Ecosystem Health & Human Health

How does the biological environment impact health?

type & distribution of pathogens and vector plus their habitats

How does the physical and chemical environment affect health

air, water, food and soil chemical composition (radiation)

climate: temperature, humidity, precipitation and seasonal changes

How do human activities affect health

agriculture, industrial and energy production

use and management of water & wastes

urbanization and quality of health services

distribution of income and assets within & between countries

extent of protection of living, working and natural environment

WHO malaria control program in Borneo 1950s connection to ecosystem

the insecticide killed wasps along with the mosquitos → leading to increase in caterpillar populations causing roofs to collapse

the insecticide also killed the geckos since they ate the poisoned mosquitoes → cats to die from eating geckos → increase in rat population & fleas → typhus epidemic

What does the revised approach to environmental health consider

focus on entire ecosystem and long-term view of ecological health

looks at stress relationships and accepts humans as part of the ecosystem

stratospheric ozone depletion

there is good ozone, but if its too close to the ground it can be bad

if ozone hole → more UV radiation exposure

global climate change

change in balance of heat on earth → changes in temperature and weather

impact to health: heat, vector borne diseases, respiratory problems, increase in violent behavior

terrestrial ecosystems

deforestation and desertification → loss of biodiversity

aquatic ecosystems

increases in hypoxia and harmful algal blooms

wildlife sentinels for effects of environmental chemical contaminants

health effects of mercury

toxic to kidney, liver, and brain

symptoms vary based on exposure, dose, age, health, ect.

what are the ecosystem sentinels of effects of environmental chemical contaminants

mercury, PCBs, PBDEs, PFOS → biomagnify and endocrine disruption

What does HAB stand for

harmful algal bloom → deplete O2 and block sunlight that other organisms need leading to hypoxia

what is ecotoxicology

organisms used to detect change/risks in the environment

biomonitoring and indicator species