ENVR 3400 - envr health to public health

DPSEEA Model

Driving forces, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effects, Actions

Driving forces (DPSEEA)

upstream social, economic, demographic, and technological facts that MOTIVATE HUMAN ACTIVITIES (e.g. population growth, urbanization, agriculture)

Pressures (DPSEEA)

human activities or discharges resulting FROM driving forces that ALTER THE ENVIRONMENT (e.g. industrial emissions, water generation + extraction)

State (DPSEEA)

the physical, chemical, or biological CONDITION of the environment as a RESULT of pressures (e.g. air pollution levels, contaminated water supplies)

Exposure (DPSEEA)

the POINT OF CONTACT AND INTERACTION between humans and the altered environmental state (e.g. breathing polluted air, drinking contaminated water)

Effects (DPSEEA)

the resulting HEALTH OUTCOMES OR DISEASES caused by the exposure (e.g. respiratory illnesses, diarrheal disease, cancers)

Action (DPSEEA)

INTERVENTIONS, POLICIES, OR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES applied at any stage of the chain to prevent, mitigate, or control environmental health risks (e.g. building sanitation infrastructure, setting emission standards, or medical treatment)

environmental risk assessment

scientific process that identifies, evaluates, and characterizes the likelihood and severity of harmful effects on human health or ecological systems from environmental stressors

4 main drivers in risk assessment

regulatory, socioeconomic, political, technical

regulatory (risk assessment)

government limits

socioeconomic (risk assessment)

weigh new tech with env impacts

political (risk assessment)

public outcry

technical (risk assessment)

internally study impact of tech/substance

how to keep pollutants/issues in check at a SMALLER SCALE

personal choices and political beliefs

religious teachings/beliefs

observing what friends/peers/neighbours/family do

how to keep pollutants/issues in check at a LARGER SCALE

education

social media

advertising

government regulations

law

examples of how to protect public health

traffic lights

seat belts

drinking and driving laws

air quality guidelines

workplace health and safety laws

max biological / chemical residue levels in food

mandatory vaccinations in schools / workplaces

mandatory mask wearing

in what ways did modern env health developments recognize chemical hazards?

• Rachel Carson’s “SIlent Spring”

• cancers in the workplace

• lead in gasoline

• research but also catastrophes taught lessons

environmental psychology

• surrounding the concept of biophilia

• studies both biotic and abiotic factors

biophilia

innately emotional affiliation of humans with other living things

ecohealth

uses systems analysis and modern ecological science to study how ecology and human human health are interconnected (carrying capacity, medical botany, biodiversity, etc.)

why did healthcare expand to accommodate environmental exposures

• air pollutants, hazardous wastes, asbestos, radon, etc.

how did healthcare expand to accommodate environmental exposures

workplace preventative measures

clinical ecology: offering solutions / detox of occupational exposures

collectivism

an approach emphasizing shared solutions, group norms and action, social justice, social support and identity

individualism

an approach emphasizing personal independence, autonomy, and liberty