PUBH Chapter 8

environment

sometimes used to imply all influences other than genetic, including social, economic, and cultural

unaltered environment

natural environment

2 major forms of impact on physical environment

consumption of resources, and waste products as a result of consumption

altered environment

the impact of chemicals, radiation, and biological products that pollutes the environment

built environment 

all the impacts of the physical environment as a result of human construction 

affects our moods, social interaction, and social attitudes

greatest environmental impact on health?

air pollution

issues that affect the risk of impacts of the environment on health

route of exposure, timing of exposure, stage of life, other diseases, special sensitivities

hazard

dangers to exposure

risk assessment

aims to measure the potential hazard, the quantity, route, and timing of exposure

4 components of risk assessment

hazard identification, dose response relationship, exposure assessment, risk characterization

pubh assessment

identifying health problems and resources within a community to inform decision-making and improve health outcomes

ecological risk assessment

evaluates the impacts of the environmental contamination or pollution on plants and animals and the ecosystem in which they exist often have long term consequences

interaction analysis

to understand and control the impacts of environmental exposure, it’s necessary to take into account the effect of 2 or more exposures

multiplicative interaction

adding together the relative risks of each exposure

Health Communities

“creating a culture of health” addresses social issues, housing, employment, crime, social interaction, recreational opportunities

intentional injuries

on purpose, self inflicted or meant for others, can impact entire population

unintentional injuries

car crashes, drownings, falls, fires, accidental poisonings, etc

All Hazards Approach to Health Protection

preparing for many types of disasters—surveillance systems, communication systems, evacuation, and organized healthcare response

contributors to the environment

physical, human and social physical environment

physical environment

solar energy, water cycles, natural disasters, soil and nutrient cycles, biodiversity

human environment

agriculture and land use, industrialization, urbanization, transportation, waste pollution, energy production and use, technology and scientific innovation

facets of environmental health science 

epidemiology, toxicology, engineering, law, preventative medicine

mechanisms of environmental exposure

inhalation, ingestion, absorption, water, transplacental

4 step risk assessment process

hazard identification, dose response assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization

ames test

where a given chemical can cause mutations in DNA

hazard identification

the process of finding potential sources of harm in a place or system to prevent injuries, illnesses, and incidents

dose response assessment

the measured relationship between the amount of exposure and the likelihood of a health effect

exposure assessment

identifying the size and composition of a populations exposure to a toxicant and the source, magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure

risk characterization (ecological assessment)

data from hazard identification, dose response assessment, and exposure assessment are combined to estimate the likelihood and severity of potential health risks