What is ecological paradox?
Countries with a higher environmental awareness often pollute more due to their consumption.
What is the great accelerator theory?
The rapid industrial, economic, and technological growth since the 1950s have since degraded our environment.
What is the connection between sustainable development, environmental quality, and health?
Sustainable development balances economic growth, environmental protection, and human well-being. Environmental quality directly affects public health through air, water, and food safety.
What are NCDs?
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses that are influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors.
What is Earth Overshot Day?
The day when we use up more resources than Earth can regenerate in a year.
Examples for environmental state and health (food, vector-borne disease, mental disorders, migrations, etc.)
Food: Pesticides and heavy metals in food can cause health issues.
Vector-borne diseases: Climate change influences the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.
Mental disorders: Air and noise pollution contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Migrations: Environmental degradation and climate change can force populations to relocate, impacting health and resources.
Comparison of health and environmental health:
General health focuses on human well-being, while environmental health studies how environmental factors (air, water, soil, chemicals) affect human health.
Examples of environmental factors' interaction and impact on health
Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, contaminated water leads to gastrointestinal issues, and exposure to toxic chemicals affects organ functions and development.
Challenges related to environmental factors and health
Pollution, climate change, unsafe water, and harmful chemicals.
Biomarkers
Clues in our bodies (like blood tests) that show exposure to pollution or disease risk.
Exposure working / everyday life
Workers in industries face chemical, radiation, or noise exposure, while everyday exposure includes air pollution, household chemicals, and processed foods.
Major issues in Setbia related to environment and health
Air pollution (especially from coal plants), poor waste management, water pollution, and industrial contamination.
WHO - environment factors and health
WHO emphasizes air and water quality, climate change, and chemical safety as key determinants of global health.
Water as a compound and its importance for the living system
Water is essential for life, acting as a solvent, temperature regulator, and transport medium in biological systems.
Human body and water
Composes ~60% of the body, crucial for cellular processes, circulation, and waste elimination.
Homeostasis and the physiological role of water
Maintains body temperature, electrolyte balance, and hydration for proper organ function.
Water as natural recourse
A finite and essential resource for drinking, agriculture, and industry, threatened by overuse and pollution.
Contamination of water
Includes microbial, chemical (pesticides, heavy metals), and physical (plastic waste) pollutants affecting health.
Arsenic in water and health
Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water causes cancer, skin lesions, and cardiovascular diseases.
Inorganic and organic chemicals in water
Inorganic chemicals include heavy metals (lead, mercury), while organic contaminants include pesticides and pharmaceuticals, both harmful to health.
Parameters of water quality
Tests check temperature, pH, bacteria, and toxins to see if the water is safe.
Diseases related to water and water quality
Dirty water spreads cholera, diarrhea, and poisoning from heavy metals.
Air composition
Mostly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with tiny amounts of other gases like CO2.
Air pollutant sources and their effect on health
Industry, transport, and agriculture release pollutants causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
PM and health
PM2.5 and PM10 can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Indoor/Outdoor air pollution
Outdoor sources include traffic and industrial emissions, while indoor sources include household chemicals, mold, and poor ventilation.
Chronical vs acute exposure
Acute exposure causes immediate effects (e.g., poisoning), while chronic exposure leads to long-term diseases (e.g., cancer, lung disease).
Summer and winter type of smog
Summer smog: Trapped by heat, caused by cars and factories.
Winter smog: Comes from burning coal and wood in cold weather.
Health problems related to health WHO estimation
Millions die yearly from diseases linked to air pollution.
Sick building syndrome and air quality
Indoor air pollutants (e.g., mold, VOCs, poor ventilation) cause symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritation.
Mechanism of air pollutants activity
Pollutants can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage, leading to chronic diseases.
Human exposure to chemicals in every day life
Includes food additives, cosmetics, cleaning products, and environmental pollutants.
What are POPs?
They are Persistent Organic Pollutants, dangerous chemicals that stay in the environment and enter our food.
What are emerging contaminants?
New pollutants like drugs, microplastics, and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
What is the Stockholm convention?
A global agreement to eliminate or restrict POPs to protect human health and the environment.
What are endocrine disruptor chemicals and xenoestrogens?
Chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing reproductive and metabolic disorders.
How can chemicals damage organisms (mechanism of activity)?
They poison, inflame, or disrupt hormones, leading to disease, through toxicity mechanisms like oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and bioaccumulation
Plastic and health important aspect
Microplastics and plastic additives can cause hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, and cancer risks.
What is noise?
Unwanted sounds that can cause hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbances.
How does noise affect human health?
Chronic exposure increases stress hormones, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairment.