36 Environmental Health Overview

### Environmental Health Definition

• Environmental health is the study of how the environment impacts human health.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines environmental health as the link between improving human health and protecting the environment.
• The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines environmental health as the study of the relationship between people and their environment, focusing on policies and programs that reduce environmental exposures.

Environmental Health Impact Assessment

• Steps include identifying health hazards, analyzing health effects, measuring exposure levels, calculating health risks, and managing risks.
• Risk is calculated by multiplying hazard level and exposure level.

Sources of Water Pollution

• Common sources include sewage, soil, heavy metals, and microbial pathogens.
• Examples of waterborne diseases include cholera, giardiasis, typhoid, and E. coli infections.

Monitoring Water Supply

• Microbiological analysis checks for indicator organisms such as fecal coliforms and E.coli.
• Chemical analysis checks for chemical or metallic contamination such as lead, mercury, arsenic, iron, pesticides and sewage contamination like ammonia, nitrites, chlorides, and absorbed oxygen.
• Physical parameters monitored include turbidity and opaqueness.

Fluoridation

• Fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to public water supplies with insufficient natural fluoride.
• It is one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing tooth decay.
• Excess fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis.

Air Pollution

• Outdoor air pollution (AAP) can cause 3.7 million deaths globally, with New Delhi, India having high levels.
• Indoor air pollution (IAP) can cause 4.3 million deaths globally, with refugee camps as a significant source.

Sources of Air Pollution

• Outdoor air pollution sources include industrial exhaust, vehicle exhaust, and domestic fires.
• Indoor air pollution sources include mold, asbestos, legionella, and the use of biomass fuel indoors.

Short-term Health Effects of Air Pollution

• Short-term effects can include headaches, nausea, irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, and acute respiratory infections.

Long-term Health Effects of Air Pollution

• Long-term effects include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, cancer, pneumonia, and cataracts.

Solutions to Air Pollution

• Address sources of pollution by using alternative fuels and improved stoves.
• Improve living environments and housing with better ventilation like chimneys and smoke hoods, eaves, and cooking windows.
• Encourage user behavior changes like using dry wood and keeping kids away from smoke.

Climate Change

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in weather patterns and rising global temperatures.
• Human activities are the primary driver of this phenomenon.

Climate Change Effects

• Ecological effects include glacial retreat, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and species extinction.
• Human health effects include heat stress, cardiovascular events, respiratory conditions, vector-borne diseases, gastrointestinal infections, and mental health effects.

Sea Level Rise Implications for Bahrain

• Bahrain has a limited capacity to adapt to sea-level rise.
• All population and development activities near the coastline are at risk.

This quiz covers the vital aspects of environmental health, including its definition, impact assessments, sources of water pollution, and monitoring systems. Explore how environmental factors affect human health and the measures to mitigate risks. Test your knowledge on key concepts in environmental health and its importance in public health.