Untitled Flashcards Set

  1. What is ecological paradox?

  • Countries with a higher environmental awareness often pollute more due to their consumption.


  1. What is the great accelerator theory?

  • The rapid industrial, economic, and technological growth since the 1950s have since degraded our environment.


  1. 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.


  1. What are NCDs?

  • Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses that are influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors.


  1. What is Earth Overshot Day?

  • The day when we use up more resources than Earth can regenerate in a year.


  1. 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.


  1. 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.


  1. 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.


  1. Challenges related to environmental factors and health

  • Pollution, climate change, unsafe water, and harmful chemicals.


  1. Biomarkers

  • Clues in our bodies (like blood tests) that show exposure to pollution or disease risk.


  1. Exposure working / everyday life

  • Workers in industries face chemical, radiation, or noise exposure, while everyday exposure includes air pollution, household chemicals, and processed foods.


  1. Major issues in Setbia related to environment and health

  • Air pollution (especially from coal plants), poor waste management, water pollution, and industrial contamination.


  1. WHO - environment factors and health

  • WHO emphasizes air and water quality, climate change, and chemical safety as key determinants of global health.


  1. 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.


  1. Human body and water 

  • Composes ~60% of the body, crucial for cellular processes, circulation, and waste elimination.


  1. Homeostasis and the physiological role of water 

  • Maintains body temperature, electrolyte balance, and hydration for proper organ function.


  1. Water as natural recourse 

  • A finite and essential resource for drinking, agriculture, and industry, threatened by overuse and pollution.


  1. Contamination of water 

  • Includes microbial, chemical (pesticides, heavy metals), and physical (plastic waste) pollutants affecting health.


  1. Arsenic in water and health 

  • Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water causes cancer, skin lesions, and cardiovascular diseases.


  1. Inorganic and organic chemicals in water 

  • Inorganic chemicals include heavy metals (lead, mercury), while organic contaminants include pesticides and pharmaceuticals, both harmful to health.


  1. Parameters of water quality 

  • Tests check temperature, pH, bacteria, and toxins to see if the water is safe.


  1. Diseases related to water and water quality

  • Dirty water spreads cholera, diarrhea, and poisoning from heavy metals.


  1. Air composition

  • Mostly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with tiny amounts of other gases like CO2.


  1. Air pollutant sources and their effect on health

  • Industry, transport, and agriculture release pollutants causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.


  1. PM and health

  • PM2.5 and PM10 can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.


  1. Indoor/Outdoor air pollution

  • Outdoor sources include traffic and industrial emissions, while indoor sources include household chemicals, mold, and poor ventilation.


  1. 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).


  1. 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.


  1. Health problems related to health WHO estimation

  • Millions die yearly from diseases linked to air pollution.


  1. Sick building syndrome and air quality

  • Indoor air pollutants (e.g., mold, VOCs, poor ventilation) cause symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritation.


  1. Mechanism of air pollutants activity

  • Pollutants can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage, leading to chronic diseases.


  1. Human exposure to chemicals in every day life

  • Includes food additives, cosmetics, cleaning products, and environmental pollutants.

  1. What are POPs?

  • They are Persistent Organic Pollutants, dangerous chemicals that stay in the environment and enter our food.


  1. What are emerging contaminants?

  • New pollutants like drugs, microplastics, and hormone-disrupting chemicals.


  1. What is the Stockholm convention?

  • A global agreement to eliminate or restrict POPs to protect human health and the environment.


  1. What are endocrine disruptor chemicals and xenoestrogens?

  • Chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing reproductive and metabolic disorders.


  1. 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


  1. Plastic and health important aspect

  • Microplastics and plastic additives can cause hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, and cancer risks.


  1. What is noise?

  • Unwanted sounds that can cause hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbances.


  1. How does noise affect human health?

  • Chronic exposure increases stress hormones, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairment.

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