PHS 3014 Environmental Health Exam 4

acute health effects of air pollution include

Breathlessness and burning eyes,

Cough and chest pains, Nausea and headache, Airway resistance and asthma

composition of air

nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases

common components of air pollution

sulfur oxides, particulate matter, oxidants, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen oxides, lead

what is smog

a mixture of pollutants, principally ground level ozone produced by chemical reactions in the air involving smog forming chemicals (smoke and fog)

temperature inversions

atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near the earth's surface

what are some natural sources of air pollution

wind storms that spread dust clouds, and salt evaporation along the earth's coasts, production of materials that have a biological origin, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions

stationary sources of air pollution

electric power plants, factories, oil refineries, chemical plants, incinerators

mobile sources of air pollution

on road vehicles, off-road vehicles, nonroad vehicles

diesel exhaust

improperly vented indoor cooking stoves can

impair the health of the elderly, expose women to high pollution levels, cause indoor air pollution in developing countries, expose infants to indoor air pollution

environmental impacts of air pollution

causes property damage, reduces visibility in national parks, harms forests, harms lakes and other bodies of water, injures wildlife/buildings, plus acid rain impacts

acid rain

precipitation of acidic components of air pollution interact with other components in the air such as water, oxygen, and oxidants

what does acid rain create

abnormally high levels of acidity that are potentially damaging to the environment, wildlife, and human health

how much time do people spend indoors

90% of the time

how much does the US produce of the earth's emissions of greenhosue gases

23%

what is a major source of air pollution in the US

combustion of fossil fuels

what population does the US have

4%

what is the US second in

second leading source of carbon dioxide pollution

indoor cooking stoves in LMICs

use biomass fuels, often unventilated, impact the health of the children, women, and the elderly disproportionately

global warming

an increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth... is predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases

primary causes of global warming

use of fossil fuels, chloroflurocarbon gases used in AC units

impacts of climate change

Disturbances in the native habitats of plants and animals, growth of vector borne diseases, growth of organisms in the ocean that cause seafood poisoning, disruption of the food supply and dwindling of food resources, extreme climatic conditions

acid rain is

the precipitation of acidic components formed when components of air pollution interact with other components in the air

kyoto protocol goal

reduce emissions of greenhouse gases believed to be the cause of recent climate changes

when did the kyoto protocol go into force

feb 16, 2005

did the US ratify the kyoto protocol

no

what were the requirements of kyoto protocol

developed countries must reduce emissions by targeted amounts

copenhagen accord, 2009

- sought to curb greenhouse gases and keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees c

- talks become deadlocked

paris agreement, december 2015

•A legally binding agreement

•Adopted by 195 countries

•Sought to limit global temperature rise during the current century to 2 degrees Celsius

•United States announced withdrawal from the agreement on June 1, 2017

what can be done to reduce emissions?

- increase efficiency of older power plants

- develop more renewable and alternative energy sources

- use energy efficent designs in home construction

-increase fuel efficiency of motor vehicles

- public transport

pathogenic organisms of particular concern

salmonella, clostridium botulinum, staphyloccus aueus, clostridium perfringens, e coli

trichnosis

associated with eating meat that contains a nematode from the genus trichinella

classic agent of trichinosis

trichinella spiralis

where is trichinella spiralis found

many carnivorous and omnivorous animals

what is taeniasis

an adult tapeworm infection within the GI system, occurs after ingestion of undercooked beef and pork infected with larval forms of the tapeworm cysticeri

what are some US approved antimicrobials given to food animals

amoxicillin, penicillin, bacitracin, erythromycin

toxins

naturally occurring toxins, such as those from seafood and mushrooms

pollution

introduction into the natural environment by humans of substances, materials, or energy that cause hazards

waste

materials perceived to be of negative value

hazardous waste

waste that is hazardous or potentially hazardous to human health or the environment

significant annual production in US (2008)

- approx 258 million tons of MSW

- produced by residents, businesses, and institutions

increased recycling and composting (2014)

-89 million tons recycled

-33 million tons burned for energy generation

components of MSW stream

packaging, appliances, organic materials, food waste, papers, electronics

EPA's MSW Management Hierarchy

Source reduction and reuse, recycling/composting, energy recovery, treatment and disposal

landfill use steps

1. bottom is lined with a dense layer of clay and sealed with thick plastic sheeting to contain leeks

2. flexible membrane liner holds in toxic chemicals that might contaminate groundwater

3. leachate sump collects leachates, which then can be subjected to further treatment

3. garbage is piled up in rows

4. Anaerobic bacteria aid in the decomp of organic materials and produce methane gas

what are the 4 major parts of landfills

bottom liner, system for collecting leachates, cover, sit/location that minimizes risk of groundwater contamination

Federal Landfill Standards

-location restrictions

- composite liners requirements

- leachate collection and removal systems

- groundwater monitoring requirements

- closure and post-closure care requirements

- operating practices

- corrective action provisions

- financial

gaseous emissions and other hazards associated with landfills

- air pollution and groundwater contamination

- leachates

-methane, VOCs and gases

- VOC emissions

what may leachates include

- toxic heavy metals

- solvents and cleaning agents

why are VOC emissions bad

- potentially carcinogenic

- may cause complaints about odors and symptoms of respiratory irritation

Municipal solid waste landfills

specifically designed to receive household waste, as well as other types of nonhazardous wastes

industrustrial waste landfill

designed to collect commercial and institutional waste, which is often a significant portion of solid waste, even in small cities and suburbs

hazardous waste landfills

facilities used specifically for the disposal of hazardous waste. these landfills are not used for the disposal of solid waste

incineration

- can be used to generate energy while reducing the volume and weight of waste

potential hazards of incineration

- emissions may be potentially hazardous to human health and the environment

- toxic materials emitted may cause air pollution or be deposited on the land

hazardous materials in the home

pesticides, cleaning products, automotive products, painting supplies, other flammable and nonflammable products

medical waste

chemicals, infectious agents, radioactive materials