EEASA10

Environment

everything that affects a living organism

Effects of environment on human health is so great

Air
Water
Soil
Biota
Manmade environment
(Created by society)

Your environment is your health

(but it's not the only factor
influencing your health)

Models of gene-environment interaction

- Genetic makeup increases exposure to an
environmental risk factor

Models of gene-environment interaction

Genetic makeup increases susceptibility to an
environmental risk factor

Models of gene-environment interaction

- Genetic makeup and environmental factor are
independent risk factors

Environmental Health

the study of both the direct and the
indirect pathological effects of various:
❑ Chemical
❑ Biological
❑ Physical (only man-made)
❑housing, urban development, land use,
transportation

Chemical Hazard

Chemicals in air, water, soil and food

Biological Hazard

Bacteria, viruses, parasites, allergens, animals such as bees and poisonous
snakes

Physical Hazard

Radiation, fires, tornados, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes
are not environmental health hazards (they are natural disasters)

Social or Behavioral
Hazards

Poor diet, smoking, drugs, drinking, poverty are not environmental
health hazards (but the chemicals in a tobacco smoke are)

Genetic Traits (type of hazard)

Health risks associated with the chromosomal defect that causes
Down syndrome are not environmental health hazards

Core concerns of Environmental Health

Focus on chemical, physical, biological hazards

Core concerns of Environmental Health

Interactions with genetic traits and with
social/behavioural stressors

Core concerns of Environmental Health

Much more than just pollution

Core concerns of Environmental Health

Emphasis on anthropogenic hazards

Core concerns of Environmental Health

As branch of public health, the field of
environmental health takes a population
perspective

Environmental Crisis: Human Alteration of Earth - Atmosphere

CO2 increased 30% since the beginning of the Industrial revolution

Environmental Crisis: Human Alteration of Earth - Geosphere

1/3 to 1/2 of the land surface has
been transformed by human action

The declining health of other organisms is the clearest indicator of environmental threats to human health

No single factor is
responsible: Increase UV, Traces of toxic
chemicals, Infections (fungi and bacteria), Predators

Environmental factors are responsible for 25 % of all preventable diseases

In developing countries diarrhea and respiratory infections
are heading the list

African American, Hispanic and low income populations have been found

to have hospitalization and death rate from asthma 3-5 times higher than those for all New York City residence

London Smog, 1952

All gases of coal burning stayed in stagnant air, so dark looked like night time, needed lights, people feeling choked/burned by sulfuric acids

London Smog, 1952 cause

Particular winter was colder so people heated their homes more, all heating systems used coal with sulfure

London Smog, 1952 cause

air was stagnant, didn't move that December

London Smog had sulfur dioxide levels were in PEAK conditions

as did the deaths recorded (environment not able to cope with this concentrated amount), 4000 people

London Smog situation changed

government worked with industry to fix it, now the city is clean

Indonesian Fires 1997 - tropical area slash and burn practice

common to clear land and use for agriculture, extinguished by monsoons

Indonesian Fires 1997

monsoon was late, amount of land burned was huge, visible from space

Indonesian Fires 1997 government tried to extinguish

monsoon finally arrived, was only thing able to stop it

Sources of Outdoor Air
Pollution

natural sources like volcanoes -sulfur gases, carbon dioxides: seems environment was able to cope until we added human activities like mobile-vehicles and stationary-industry: react to others and create 2nd pollutants

Health Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution - Asthma

• Particulates and/or SO2 can irritate bronchial passages leading to severe
difficulties in breathing
• 1983-1993 US increased 34%

Health Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution - Chronic bronchitis

excessive amount of mucus produced in bronchi which
results in a lasting cough; SO2
and smoking is related to Chronic bronchitis

Health Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution - Pulmonary emphysema

Weakening of the wall of alveoli, they become enlarged and
loss their resilience (opening and closing) leads to shortness of breath, NO2 related

Health Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution causes/exacerbates

lung cancer, heart disease, toxic poisoning, eye irritation, birth defects

Primary air pollutants (6)

Particulate matter

Primary air pollutants (6)

Carbon monoxide

Primary air pollutants (6)

Nitrogen oxides

Primary air pollutants (6)

Sulphur oxides

Primary air pollutants (6)

VOC (Volatile Organic
Compounds)

Primary air pollutants (6)

Lead

Secondary Air Pollutant (1)

Ground level Ozone

Particulate Matter found in

the air (dust, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets)

Particulate Matter comes from

Vehicles, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, stone
crashing, and all kinds of burning

Particulate Matter some can be formed

in the air

Particulate Matter has serious health effects

big and small

Particulates classified by size

• PM10 —respirable
• PM2.5 —"fine" (mostly from combustion)
• Ultrafine particulates

Particulates sizes

Combustion (esp. diseal fuel) passes through alveolar wall into bloodstream

Particulates sizes 0.1 to

Reach small airways and alveoli; in alveoli are removed by macrophages

PM stands for

micron meters

Particulates sizes 2.5 to 10 microns

Settle out in trachea and bronchi; are removed via mucociliary escalator

(air pollution) Carbon Monoxide is a

Odourless, colourless gas

Carbon Monoxide created by

Incomplete burning of carbon containing
fuels

Carbon Monoxide comes from

Heaters, woodstoves, gas stoves, fireplaces,
water heaters, automobile exhaust, and
tobacco smoke

(AP) Carbon Monoxide are a bigger problem from

indoor air pollution because it is in concentrated form and don't realize exposure

(AP) Carbon Monoxide deaths

1 000 people die each year in US as result of
CO poisoning (indoor air)

high risk for health effects related to Carbon Monoxide

Fetuses, infants, elderly and people with heart and respiratory illnesses are at high risk for adverse health effects

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of
the body

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Worsen cardiovascular conditions

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Fatigue

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Headache

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Weakness

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Confusion

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Disorientation, loss of coordination

Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Nausea, Dizziness, Death

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Never leave a car engine running in a shed or garage or in any enclosed space

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Proper selection, installation, and
maintenance of appliances

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Correct use of appliances

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Good Ventillation

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

Use CO detectors

High Concentration of Carbon Monoxide (CO) causes death, unnoticeable until loss of motor skills, can't escape by then

at lower concentrations for some time creates flu-like symptoms

(AP) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) formed

in any type of combustion process

(AP) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) involved

in formation of ground level ozone

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) forms

nitrate particles, and acid aerosols

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) contributes in

formation of acid rain

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) is transported

over long distances

CO2 effects - hemoglobin has higher infinitive to carry carbon monoxide instead of oxygen

so parts of body are deoxygenated

(AP) Sulphur oxides (SOx) comes from

Burning of coal and oil, extraction of metals from ore (so mostly external combustion)

Sulphur oxides (SOx) dissolve

SO2 dissolve in water vapor to form acids, contribute to acid rain and acidified water bodies; also what caused burning in throat from water contact London Smog

Sulphur oxides (SOx) can also be formed by

Acids react with other gases and particles and form sulphates

(AP) Sulphur oxides (SOx) transported

over long distances

(AP) Sulphur oxides (SOx) create

Respiratory illnesses, aggravates existing heart and lung diseases

(AP) VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) are a

Variety of organic compounds used as solvent in industry, automobiles

(AP) VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) are usually

Hydrocarbons (HC) : methane, butane,
propane

some VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) produce

photochemical smog (a type of ozone, VOCs important for formation of these)

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) called volatile because

evaporate at room tempurature

(AP) Lead (Pb) is

metal

(AP) Lead (Pb) comes from

Vehicles and industrial sources (i.e. paint)

(AP) Lead (Pb) is in

Leaded gasoline (not used anymore)

Lead (Pb) became

Deposited on soil and water, goes to plants and food-chain

Lead (Pb) children can

accidentally eat it in the soil

(AP) Lead (Pb) particularly affects

young children

(AP) Lead (Pb) is neurotoxicant (mental impact on development)

effects IQ, cognitive & neurological performance

(AP) Lead (Pb) is neurotoxicant

Cardiovascular mortality, increased lung cancer risk, kidney toxicity, high blood pressure,
reproductive effects, and oral health impacts

Lead has a heavier burden of exposure

on poor, nonwhite populations

Ozone (O3) is formed in the air

VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight

Ozone (O3)

Summertime pollutant, time of the day, seasonal, climate

Ozone (O3) is not the good ozone

that protects us from depletion of stratosphere; this is ground level ozone

Ozone (O3) transported

on long distances

Ozone (O3) is at its peak

in the middle of the day because of traffic and in summer because of the heat