken to reduce exposure to radon.
a. Lung cancer – 20,000 – 25,000 people every year die of lung cancer caused by radon
b. Test residences for levels of radon. If levels exceed 4 pCi/liter, redo the test and if it repeats fix the home to lower the radon level (consider fixing at 2 pCi/liter especially if a high risk person). Build new homes to be resistant to radon incursion. Require periodic (bi annual?) home testing for Radon. Include a fee in town taxes for the test.
Briefly describe the current public health intervention programs to reduce asthma.
a. EPA tools for schools – information and educational material
b. Surveillance and use of pesticides in schools
c. Legislation for indoor environment in schools
List 3 environmental asthma triggers.
dust mites
cockroaches
cold
airborne particulates (O3, mold, Nox and SO2)
