health final exam chapter 15

everything she gave us about chapter 15 only!!

environmental health

the collective interactions of humans with the environment and the short-term & long-term health consequences of those interactions

what have discoveries of environmental health led to?

• systematic garbage collection

• sewage treatment

• filtration & chlorination of drinking water

• food inspections

• establishment of public health enforcement agencies

air quality index

a measure of local air quality and what it means for health

air quality index is a concentration of how many health-concerning pollutants?

5

what is the range of AQI (air quality index)?

0-500

at what number for AQI is the air quality deemed “unhealthy” for everyone?

150

who sets the AQI?

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

what does the AQI measure?

carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and ground-level ozone

what is the ozone layer?

a layer of ozone molecules in the upper atmosphere that blocks out UV rays from the sun

what is the primary cause of the ozone layer thinning?

chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs)

what type of cancer would increase over time without the protection of the ozone layer?

skin cancer

what are 3 things you can do to reduce chemical pollution in our environment?

• Follow guidelines of approved disposal methods

• Choose non-toxic, non-petrochemical cleansers (disinfectants, polishes, other household chemicals)

• Reduce the number of chemicals used in your house

what are 3 chemical processes water in the US goes through?

• screening

• filtration

• disinfection (with chlorine)

what has been a successful water treatment in the US?

fluoridation

what is one heavy metal that contaminates water filtered from things like fecal matter?

mercury

what is mercury?

a naturally occurring metal; a toxin that affects the brain and nervous system

harmful effects of mercury?

• may damage the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract

• increase blood pressure heart rate

• heart attack risk

• slows fetal and child development

• damages brain function

what long term health consequences can result from mercury entering our systems?

cancer and damage to the central nervous system

polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)

an industrial chemical used as an insulator in electrical transformers and linked to certain human cancers

what three ways are humans exposed to PCBs?

• meat

• dairy

• fish

solid waste

any discarded material that is abandoned by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, recycled, or considered "waste-like”

what happens when solid waste goes to the landfill?

• it gets into the water supply , 

• it affects the animal and the aquatic life ,

• solid waste from medicine cannot be taken out of water

4 ways you can reduce your solid waste and conserve landfill space?

• reducing your consumption,

• recycling more,

• reusing,

• throwing less away

what does biodegradable mean?

when certain products can break down naturally, safely, and quickly in nature

examples of products that take 6 months and under to biodegrade?

• banana peel

• paper

• rope

• orange peel

examples of products that take over 6 months to bidegrade?

• disposable diapers

• cigarette butt

• plastic bottles

• aluminum cans

what is something that is not biodegradable?

styrofoam

define asbestosis

a lung condition caused by inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibers, which inflame the lung and can lead to lung cancer (the disease derived from asbestos exposure)

what is asbestos?

a mineral-based compound used for fire protection in insulation in buildings until the late 1960s

what can lead do to the brain?

• permanently damage the central nervous system

• cause mental impairment

• hinder oxygen transport

• create kidney and digestive problems

what can lead do to children?

lead has been linked to ADHD in children; the CDC says half a million U.S. children (ages 1-5) have high lead levels above the cutoff

what pollutants leak out when you throw away chemicals?

radiation, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals (can leak from electronics)

what type of income people are often exposed to more environmental toxins?

low-income

what is noise pollution?

harmful or annoying levels of noise; noise above 65 decibels is considered noise pollution

exposure to how many decibels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss?

80-85 decibels

exposure to how many decibels of noise for 1 minute can ALSO cause permanent hearing loss?

over 100 decibels

problems that can arise from noise pollution?

• chronic stress

• affecting productivity and memory

• increasing stress hormone levels

• causing cardiovascular problems

• ill immune function