Chapter 3 : Risk, Economic, & Environmental Concerns

W.H.O

"World Health Organization" -- a United Nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services

A Risk Management Plan (D)

- Deciding how much risk is acceptable - Deciding which risks should be given highest priority. -Deciding where the greatest benefit would be realized by spending limited funds - Deciding how the plan will be enforced and monitored

A Risk Management Plan (E)

- Evaluating the scientific information regarding various kinds of risks.

Renewable Resources

-Formed or regenerated by natural processes

nonrenewable resources examples

-Iron ore -Fossil fuels -Mountainous Landscapes (on human timescale)

Example of renewable resources

-Soil -Vegetation -Animals -Air -Water

Three kinds of resources

1. Capital (Technology and Knowledge) 2. Labor (Human Resources) 3. Land (Natural Resources)

Making Decisions The two factors:

1. Risk 2. Cost

Characterizing Risk

1. consequences of a bad outcome 2. cost of dealing with a bad outcome 3. probability of a bad outcome

Risk Assessment

Environmental Risk Assessment -uses facts to estimate probability of harm to people or the environment from particular environmental factors or conditions

nonrenewable resources

Not replaced by natural processes, or the rate of replacement is so slow as to be ineffective

Consequences

The _____ of a bad outcome resulting from accepting a risk may be minor or catastrophic.

Economic Cost

The _____________ of dealing with a bad outcome is one of the consequences of accepting a risk.

Zero Risk

There is never a zero risk

Risk Management Question

What degree of risk is acceptable?

Natural Resources

are usually categorized as either renewable or non renewable

Perception of Risk : The Dilemma

how to address the discrepancy between the scientific and public health perceptions of environmental risks.

Risk Management

is a decision-making process that involves using the results of risk assessment, and selecting actions to minimize or eliminate the risk.

Probability

is a mathematical statement about how likely it is that something will happen.

Environmental Economics

is an allocation process that determines the purposes to which resources are put (environmental problems are primarily economic problems)

Risk

is the probability that a condition or action will lead to an injury, damage, or loss.

Economics

is the study of how people choose to use resources to produce goods and services and how these goods and services are distributed to the public.