module 3 terms

environment

consists of the surroundings in which humans and other organisms live

natural environment

includes aspects of the biological and physical world that are not created by humans

built environment

includes all structures built by humans for human use, including buildings, roads, bridges, sidewalks, and recreational areas and even public artwork

environmental health

the public health discipline that studies the connections between human health and environmental exposures, such as poor water quality, air pollution, solid and hazardous waste, unsafe food, vermin and infection-transmitting insects, radiation, noise and residential and industrial hazards

miasma

was used to describe the foul-smelling gases of poorly managed waste that were thought to cause disease prior to the discovery of pathogenic microorganisms

safe-drinking water

when there is an adequate supply of affordable clean drinking water in or near the home

hygiene

the practice of maintaining cleanliness in order to prevent disease

sanitation

the safe disposal of human excreta (feces). A household has access to sanitation when there is a toilet in the home or a latrine near the home that can be used without a per-use payment

community-led total sanitation (CLTS) program

is a a set of public health interventions that encourage toilet use in places where residents are accustomed to open defecation and have not yet adopted new sanitation behaviors

open defecation free (ODF)

status when all members are consistently using designated toilet facilities and no one is defecating outside

WASH program

combines improved access to water and sanitation systems with hygiene promotion

particulate matter

describes substances that are small enough to remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and travel deep into the lungs

house hold air pollution also called indoor air pollution

is the presence of harmful chemicals or other substances in the air inside or near buildings at concentrations above the thresholds established for human safety

Biomass

fuel from organic materials like wood, vegetation, or animal waste

ambient air pollution also called outdoor air pollution

the presence of harmful chemicals or other substances in the air outside buildings at concentrations above the thresholds established for human safety

renewable energy

energy derived from a source like wind or solar power that is not depleted when it is used

occupational health also called occupational safety

is an applied public health field focused on primary prevention of injuries and other work-related health problems

industrial hygiene

the process of assessing and mitigating workplace hazards

toxicology

the study of the harmful effects that chemicals and other environmental materials can have on living things

carcinogen

a substance that can cause genetic mutations that lead to cancer

teratogen

a substance that can cause birth defects

ecotoxicology

examines the impact of toxic exposures on populations, communities, and ecosystems

child labor

is violation of child rights that occurs when a child has an excessive workload, unsafe working conditions, or extreme work intensity

urbanicity

is the degree to which a particular location is urban, and it is a function of total population size, density, diversity, and access to city services like retail facilities and public transportation

rurality

the degree to which a particular location is rural

urbanization

a shift toward more people living in cities and fewer people living in rural areas

megacity

a metropolitan area with 10 million or more inhabitants

sustainability

a concept that emphasizes the need to provide for current human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

overpopulation

occurs when a population becomes so large that the amount of food and other environmental resources available are insufficient to support all members of the population

carrying capacity

the maximum human population the earth can sustain

ecological footprint

which measures how much burden human consumption places on the biosphere

ecology

describes the relationships of living things to one another and the environments in which they live

ecosystem

or ecological system, consists of all the living things that share a particular environment, including animals, plants, and microorganisms

biodiversity

is the presence of a wide variety of plant and animal species within a particular ecosystem

ecosystem services

are the benefits that humans receive from various ecosystems

the one health concept

emphasizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and ecosystem health. most often applied when working to prevent and control the infectious disease cyclce between humans, domestic animals and wildlife

planetary health

emphasizes the dependence of human health on the earth and seeks to understand the damage that human actions impose on ecosystem health

climate change

a long-term shift in weather patterns and average temperatures

intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC)

a scientific board that reviews and synthesizes scientific data about climate and weather under the auspices of the United Nations

global warming

a gradual increase in the temperature of the earths atmosphere

greenhouse gas

is a gas in the atmosphere that traps heat and causes surface temperatures to increase

framework convention on climate change

an international environmental treaty that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions