Environmental Hazards

1. Introduction to Hazards and Health

  • In 2014, Ebola outbreak in West Africa

    • Serious virus: often fatal, transmitted by animals and human bodily fluids

    • Challenges in containment due to high mutation rates

    • No vaccine or existing cures, leading to significant mortality (22,000 infected; 8,800 died)

2. The Old Enemies and Their Impact on Health

  • Environmental health connects hazards with human disease

    • A subset of public health promoting overall wellness

    • Health is defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease

3. Understanding Environmental Health

  • Epidemiology studies the distribution and prevention of diseases

    • Morbidity: incidence of disease (e.g., Ebola, influenza)

    • Mortality: records causes of death and examines disease roles

    • Life expectancy is an important health indicator (rising from 48 years in 1955 to 70 years in 2014)

4. Progress and Ongoing Challenges

  • Increased life expectancy due to improvements in sanitation and health care

    • Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals aim to reduce poverty and improve health

    • Epidemiologic transition: shift from high mortality (infectious diseases) to low mortality (chronic diseases)

  • Despite advancements:

    • 9 million global deaths annually are children under age 5 in low-income nations

    • 36% mortality in poorer nations due to infectious diseases

5. Environmental Health Factors

  • Hazards can result in:

    • Injury, disease, death, and property damage

  • Definitions:

    • Environment comprises the physical, chemical, and biological contexts

    • Risks: probability of harm from exposure to hazards

    • Vulnerability: heightened sensitivity to risks, especially among poorer populations

6. Types of Environmental Hazards

  • Chemical Hazards:

    • Present in industrial processes, cleaners, pesticides, etc.

    • Toxicity depends on exposure levels and dose

    • Toxicology studies impact on human health

  • Biological Hazards:

    • Historical context: battles against bacteria, viruses, and diseases

    • Current threats include HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, and malaria

  • Physical Hazards:

    • Examples: heat waves, natural disasters (storms, earthquakes)

    • Cause significant mortality and economic losses

  • Cultural Hazards:

    • Individual behaviors exposing people to risks (e.g., obesity, drug use)

    • Culprit of a significant number of U.S. deaths

7. Risk Assessment and Management

  • Need for risk assessment to understand and mitigate health risks

    • Process includes hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization

  • EPA's role includes:

    • Evaluating risks from chemicals and advising on public health strategies

  • Risk communication is crucial for informing the public and policymakers

    • Effective communication involves understanding audience knowledge and fostering dialogue

8. Conclusion

  • Hazards affect public health and require ongoing assessment and management

    • Balancing risk with societal behaviors and environmental factors is essential for improving health outcomes.