Chapter 16
Environmental
Health
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (1 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Most human poisonings occur in the home.
– Most poisonings are unintentional, including
medication errors, bites and stings, food
poisonings, and occupational mishaps.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (2 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Toxic plants
– Ingestion of household cleaning products,
medications, and vitamins
– Lead poisoning
– Carbon monoxide poisoning
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (3 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Suspect poisoning and contact a poison control
center if a person:
• Becomes ill suddenly with symptoms
affecting many systems of the body
• Appears drowsy and indifferent
• Exhibits bizarre behavior
– Call 911 if suspected poisoning victim
experiences severe symptoms.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (4 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Toxic plants
• Ingesting toxic plants is a common cause of
poisoning in children.
• Examples of poisonous plant parts: stems and
leaves of tomato plants, holly berries, morning
glory seeds, narcissus and daffodil bulbs, rhubarb
leaves, and sweet pea seeds.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (5 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Ingestion of household cleaning aids, medications, and
vitamins
• Children under 5 years of age are most in danger from
ingesting toxic household products.
• Warning stickers are generally not effective.
• Childproof packaging can be opened by children.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (6 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Lead poisoning
• Many sources of lead have been removed from the
environment: leaded gasoline, leaded solder in
food and beverage cans, and leaded paint.
• Many cases of lead poisoning occur when older
homes are remodeled.
• Children are extremely susceptible to absorbing
lead through their digestive tract or lungs.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (7 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas.
• Fires are a major source of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (8 of 11)
• Poisoning
– Carbon monoxide poisoning
• To lower CO poisoning risk:
– Maintain and handle properly tools and
appliances that burn such fuels.
– Properly vent stoves and furnaces.
– Use charcoal grills and gas-powered tools only
in well-ventilated areas.
– Install CO detectors.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (9 of 11)
• Inhalation of asbestos fibers
– Asbestos was used in various products primarily for
its fire-resistant properties.
– Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis as well
as lung and stomach cancer.
– All asbestos-containing products have been banned
by the EPA since 1996.
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (10 of 11)
• Electromagnetic radiation
– No major negative health effects of exposure to
extremely low frequency radiation (ELF)
– Medical researchers have adopted a "prudent
avoidance" attitude toward ELF until research
indicates another course of action should be taken
Environmental Health in and Around
the Home (11 of 11)
• Irradiation of food: the debate
– Irradiation (treating with radiation) kills bacteria in
such foods as beef and poultry.
– Irradiation also inhibits the sprouting of vegetables and
delays the ripening of fruits.
– Supporters argue that irradiation makes the food
supply safer, boosts quality, and extends shelf life.
– Opponents argue that irradiation can affect color, odor,
and texture of food, and might be harmful to health.
Environmental Health in the
Workplace (1 of 3)
• Pesticide poisoning
– Exposure to and inhalation of toxic solvents and
other chemicals
– Indoor air pollution
– Most pesticide poisoning occurs in workers who
manufacture or apply pesticides.
Environmental Health in the
Workplace (2 of 3)
• Exposure to and inhalation of other toxic chemicals
– Exposure to most solvents slows nerve transmission in
the brain and spinal cord.
– Heavy metal exposure is linked to nervous system
damage
– Exposure may cause cancer
– OSHA regulates procedures in industries to protect the
health of workers.
Environmental Health in the
Workplace (3 of 3)
• Indoor air pollution
– Sick building syndrome
– Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of many
building materials and furnishings, which then
release it into the air.
– Radon gas may contaminate indoor air
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (1 of 6)
• Water pollution
• Air pollution
• Noise pollution
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (2 of 6)
• Water pollution
– Water sources include aquifers, lakes, rivers, and
reservoirs.
– Can be contaminated with:
• Pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoans)
• Chemical waste from industry
• Fertilizers and pesticides from farm run-off
• Heavy metals such as mercury and lead
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (3 of 6)
• Water pollution
– Monitoring of nation's water supply is done by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
– To ensure its safety, 75% of American drinking water
is chlorinated.
– Tap water can be tested for safety and treated.
– Bottled water is not necessarily healthier to drink
than tap water.
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (4 of 6)
• Air pollution
– Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide,
ozone, and particulates in the air can threaten health.
– Two main contributors to air pollution are
automobiles and coal-fired power plants that burn
fossil fuels.
• Use of small gasoline-powered machines such as
leaf blowers also contributes to air pollution.
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (5 of 6)
• Air pollution
– Acid precipitation can form.
– Smog can harm the lungs.
– Particulates can irritate lungs and contribute to the
development of bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
– The public is informed of air quality through the Air
Quality Index (AQI), which reports on five major
pollutants—CO, NO2, O3, SO2, and particulates.
Environmental Health in the
Outdoors (6 of 6)
• Noise pollution
– Sound intensity is expressed in decibels (dB).
• Each 10 dB increase means a tenfold increase in
intensity of the sound.
• Sounds at 50 dB or less are considered quiet or soft.
• Sounds at 80 dB or more are annoying and can be
harmful over time.
– 40% of the population is exposed to enough noise to
cause permanent hearing loss.
Across the Life Span
• Young children most at risk for unintentional poisoning
by ingestion of toxic substances.
• Carbon monoxide and lead injure fetuses and young
children because their nervous systems are still
developing.
• The elderly and people with chronic lung or heart
disease are extremely susceptible to CO poisoning and
air pollutants.