Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following can lead to contamination of ground and surface water?
Which of the following can lead to contamination of ground and surface water?
What is a consequence of unsafe drinking water?
What is a consequence of unsafe drinking water?
Which chemical was removed from the Prince George water system in 2014 due to health concerns?
Which chemical was removed from the Prince George water system in 2014 due to health concerns?
Which of the following is NOT a disease associated with unsafe drinking water?
Which of the following is NOT a disease associated with unsafe drinking water?
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What type of chemical contaminants are regulated as food additives in Canada?
What type of chemical contaminants are regulated as food additives in Canada?
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What is a key requirement for any new food additive to be allowed in the Canadian market?
What is a key requirement for any new food additive to be allowed in the Canadian market?
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What long-term health effects can lead exposure cause?
What long-term health effects can lead exposure cause?
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Which of the following is NOT true about asbestos?
Which of the following is NOT true about asbestos?
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What is expected to happen to heat-related mortality by 2080?
What is expected to happen to heat-related mortality by 2080?
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Which community is referenced as being at high risk due to unsafe drinking water?
Which community is referenced as being at high risk due to unsafe drinking water?
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What demographic is disproportionately affected by environmental hazards?
What demographic is disproportionately affected by environmental hazards?
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What significant impact does climate change have on North America?
What significant impact does climate change have on North America?
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What chronic diseases are associated with environmental contaminants?
What chronic diseases are associated with environmental contaminants?
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What percentage of global deaths is attributed to environmental factors?
What percentage of global deaths is attributed to environmental factors?
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Which of the following diseases has a known environmental component?
Which of the following diseases has a known environmental component?
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Which region has the greatest contribution to global deaths attributable to the environment?
Which region has the greatest contribution to global deaths attributable to the environment?
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What was a significant event that highlighted the impact of air pollution?
What was a significant event that highlighted the impact of air pollution?
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What human right did the United Nations recognize in 2010?
What human right did the United Nations recognize in 2010?
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How many deaths per year in China are attributable to air pollution?
How many deaths per year in China are attributable to air pollution?
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Which of the following is NOT an environmental exposure?
Which of the following is NOT an environmental exposure?
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Which of the following diseases account for a significant portion of global deaths attributable to the environment?
Which of the following diseases account for a significant portion of global deaths attributable to the environment?
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Which environmental factor is responsible for an estimated cost of $30.6 billion CAD annually in premature mortality in China?
Which environmental factor is responsible for an estimated cost of $30.6 billion CAD annually in premature mortality in China?
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What type of diseases accounts for 65% of global deaths attributable to environmental factors?
What type of diseases accounts for 65% of global deaths attributable to environmental factors?
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Study Notes
Environmental Health
- Environmental health encompasses various aspects of human health, including physical, mental, spiritual, and overall life quality.
- It focuses on the impact of environmental hazards on health, encompassing factors like physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychological elements.
- Environmental exposures encompass a wide range of aspects: food, water, air, home, workplace, community, social interactions, radiation, animals, pathogens, and even sunlight.
- Environmental diseases encompass a diverse group of conditions with an environmental component. Examples include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, substance use, cancers, asthma, accidents, motor vehicle accidents, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, and poisonings.
Environmental Impact on Health
- The environment contributes to a significant portion of global deaths, reaching 23% annually, equivalent to approximately 12.6 million deaths.
- The greatest contribution in terms of environmental impact on deaths originates from the South-East Asia Region, while the Americas demonstrate the least impact.
- A considerable portion (around 65%) of environmentally attributed global deaths are linked to non-communicable diseases. Leading causes include stroke (19.8%), ischemic heart disease (18.3%), unintentional injuries (13.5%), cancers (13.5%), and chronic respiratory diseases (11.1%).
Industrial Revolution and Environmental Issues
- The industrial revolution marked a turning point, highlighting the connection between industrialization and environmental health issues.
- Historical events such as the Belgium pollution incident (1930), the Donora smog (1948), and the Great Smog of London (1952) led to a surge in awareness regarding air pollution and its impact on health.
- Nations undergoing their own industrial revolutions continue to face significant pollution challenges.
China's Pollution Issue
- China faces major air pollution challenges. It currently holds the title of the world's largest source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.
- Air pollution in China is estimated to contribute to 350,000 to 500,000 deaths annually.
- The economic toll of premature mortality due to air pollution in China is estimated at $30.6 billion CAD annually.
- Acid rain in China causes estimated annual damages of $5.8 billion CAD in crop damage and $2.3 billion in material damage.
Air Quality and Health
- A strong connection exists between air quality and mortality rates.
- Air pollution has been linked to increased risk for lung cancer, cardiopulmonary disease, and asthma.
- Environment Canada monitors air quality measures using the Air Quality Health Index, providing reports for major Canadian cities.
- Canada generally exhibits good air quality ranking highly according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Secondhand smoke, a prevalent environmental hazard, has been the subject of regulations restricting smoking in public spaces.
Water Contamination & Health
- The United Nations declared access to clean water a fundamental human right in 2010.
- Canada mandates water treatment before consumption to minimize contaminants and ensure biological safety.
- Water contamination can occur through various pathways, including industrial processes, landfills, pesticides, and leaching of natural chemicals (like manganese and arsenic) from soil into water sources.
- Contamination can also occur after water purification during transport through pipelines, potentially involving lead in water mains, service lines, or fixtures.
- Unsafe drinking water can lead to a range of diseases, including water-borne illnesses (cholera, guinea worm disease, typhoid, hepatitis A, amoebiasis) and illnesses caused by chemical contaminants (arsenicosis, fluorosis, lead poisoning).
Canada's Drinking Water Issues
- Canada has faced challenges with lead concentrations in drinking water, E-coli contamination, and fluoride additives in water for dental decay prevention.
- The Prince George water system removed fluoride in 2014.
Food Additives and Health
- Canada has strict regulations governing food additives, encompassing production, manufacturing, packaging, and storage.
- Certain chemicals are prohibited as food additives in Canada, including nitrogen trichloride (flour bleaching agent), cobaltous chloride (beer foam stabilizer), benzyl violet (food coloring), and potassium bromate (flour treatment).
- Given Canada's stringent regulations, concerns about food additives causing cancer are relatively low. However, ongoing research aims to determine if any additives should be removed from the population.
- Health Canada must approve any new food additives before they are permitted in the Canadian market. Each additive must be effective for its intended purpose and pose no health risks to Canadians.
Environmental Contaminants and Chronic Diseases
- Numerous environmental contaminants have been implicated in diseases, with new discoveries emerging continuously.
- Many contaminants are linked to chronic diseases and disabilities, including lung cancer, ADHD, heart disease, and dementia.
- Lead, previously used as an additive in paints and gasoline, poses significant health risks, particularly for children.
- Lead exposure can affect the nervous system, potentially causing coma, convulsions, and death. It can also lead to lasting effects such as learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.
- Lead exposure can also contribute to ischemic heart disease and stroke.
- While lead use has been significantly reduced in developed countries, it remains a concern in industrializing nations.
- Lead is still found in specific products such as pigments, paints, solder, stained glass, crystal, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewelry, toys, and cosmetics.
Asbestos: A Double-Edged Sword
- Asbestos, a mineral with remarkable flexibility, toughness, electrical resistance, and heat and corrosion resistance, has found extensive applications in building products and industrial processes.
- Canada was a major producer and exporter of asbestos, but exports were banned in 2018 due to health concerns.
- The main concern with asbestos exposure is its direct link to lung cancer, particularly mesothelioma.
- A significant latency period exists between exposure and the development of asbestos-related diseases.
Climate Change & Health
- Climate change is driving increased temperatures across North America, leading to an increase in heatwaves and associated deaths.
- Heatwaves are expected to intensify and occur more frequently, resulting in a projected doubling of heat-related mortality by 2050 and a tripling by 2080.
- Urbanization and an aging population are expected to exacerbate the risks of heat-related deaths.
- The impacts of climate change extend beyond heatwaves, creating uncertainties about climate stability, particularly in northern regions, affecting the traditional lifestyles of Indigenous communities.
Environmental Hazards and Socioeconomic Disparities
- People of low socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.
- Canadian Indigenous communities, particularly those residing on reserves, are at heightened risk.
- Reports of unsafe drinking water are prevalent in these communities, with Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation on the Manitoba-Ontario border facing a 22-year-long boil water advisory.
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Description
This quiz explores the multifaceted relationship between environmental factors and human health. It covers the impact of environmental hazards and diseases linked to various exposures such as air, water, and social interactions. Understand how environmental health plays a crucial role in overall life quality and disease prevalence.
