Module 9 Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of global deaths are attributed to unhealthy environments?

A

23%

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2
Q

what is The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health?

A

a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

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3
Q

disease are often distinguished as what?

A
  • communicable (infectious like malaria and aids)
  • non-communicable ( non-infectious like heart disease, cancer)
  • injuries
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4
Q

what are the consequences of poor health?

A
  • limits productive opportunities
  • reduces length and quality of life
  • contributes to economic burden and poverty cycle
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5
Q

examples of burden of diseases from unhealthy environments?

A
  • exposure to air pollution, and indoor pollution from cookstoves using biomass.
  • infectious diseases of zoonotic or animal origin like rabies.
  • toxic chemical exposure through drinking water and food sources which are linked to cancer and death.
  • extreme weather like drought and hurricane events threaten pop and impact water and food security.
  • Ebola virus, aids, etc
  • climate change
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6
Q

how can material dimension contribute to human health (well-being) ?

A
  • contributions like traditional medicines for treatments
  • the nutrients needed for proper functioning
  • spaces for recreation and physical activity.
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7
Q

how can relational dimension contribute to human health (well-being) ?

A

-contribute to social determinants of health

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8
Q

how can subjective dimension contribute to human health (well-being) ?

A
  • direct access to medical care and natural areas can support mental and emotional health
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9
Q

What are the social determinants of disease challenges from unhealthy environments?

A
  • a portion of global population is over-fed while the others suffer from malnutrition.
  • diarrheal disease is still a leading cause of death in children under 5 (20%)
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10
Q

what are the water and ecosystems and health of disease challenges from unhealthy environments?

A

cyanotoxins demonstrates this

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11
Q

explain cyanotoxins and its impacts on the ecosystem.

A
  • excess nutrients in water (eutrophication) can lead to rapid accumulation of algae into “blooms”
    -this blue green algae (cyanobacteria) produces a bloom which releases toxins into the water.
    -these toxins can poison wildlife, contaminate drinking water reservoirs, damage other naturally occurring plants and accumulate in fish and shellfish.
    -even swimming in water contaminated with high levels of cyanobacteria can be harmful.
    cyanotoxins can cause liver or nervous system impacts, tumours or death in humans
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12
Q

what are the pollution of disease challenges from unhealthy environments? give examples

A

pollution effects can have effects on the endocrine, immune and neural system and pollutants can be carcinogenic (have the potential to cause cancer)

ex: ecosystem regime shifts (eutrophication, algal blooms)
- endangerments of specific species, some are more vulnerable to pollution.
- pollution directly affects human well-being (smog, air pollution).

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13
Q

what are the biomarks?

A

can indicate a disease or physiological state
-environmental sampling can also be conducted to monitor and identify potential exposure sources and risk (water, air , soil)

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14
Q

explain a pathogen (infectious disease)

A
  • a pathogen may be a bacteria, virus, prion, or another type, and may have evolutionary features that promote its pathogenesis.
  • a pathogen interacts with a host and the environment.
  • disease ecology expects a pathogen to exploit as many niches (or hosts) as possible to increase its chances of survival.
  • the host that comes into contact with a pathogen may or may not be immune depending on if they already had exposure to it.
  • the environment provides all other determinants in the interaction (certain pathogens might be temperature-dependent, adequate sanitation systems may or may not be in place)
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15
Q

what are pathogen attributes of different factors influencing disease dynamics?

A
  • bacteria, virus, prion, parasite, fungus
  • genetic factors (determine how likely it is to infect someone, how long it persists under given conditions and the severity of disease.)
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16
Q

what are the host attributes of different factors influencing disease dynamics?

A
  • immunity (vaccination)
  • specific genetic factors- receptors, immune response
  • behavioural risk factors
17
Q

what are the environmental attributes of different factors influencing disease dynamics?

A
  • temperature
  • environmental dispersion
  • sanitation systems
18
Q

how is health a CAS?

A
  • trade and travel may create opportunities for pathogens to spread.
  • urbanization changes the interaction between individuals in a population, facilitating more contact and more spread.
  • within urban setting economic or other factors may affect exposures through housing condition, occupation, access to food and water, etc.
19
Q

what is schistosomiasis?

A

a parasitic infection which can cause long-term damage to internal organs and stall childhood development.

20
Q

what can lead to the growth of schistosomiasis?

A

large scale damming, irrigation systems, overfishing and other freshwater ecosystem alterations.

21
Q

what are direct health effects of environmental changes and ecosystem impairment?

A
  • floods
  • heatwaves
  • water shortage
  • landslides
  • exposure to pollutants
22
Q

what are ecosystem- mediated health effects of environmental changes and ecosystem impairment?

A
  • altered infectious disease risk
  • reduced flood yields (undernutrition)
  • mental health
23
Q

what are indirect, deferred and displaced health effects of environmental changes and ecosystem impairment?

A
  • diverse health consequences of livelihood loss
  • population displacements (including slum dwelling)
  • conflict
  • inappropriate adaptations and mitigation
24
Q

what are examples of stresses on humans and other species?

A
  • climate change
  • habitat loss
  • pollution
  • disease
25
Q

why are vultures important for human and ecosystem health?

A

they scavenge on carcasses

26
Q

Which of the following topics might be relevant to an environmental health professional

A
  • lead contamination of soil or water resources
  • algal blooms
  • the introduction or establishment of invasive alien species
  • air pollution levels in cities
  • pesticide levels in agricultural produce
27
Q

Which factors contribute to disease being a ‘wicked problem’?

A
  • Disease risks may be caused by factors outside of the direct realm of public or global health.
  • There may be multiple stressors on our health, as well as factors occurring at different scales.
  • Our governance structures often approach health risks reactively and do not typically work across disciplines.
28
Q

A reactive approach to public health threats focuses on disease threats once they occur. true or false?

A

true

29
Q

Which of the following are examples of ecosystem changes that may impact human health?

A
  • climate chane
  • biodiversity loss
  • land degradation
30
Q

Which of the following represent ecosystem services that can positively contribute to our health?

A
  • Pollination that supports crop production
  • Watershed systems that replenish water sources
  • Provision of natural resources for medicines or their compounds
  • Mangroves that help mitigate impacts of coastal flooding events
  • providing space for recreation