Module 13: Environment and Climate Flashcards
define: environmental health
“The collective interactions of humans with the
environment and the short & long term consequences of
these interactions”
define: environment
“the unique skin of soil, water, gaseous atmosphere (air), minerals, nutrients, and organisms that covers this planet”
define: anthropocene
The epoch representing the commencement of substantial human impact on the earth’s systems
define: fossil fuels
remnants of living organisms that are compressed by layers of soil creating oil or coal
How fast is the world population increasing?
The world’s population is increasing at a rate of about 83 million per year; 160 people every minute
Factors that contribute to population growth (2)
- fertility rate
- lower death rates (better medical care, better socio-economic status)
Brundtland Report, (1987)
highlights the importance of the global environment to our survival
Examples of some non-renewables
Oil, gas, coal, hydro- electric, nuclear
How much of the energy we use in Canada comes from oil?
41%
Example of some renewable resources
Solar, wind, water and wave, geothermal, biomass and biofuels from renewable sources
How much of the energy we use in Canada comes from renewables?
17%
List 1 alternate fuel
ethanol (renewable)
List the impacts of human energy consumption
Pollutants Deforestation Waste products Sewage Solid waste Toxic waste (e.g. heavy metals, PCBs, pesticides, radioactive waste) Extraction methods can pose further environmental risks Decreased biodiversity Ecosystem impacts
Ways to reduce energy consumption
Use public transit, car pool Turn the heat down – wear a sweater Turn off lights Use high-efficiency lighting Hang clothes to dry Wash and dry dishes by hand Choose renewable energy sources Consider e-vehicles
Give examples of land pollution
Municipal Solid Waste - Landfills - Biodegradability - Recycling - E-waste Hazardous Waste - Nuclear, biological, chemical
List someways to reduce solid waste
Choose products with less packaging
Use products made of recycled paper or recyclable products
Bottle-free advocacy
Avoid using plastic wrap, foam or paper cups
Use reusable containers (glass is best for the microwave)
Reduce, Recycle, Re-use
Do not throw electronic items in the garbage
Start a compost pile
Stop junk mail
How does air pollution affect human health
Air pollution weakens the protective ozone layer.
- increases the risk of cancer
- contribute to acute respiratory illnesses.
- Photochemical smog (ozone pollution)
- Thinning of the ozone
- Acid precipitation (acid rain)
- Greenhouse effect and global warming
What are hydrocarbons
products of fuel combustion
Give the equation for ozone
nitrogen oxides + sunlight = ozone
What is the primary component of smog?
ground level ozone
What human health issue are hydrocarbons linked to?
Respiratory illness (e.g. asthma, lung inflammation)
Give examples of particulate matter and state what human health issue they are linked to?
- ash, smoke, pollen, dust
- respiratory damage (asthma, bronchitis, allergies)
what is carbon monoxide. give some properties of it
- when a hydrocarbon doesn’t burn completely
- colourless, odourless, poisonous
80ppm of carbon monoxide decreases body O2 by how much
15%
In heavy traffic, how high could the carbon monoxide ppm be?
400 ppm
carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms
headaches, impaired visual perception, impaired manual dexterity, increased risk of CVD, death
For nitrogen oxide explain:
- what it is a component of
- what it is a precursor to
- what is it produced by
- component: acid rain
- precursor: ozone
- produced by: engine exhaust
CFC (chlorofluorocarbons)
- effect on the environment
- what is it in?
- destroys ozone layer
- Coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners
- Foaming agents in insulation
- Propellants in aerosol sprays
- Solvents
Indoor air pollution examples
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
- Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products
- Formaldehyde gas
- Asbestos (used as a flame retardant), lead (in old yellow paint), mercury
- Biological pollutants such as mould
What is sick building syndrome?
- indoor pollution sickness
- characterized by headache, fatigue, and decreased work productivity
define: hypoxia
Hypoxia: condition caused by the body being deprived of oxygen
AQHI and AQI meaning
- air quality health index
- air quality index
define: greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect: the warming of Earth caused by a buildup of carbon dioxide and certain other gases
define: global warming
Global warming is an increase in Earth’s atmospheric temperature when averaged across seasons and geographical regions
list possible consequences of global warming
- Increased rainfall and flooding or drought
- Increased mortality from heat stress
- Poleward shift in the location of vegetation zones
- Changes in agriculture
- Changes in sea level due to rapid and drastic melting of the polar ice caps
- Increased deaths from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat WHO, 2020
What you can do to reduce air pollution
- Cut back on driving
- Choose a car that gets good gas mileage
- Keep your car tuned up and tires properly inflated
- Turn off car engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute
- Buy energy-efficient appliances
- Replace incandescent bulbs
- Keep your home well insulated
- Plant trees and shrubs
- Proper disposal of ozone-depleting appliances (refrigerators)
- Keep house well ventilated
- Don’t smoke
- Clean and inspect chimneys, furnaces and other appliances
Sources of Water Pollution
Water delivery systems Domestic Wastes Industrial Wastes Agricultural Wastes Pharmaceutical chemicals (antibiotics) Nanoplastics Biological (Giardia)
__ billion worldwide people do not have safe drinking water and ___ billion do not have access to basic sanitation.
2.1 and 4.5
The hotter the air, the more water ___________________, the more water stored in our air, the ____________________.
- that can be stored in our air
- more violent our storms and hurricanes, etc
How can we protect the water supply
Take showers, not baths
Install sink faucet aerators and water-efficient showerheads
Water-saver toilets
Fix leaky faucets
Don’t pour toxic material down the drain
Don’t pour old medicines down the drain or flush them down the toilet
Don’t use product with micro abrasives
Dispose of waste properly
biomagnification
any concentration of a toxin, such as pesticides, in the tissues of tolerant organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain
What health concerns are pesticides linked to
Linked to lung and bladder cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, chronic bronchitis and nervous system disorders.
List examples of chemical pollutants
- pesticides
- asbestos
- lead
- mercury
- PCB
- BPA
- radiation
What was asbestos formerly used for?
- building insulation and flame retardant
What health concerns is asbestos linked to
Particles from it cause respiratory damage (asbestosis, mesothelioma lung cancer)
What was lead formerly in? What can it now be found in
- paint
- Found in plumbing, vehicle emissions, tobacco smoke, lead crystal, lead pottery
lead poisoning
Lead poisoning: linked to central nervous system damage, mental impairment, decreased oxygen transport in the blood, digestive problems, coma, death
mercury contamination and poisoning
- Can contaminate water sources and organisms that live in the water (Nervous system toxin, linked to damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, digestive tract, carcinogenic
What are PCBs and their associated health concerns
- polychlorinated biphenyls
- known carcinogen, associated with birth defects, damage the immune system
What is BPA and what are the human health and environment conecrns
- Bisphenol A in polycarbonate (No 7 symbol, hard plastic)
- estrogen mimic, possible link to increased cancers
- Caused fish to switch sex because estrogen in water made it appear like there wasn’t enough male fish
Examples of radiation use
- Medical Uses of Radiation (X-ray exposure is cumulative and no exposure is absolutely safe; Each generation of X-ray technology emits less radiation)
- Radiation in the Home and Workplace (radon, cellular phones, microwave ovens, computer monitors, high-voltage power lines)
- nuclear weapons
- nuclear energy
Ways to prevent chemical pollution
Read labels of products purchased Proper disposal of household products and pharmaceutical drugs
Buy organic produce
Lock up pesticides
Use licensed exterminators
Only get X rays if needed Radon; usually only in rocky/mountainous sites
Prolonged exposure to sounds ______ decibels causes permanent hearing loss, tinnitus. Most hearing loss occurs within first ______ of exposure, may recover within ______ after
> 80 - 85
- 2 hours
- two hours
How does hearing damage become permanent?
repeated or continued exposure to loud sounds
Ways to prevent noise pollution
Wear ear protectors in noisy environments
Listen to music on a headset with a volume at or below 6
Avoid loud music
Avoid exposure to painfully loud sounds (80 + decibels)
light pollution
Occurs when too much artificial illumination enters the night sky and reflects off of airborne water droplets and dust particles
effects of light pollution
Disrupts sleep
Decreases production of melatonin (may cause imbalance in diurnal sleep patterns, may increase risk of cancer)
Disruption of migratory flight paths of birds or other wildlife
Reducing light pollution
Don’t use your computer late at night
Dim the light emitting from your computer
Avoid long term exposure to artificial light
Consider your circadian rhythm
Full spectrum lighting? Turn off lights!
Examples of living green
- lifestyle choices
- educate your peers
- educate yourself
- advocate
- build networks/coalitions
Examples of lifestyle choices for living green
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
Choose organic, biodegradable
Compost
Bring your own shopping bags, coffee cups, utensils etc.
Car sharing
Bike, walk, Public transport, car-pooling
Dispose of chemicals properly, recycle batteries and old tires
How can we advocate for our environment?
- Contact your elected representatives and communicate your concerns;
- Insist that your own organization become an advocate for environmentally healthy public policies at the national and international level;
- Call for the spending necessary to support the education, research and other actions necessary to address the global ecological crisis and its health effects.
In 1990, what did Carl Sagan unveil and what was its significance?
- Pale blue dot: picture of earth from a distance
- This perspective underscores the need to preserve and protect “the blue dot”. “The only home we have”
What is the concept of Spaceship Earth?
- Explained by Carl Sagan
- If we were to live on a spacecraft we would need to take all of Earth with us
- Earth is a self contained unit which contains all the required components for life
