comm test 2: environment

two pollutants in the air what affect asthma

ozone and particle pollution.

four major categories of toxic substances:

pesticides, industrial chemicals, metals, and substances with radiation-emitting isotopes

Chemical hazards

poisons, air and water pollution

Pollution of the environment occurs when

pollutants overwhelm the capacity of the environment to assimilate them without being thrown out of balance.

nurses should Approach environmental health at the __________ level

population

it can be said that pollution is a result of??

population growth

pollution is a *rate* function involving a quantity of pollutant introduced over a period of time. This rate is *directly* correlated with???

population size.

Must eradicate ________ for improvement in children's health and nutrition.

poverty

Which statement best describes the relationship between the environment and health? (A) Research shows that a healthy environment has potential to increase quality of life and years of healthy living. (B) Because the environment has such longterm effects on health, research findings are not yet available. (C) Research shows that a healthy environment has limited impact on one's health. (D) Because of the large number of variables involved, the relationships between environment and health cannot be researched.

(A) Research shows that a healthy environment has potential to increase quality of life and years of healthy living.

______ of all cancers are caused by ______ factors

- 2/3 - environmental

health hazards of ionizing radiation

- Birth defects, increased rates of cancer, stroke, diabetes, CV and renal disease, immune system damage - non- ionizing radiation leaks from microwaves that are not sealed properly can cause fatigue and headache

Nursing Interventions: tertiary prevention

- Eliminate Lead from a residence to prevent re-exposure to child who tested positive to lead - Eliminate asbestos from a residence to prevent continued exposure - Participate in activities to reduce environmental hazards Participate in political activity that reduces environmental hazards

Mercury

- Heavy Metal - powerful neurotoxin - found in paint and some traditional medicinal remedies - Symptoms of mercury poisoning: listlessness and irritability - Concentrates in the kidneys, liver, and brain currently some hospitals are trying to eliminate the use of products containing mercury

Arsenic

- Heavy metal - found in pesticides, herbicides, and some OTC poisons - Causes N/V/D and abdominal pain

nursing interventions: secondary prevention

- Monitor for signs of hazardous environmental issues, blood lead screening, testing water for nitrates - Assess for signs for illness related to environmental exposures *Asthma(smog & second-hand smoke) *Hearing loss (noise exposure) *Lung cancer (particulate and smog pollution) - Treat and monitor disorders caused by environmental conditions

Noise

- Physical Hazard - affects hearing, and prolonged exposure contributes to anxiety and emotional stress - May cause insomnia, skin problems, swollen ankles, and heart disorders - Common sources of noise pollution: industries, vehicles, subways, loud music

environmental issues affecting health

- Physical hazards (Radiation, Lead, Heavy Metals, Noise) - Biological hazards (Infectious agents, insects, animals, and plants) - Chemical hazards (Air and Water Pollution)

nursing interventions: primary preventions

- Reduce environmental hazards, with use of enforcement of legal codes/ standards - Public education projects on pesticide use - Public education on reduce standing water to prevent mosquitos - Promote immunizations to minimize diseases caused by biologic agents - Education of environmental hazards, ear plugs, masks, PPE

Industrial chemicals ex

- asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, and PCBs - Industrial chemicals are particularly numerous, and a few have proven especially dangerous

point source pollution

- comes from a specific source, like a pipe - factories, industry, municipal treatment plants - can be monitored and controlled by a permit system

Lead

- considered by EPA as the *greatest chemical risk to health* - heavy metal - neurotoxin - can lead to learning disabilities in children

three common sense observations that are frequently overlooked

- everything is connected to everything else, but somethings are connected more tightly than others - everything has to go somewhere - everything is constantly changing

U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

- fund state departments of health to work with local public health units to conduct lead screenings - develop and enforce regulations on environmental law. - give grants - study environmental issues - sponsor partnerships - teach people about the environment - publish info

Biological Hazards

- infectious agents, insects, animals, and plants - Common indoor biologic pollutants: animal dander, dust mites, cockroach parts, fungi/mold, bacteria, viruses, pollen

Poisoning

- occurs through cumulative exposure to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides - Exposure can occur at work on farms and in industry, in home through accidental ingestion, and from eating animals that have been exposed

Ionizing radiation

- physical hazard - found naturally in soil and rock and building materials such as granite. X rays, nuclear power emissions and nuclear weapons are also forms of ionizing radiation

nonpoint source pollution

- pollution associated with stormwater or runoff - pollution cannot be traced to a direct discharge point such as a wastewater treatment facility - cannot pinpoint any one particular source

Biomagnification

- results when the accumulation of a pollutant greatly exceeds the rate at which an organism eliminates it. - The pollutant is concentrated in organisms at a low trophic level, where it is further concentrated and passed on to the third level, and so on..

Synergism pollution mechanisms

- simultaneous action of separate substances or agencies that together produce a greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects - Actions differ from lab and natural ecosystems

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

- works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. - Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same. - increases the health security of our nation As the nation's health protection agency, - protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission - conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

without an ozone layer in the atmosphere which health risks are expected to occur?

-skin cancer incidences would increase and more fatalities would occur in the US from every year because of UV radiation -UV light exposure contributes to cataracts and depression of the immune system

air pollution kills approximately __________ people each year

3 million

Each household in the United States produces approximately ________ of solid waste weekly.

87 gallons 30-40% of this waste comes from packing materials

When using an environmental perspective, which of the following would be the most important question for a nurse to ask when assessing potential health problems? A) "Can you tell me how you have been feeling?" B) "Can you tell me what you do at work?" C) "What brings you here today? D) "What problems have you been having?"

B) "Can you tell me what you do at work?"

Tertiary prevention for workers in the paper mills that have high rates of men with testicular cancer might include: a) Teaching testicular self-examination to all employees of the paper mills including provision of written instructions B) Examining all toxic substances emitted by wood processing for carcinogenic properties and lobbying to stop the use of the toxic substances C) Instituting support groups for men with testicular cancer and their families D) Encouraging a statewide boycott of all products supplied by the paper mills

C) Instituting support groups for men with testicular cancer and their families

Lead exposure in children is considered one of the greatest environmental health risks to young children. In which of the follow situations can children be exposed to lead? a) Exposure to car emissions B) Exposure to a can of paint recently bought at Home Depot C) Exposure to paint in home of brand new construction D) Exposure to poor air quality due to coal burning

D) Exposure to poor air quality due to coal burning

Four pesticides that have been banned from further use in the United States:

DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane.

emerging issues in environmental health

Environmental public health infrastructure Natural disasters Global climate change Ozone depletion Fossil fuel burning Marine dumping Active land mine abandonment in war-torn areas Destruction of tropical rain forests

law of gravity

Everything that goes up, including pollutants, must come down, and everything dumped on the surface of the earth must ultimately flow downhill. Water and even land masses, such as mountains, move slowly to the sea.

Community health nurses are concerned with the impact of the environment on health because the environment:

Is a highly complex interaction between the host and all external factors

individual component of social ecological model

ones own knowledge, attitude and behaviors

What is synergism?

The simulation action of separate substances or agencies that together produce a greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects

organizational components of social ecological model

organizations and social institutions

(T/F) The overall health of our world effects our current health and the overall health of the population. Is this a true or false statement?

True

Ecological Model

a model that represents or describes the relationships between the components of an ecological system

biomagnification pollution mechanism

accumulation greatly exceeds elimination

accumulation of wastes and their environmental effects result in planetary toxification. Contributing factors include

air pollution water pollution acid rain accumulation of solid hazardous wastes.

Indoor air pollution is most severe in buildings that are?

airtight and designed for energy conservation

Particulate matter (PM)

also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects

metals that have been proven to be toxic to the environment

arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury

air pollution contributing factors:

automobiles, large industries, small businesses (dry cleaners, household products, geography, urbanization)

The concentration of contaminants present as an organism moves up the food chain is referred to as:

bioaccumulation

health effects of water pollution

bladder and colorectal cancers, CNS effects, skin irritation, *alopecia,* peripheral neuropathies, seizures, hepatitis and cirrhosis, infertility, congenital anomalies, *developmental disabilities*, anemia, renal failure, heart disease, gastritis

Florence Nightingale (1969) emphasized the importance of??

clean and safe environments for proper recovery to health. Her emphasis was on pure air, pure water, efficient drainage, cleanliness, and light.

increase in temp has

contributed to an increase in certain vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever; heat related mortalities, premature labors

interpersonal component of social ecological model

family, friends, social networks

Cadmium

found in water supplies owing to contamination from rechargeable batteries Causes N/V/D and prostration (extreme weakness) Exposure to small quantities causes kidney damage and bone demineralization

Environment influences the??

growth, health, and longevity of populations

particle pollution found in

haze, smoke, and dust (increases when the weather is calm and pollutants are able to build up in the air. levels are highest near busy roads, during rush-hour traffic, near factories, and when there is smoke from wood fires in stoves or fireplaces and burning vegetation)

which factor is a health affect of a local environmental health problem

higher leukemia rates in the ship channel

for one to fully understand human ecology one must understand

human activities and the environment

Social Ecological Model

individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, public policy

Biodegradable pollutants can be rapidly decomposed by natural processes unless?

input exceeds decomposition or dispersal capacity.

bioaccumulation pollution mechanism

intro into food webs

Physical hazards include

ionizing radiation, lead, heavy metals, noise

primary barrier to wellness

lack of basic needs

Pesticides

lethal chemicals specifically designed to kill weeds, fungi, insects, mites, rodents, and other pests.

Health problems such as heavy ________ and ________ can result from exposure to toxic wastes from illegal dumping.

metal poisoning and infectious disease

Nonbiogenic chemical transformations are (more/ less) common in the environment

more

policy/enabling environment component of social ecological model

national, state and local laws

most significant toxic substances in both prevalence and severity

neurotoxins (insecticides, lead, mercury, etc..)

examples of nonpoint source pollution

oil & grease from cars fertilizers animal waste grass clippings septic systems sewage Litter household cleaning products

ecologic model

proposes a framework from which to study and understand a phenomenon. The environment surrounds people wherever they go, whatever they do. An ecologic approach to the study of human health relates the biologic, physical, sociocultural, and politicoeconomic components of an individual's environment to any deviation from a state of health. The model can be applied to study the health of any defined subpopulation (e.g., infants, children, adolescents, and the elderly).

environmental health

refers to freedom from illness or injury related to exposure to toxic agents and other environmental conditions that are potentially detrimental to human health ... all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person ... encompasses assessment and control of environmental factors that can affect health. ... targeted to prevent disease and create health-supportive environments.

bioaccumulation

refers to the introduction of substances into ecologic food webs

community component of social ecological model

relationships between organizations

health effects of air pollution

respiratory disorders, eye irritation, fatigue, headaches

World Health Organization (WHO)

responsible of directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations'

Health effects of poisonings

sarcomas, lymphomas, myelomas, and *respiratory and prostate cancers*

ozone is found in

smog (worse on hot summer days and early in the evening)

substances with isotopes that emit various types of radiation such as

strontium, cesium, and iodine.

transformation pollution mechanism

substance transforms

ex of nonbiogenic transformation

the conversion of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids and, eventually, acid rain

bioaccumulation ex

the radionuclides of strontium and cesium, whose chemical behaviors are analogous to those of calcium and potassium, respectively, are introduced into the environment by nuclear reactors and represent a potential health hazard.

anticipated risk =

toxicity of substance and expected exposure to organism

ex of transformation of a pollutant that is relatively harmless but is transformed into a noxious form

transformation of metallic or inorganic mercury, which is relatively immobile, into methylmercury by microorganisms living in aquatic sediments - Methylmercury is readily incorporated into detrital food chains, which may terminate with human consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish, producing the neurologic disorder known as Minamata disease.

sources of lead

vehicle emissions, *burning coal*, decomposition of solid waste

transport pollution mechanism

wind or aquatic systems