PEE - ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND HUMAN HEALTH

Environment

The sum of all the living and nonliving things that surround us. It includes the air, water, land, plants, animals, and weather

Environmental Hazards

Refer to any physical, chemical, biological, or social conditions that cause a potential risk to an organization’s workforce, operations, and community

1. Natural Hazards

2. Human-Induced Hazards

3. Biological Hazards

Types of Environmental Hazard Based on Their Origin

Natural Hazards

Natural events that threaten lives, property, and other assets. Often, it can be predicted. They tend to occur repeatedly in the same geographical locations because they are related to weather patterns or physical characteristics of an area.

Examples: floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and windstorms

Human-Induced Hazards

Are induced entirely or predominantly by human activities and choices.

Examples: industrial pollution, ionizing radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires, and chemical spills

Biological Hazards

Also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organism, especially that of humans.

These hazards can be encountered anywhere in the environment, including home, school, or work

• Bacteria

• Viruses

• Fungi

Types of Biological Hazards

• Absorption

• Inhalation

• Ingestion

• Injection

How Biological Hazards enter the body

• BSL-1

• BSL-2

• BSL-3

• BSL-4

Biosafety Levels (BSL)

• Engineering Controls

• Administrative Controls

• Personal Protective Equipment

Approaches to control Biological Hazards

Chemical Hazard

Any substance, regardless of its form that can potentially cause physical and health hazards to people, or can result in harm to the environment

1. Sensitizers

2. Systematic poisons

3. Carcinogens

4. Toxic Chemicals

5. Flammable

6. Explosive

7. Corrosive

8. Oxidizing

9. Reactive

10. Radioactive

Types of Chemical Hazards

Sensitizers

May not show effects on first contact but can cause immune reactions later

Systematic Poisons

Attack organs other than the initial site of contact—kidneys, liver, blood, bone marrow

Carcinogens

Cause cancer due to genetic or chemical exposure (e.g., Coal tar pitch dust, Asbestos)

Toxic Chemicals

Highly toxic substances capable of producing major accidents and hazards

Flammable

Substances ignited by a source of ignition (e.g., alcohol, acids)

Explosive

May explode due to heat or ignition (e.g., ammonium nitrite)

Corrosive

Corrode materials upon contact (e.g., acids)

Oxidizing

Cause oxygen depression in the atmosphere

Reactive

React violently with other substances (e.g., Aluminum borohydride with water)

Radioactive

Emit radiation (e.g., potassium-40, carbon-14)

Hazard Recognition

The toxicity of a substance is its capacity to cause injury once inside the body.

Main modes of entry: inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the skin

• Proper training and supervision

• Correct labeling of chemicals

• Segregated storage of incompatible substances

Precautions

Risk Control

Exposure to chemicals may occur during mixing, heating, machining, or other processes

Physical Hazards

Are environmental factors that can cause harm to a person’s body with or without direct contact with harmful substances.

Common in workplaces, construction sites, schools, and industrial settings

• Noise Hazards

• Vibration Hazards

• Extreme Temperatures (Hot or Cold)

• Radiation Hazards

• Electricity Hazards

• Fire and Explosion Hazards

Type of Physical Hazards

Noise Hazards

Loud machinery, construction sites, industrial operations

Vibration Hazards

Handheld power tools, heavy machinery

Extreme Temperatures (Hot or Cold)

Foundries, outdoor work in summer or winter conditions

Radiation Hazards

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ionizing radiation from X-rays, non-ionizing radiation from microwaves and lasers

Electricity Hazards

Faulty wiring, exposed electrical components, high-voltage equipment

Fire and Explosion Hazards

Flammable materials, gas leaks, faulty electrical equipment

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Implement safety procedures and training.

• Maintain proper housekeeping and hazard signage.

• Ensure proper machine guarding and maintenance.

• Conduct regular inspections and risk assessments

Preventive Measures for Physical Hazards

Human Health

Refers to a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not simply the absence of disease or infirmity. It can be measured through disease incidence, prevalence, age-specific death rates, and life expectancy

Physical Health

Proper functioning of organs and systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, immune)

Mental Health

Emotional and psychological well-being (stress management, self-esteem, coping)

Social Health

Healthy relationships, supportive community, positive social interaction

Physical Hazards

Cause tissue damage through transfer of energy (e.g., noise, heat, radiation)

Chemical Hazards

Cause acute and chronic effects, impacting systems such as respiratory, reproductive, cardiovascular, urinary, nervous, immune, and metabolic. May cause allergies and cancer

Biological Hazards

Include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and molds or fungi

Bioaccumulation

The buildup of a substance in a single organism over time. Happens within an individual

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of a substance at each trophic level of a food chain.

Toxins increase as they move from prey to predator