Health and Enviornment

Midterm

What is the ecological paradox?

Countries with higher environmental awareness often pollute more due to their consumption.

What is the great accelerator theory?

The rapid industrial, economic, and technological growth since the 1950s has degraded our environment.

How does sustainable development relate to environmental quality and health?

Sustainable development balances economic growth, environmental protection, and human well-being, which directly affects public health through environmental quality.

What are NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases)?

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors.

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

The day when humanity's demand for ecological resources exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in a year.

How do pesticides and heavy metals in food affect health?

They can cause various health issues.

How does climate change influence vector-borne diseases?

It affects the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.

What is the impact of air and noise pollution on mental health?

They contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.

How does environmental degradation force populations to relocate?

It can impact health and resources, thus causing migrations.

What is the focus of general health compared to environmental health?

General health focuses on human well-being, while environmental health studies how environmental factors affect human health.

What are some examples of environmental factors that impact health?

Air pollution causes respiratory diseases, contaminated water leads to gastrointestinal issues, exposure to toxic chemicals affects organ functions.

What are some challenges related to environmental factors and health?

Pollution, climate change, unsafe water, and harmful chemicals.

What are biomarkers?

Clues in our bodies that indicate exposure to pollution or disease risk.

What types of exposure do workers in industries face?

Chemical, radiation, or noise exposure.

What are major environmental health issues in Serbia?

Air pollution, poor waste management, water pollution, and industrial contamination.

What key determinants of global health does WHO emphasize?

Air and water quality, climate change, and chemical safety.

Why is water essential for living systems?

It acts as a solvent, temperature regulator, and transport medium in biological systems.

What percentage of the human body is composed of water?

About 60%.

What physiological roles does water play in homeostasis?

It maintains body temperature, electrolyte balance, and hydration for organ function.

Why is water considered a finite resource?

It is essential for drinking, agriculture, and industry, and is threatened by overuse and pollution.

What types of pollutants can contaminate water?

Microbial, chemical (pesticides, heavy metals), and physical (plastic waste) pollutants.

What health impacts are associated with long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water?

It causes cancer, skin lesions, and cardiovascular diseases.

What are the two main categories of chemicals that can contaminate water?

Inorganic chemicals (heavy metals) and organic contaminants (pesticides and pharmaceuticals).

What can water quality testing check for?

Temperature, pH, bacteria, and toxins to determine if water is safe.

What diseases are related to poor water quality?

Cholera, diarrhea, and poisoning from heavy metals.

What gases primarily compose the air we breathe?

78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.

What are common sources of air pollutants?

Industry, transport, and agriculture.

PM and Health

• PM2.5 and PM10 can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

What are the differences between outdoor and indoor air pollution sources?

Outdoor sources include traffic and industrial emissions; indoor sources include household chemicals, mold, and poor ventilation.

What is the difference between acute and chronic exposure to pollutants?

Acute exposure causes immediate effects, while chronic exposure leads to long-term diseases.

What causes summer smog?

It is trapped by heat and caused by cars and factories.

What causes winter smog?

It comes from burning coal and wood in cold weather.

Health problems related to health WHO estimation

Millions die yearly from diseases linked to air pollution

What is sick building syndrome?

Indoor air pollutants causing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritation.

How do air pollutants affect human health?

They can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage, leading to chronic diseases.

What are POPs?

Persistent Organic Pollutants, dangerous chemicals that remain in the environment and enter our food.

What are emerging contaminants?

New pollutants like drugs, microplastics, and hormone-disrupting chemicals.

What is the Stockholm convention?

A global agreement to eliminate or restrict POPs to protect human health and the environment.

What are endocrine disruptor chemicals?

Chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing reproductive and metabolic disorders.

What mechanisms do chemicals use to damage organisms?

They may poison, inflame, or disrupt hormones, leading to diseases through mechanisms such as oxidative stress and bioaccumulation.

What health risks are associated with microplastics?

They can cause hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, and increase cancer risks.

What is noise in relation to health?

Unwanted sounds that can cause hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbances.

How does chronic noise exposure affect human health?

It increases stress hormones, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairment.

What is climate change?

Significant shift of the weather patterns, caused by human activity.

What are the causes of climate change?

Greenhouse gases, pollution, deforestation and industrial activities.

What are the major health problems related to climate change?

Heat stress, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases and food and water shortages.

What is a tropical night?

A night where the temp stays above 20 degrees Celsius.

What is a summer day?

A day where the temp is above 25 degrees celsius.

What is a warm period?

A longer period of time, where temperatures stay high.

How is climate change affecting Serbia now?

It is causing the hottest summers we ever had, it’s causing floods, and drought.

How will it affect Serbia later?

It is expected to lead to more extreme weather events, increased heatwaves, and significant impacts on agriculture and water resources.

What are vector borne diseases?

These are diseases spread by insects such as mosquitos. Examples include Malaria and Lyme disease.

How does climate change affect vector-borne diseases?

Climate change causes hotter weather, which leads to more insects which then leads to them spreading the diseases faster and more widespread.

What is soil?

Soil is the top layer of the Earth that supports plant life

What is the pedosphere?

It’s the soil layer of the Earth that interacts with water, air and living organisms.

What is soil quality and health?

The soils ability to prevent pollution, support life and grow crops

What are main soil functions?

Supports plant growth, filters water, stores carbon and cycle nutrients.

What are ecological functions of soil?

A habitat for species, biodiversity, pollution filtering, climate regulation.

What causes soil pollution?

Pesticides, household and industrial waste, and heavy metals.

How does soil pollution affect health?

It can cause cancer, nerve damage and hormone problems.

Which element deficiencies in soil cause diseases?

Iron → anemia; Iodine → goiter; Zinc → weak immunity.

What is soil degradation?

Decline in soil quality from erosion, overuse, or pollution.

What is soil destruction?

Permanent loss of soil due to human activity or natural reasons.

Where is arsenic found in nature?

In rocks, water, air and soil.

What are arsenic's chemical properties?

Toxic semi-metal, forms compounds, bind with proteins

What are sources of arsenic pollution?

Mining, pesticades, fossil fuels, contaminated water.

How does arsenic act as a pollutant?

It enters water and food, it builds up in the body and becomes very toxic to the health.

Industrial uses of arsenic?

Used for wood preservation, glass, old pesticides and semiconductors.

Health effects of arsenic exposure?

Causes cancer, skin lesions, heart disease, development issues.

How does arsenic damage cells?

It damages the DNA, disrupts enzymes, and causes oxidative stress.