week 13 - environmental health Flashcards

Question

how to contribute to solid waste reduction

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

weakens the protective ozone layer. The build-up of gases increases the risk of cancer and pollutants contribute to acute respiratory illnesses. It also contributes to global warming. contributing factors = ozone pollution+ thinning, acid precipation and greenhouse + global warming

Answer 3

A Canadian measure of local air quality and what it means for health; uses a scale of 1–10+, as well as categories of low, moderate, high, or very high health risk.

Answer 4

part of air pollution prob screens out UV rays from the sun being destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons (Chemicals used as spray-can propellants, refrigerants, and industrial solvents) When rised into atmosphere, winds carried them to polar regions - react w. ice crystals, releasing chlorine atoms, destroying ozone UV light may interfere w/ photosynthesis and cause lower crop yields

Answer 5

product of fuel combustion NITROGEN OXIDES + SUNLIGHT = OZONE ground level ozone is an irritant and primary component of SMOG (reduces visibility and linked to decreased human health) combustion of fuels releases into atmosphere (gas emissions from cars) linked to resp illness (asthma, lung infection)

Answer 6

refers to tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, which can be harmful to human health and the environment examples = ash, smoke, pollen, dust linked to resp damage (asthma, bronchitis) PM, composed of solid and liquid particles, can be inhaled and can damage the lungs and cardiovascular system.

Answer 7

colourless, odorless, and very poisonous, produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like gasoline, wood, and natural gas can cause poisoning, often resulting from faulty appliances, vehicles, or generators Linked to headaches, impaired visual perception, impaired manual dexterity, increased risk of CVD, death

Answer 8

parts by millions - PPM

Answer 9

Main cause of acid rain Produced by combustion of oil and other fuels Linked to lung and cardiovascular diseases

Answer 10

Also a component of acid rain Precursor for OZONE Produced by engine exhaust

Answer 11

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) Common sources of indoor air pollution include photocopiers, fax machines, and computers Carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products Formaldehyde gas Asbestos, lead, mercury Biological pollutants such as mould May contribute to “Sick Building Syndrome” characterized by headache, fatigue, and decreased work productivity Asthma in children Particularly prevalent in Canada Indoors in winter Indoor air pollution and mould

Answer 12

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

Answer 13

Water delivery systems Domestic Wastes Industrial Wastes Agricultural Wastes Pharmaceutical chemicals (antibiotics) Nanoplastics Biological (Giardia)

Answer 14

release of substances into bodies of water that makes water unsafe for human use and disrupts aquatic ecosystems

Answer 15

* Most water in Canada is purified in water-treatment plants * Some indigenous communities in remote areas don’t have access to safe drinking water in Canada * Some regions have water shortages in the summer months * 2.1 billion worldwide people do not have safe drinking water and 4.5 billion do not have access to basic sanitation.

Answer 16

Take showers, not baths Install sink faucet aerators and waterefficient 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

Answer 17

pesticides asbestos lead

Answer 18

Sprayed, dusted, fogged or dumped into the environment Biomagnification Linked to lung and bladder cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, chronic bronchitis and nervous system disorders.

Answer 19

process where the concentration of a substance, like a pollutant or pesticide, increases as it moves up the food chain

Answer 20

Formerly used as building insulation Particles from it cause respiratory damage (asbestosis, mesothelioma lung cancer)

Answer 21

Lead based PAINTS (use now banned) Found in plumbing, vehicle emissions, tobacco smoke, lead crystal, lead pottery Linked to central nervous system damage, mental impairment, decreased oxygen transport in the blood, digestive problems, coma, death

Answer 22

Mercury Coal fueled power plants, mining and smelting Can contaminate water sources and organisms that live in the water (f Nervous system toxin, linked to damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, digestive tract, carcinogenic PCBs = polychlorinated biphenyls known carcinogen, associated with birth defects, damage the immune system Trihalomethanes synthetic chemical that forms when chlorine in water reacts with natural organic compounds in water in high doses is associated with liver & kidney disorders, CNS problems, birth defects, cancer BPA – Bisphenol A in polycarbonate (No 7 symbol, hard plastic) Estrogen mimic, possible link to increased cancers

Answer 23

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 - designed for explosive destruction, using uncontrolled chain reactions to release energy in an instant Nuclear Energy - form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons

Answer 24

Read labels of products purchased Proper disposal of house hold 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

Answer 25

Excessive noise in the workplace, sporting events and rock concerts Prolonged exposure to sounds > 80 - 85 decibels causes permanent hearing loss, tinnitus Most hearing loss occurs within first 2 hours of exposure, may recover within two hours after With continued or repeated exposure, damage becomes permanent

Answer 26

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)

Answer 27

Occurs when too much artificial illumination enters the night sky and reflects off of airborne water droplets and dust particles Effects Disrupts sleep Decreases production of MELATONIN may cause imbalance in diurnal sleep patterns may increase risk of cancer Others: disruption of migratory flight paths of birds or other wildlife

Answer 28

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!

Answer 29

Set an Example “Live green, " conserve energy and resources, avoid using toxic materials, and be as environmentally conscious as possible; Reduce, Re-use, Recycle -Choose organic, bioderadable -Compost -Bring your own shopping bags, coffee cups, -Car sharing -Bike, walk, Public transport, car-pooling -Dispose of chemicals properly, recycle batteries and old tires -Community outreach at SFU Educate - Educate your peers about the health implications of global ecological issues, and about the links between ecosystem and human health; Research/Knowledge - Monitor the health of local ecosystems and human health, looking for evidence of the health effects of the global or regional ecological crisis;

Answer 30

Advocate -Become a part of larger environmentally concious community; -Be an advocate for human and ecosystem health; -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. Build Networks/Coalitions - Join environmental groups; -Participate in, or help to create networks in your community and region; -Establish coalitions with other national health organizations to address the health implications of the global ecological issues, and to mobilize and coordinate the health sector in society;