Environmental Health PDF

Environmental Health Health A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity  Environment All external conditions, circumstances and factors - living and non-living - which surround man and affects hi...

Environmental Health Health A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity  Environment All external conditions, circumstances and factors - living and non-living - which surround man and affects him and the growth and development of his community The Environment is The air we breathe The water we drink The food we eat The places where we live, work, and play  Environment Natural Environment Built Environment All living and non-living Human-made surroundings things that are naturally that provide settings for present on Earth human activities - Atmosphere - Hydrosphere - Geosphere - Biosphere  Environment Physical Biological Socio-cultural Environment Environment Environment Consists of non-living things Consists of living things Consists of occupation, and certain physical forces around man e.g., plants, literacy, income, religion, present around man e.g., animals, rodents, insects, standard of living, knowledge, water, soil, housing, radiation, microbes, etc. attitude, beliefs practices, etc. traditions, habits, etc.  Environmental Health The science and art of identifying, assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing exposures in the environment – including physical, chemical, biological and mechanical - which may potentially harm the human health of present and future generations  Importance of Studying Environmental Health Explain the role of the environment as an important determinant of health Highlight the fact that environmentally- induced ill-health is controllable and preventable Healthier environments could prevent almost one quarter of the global burden of disease.  Goal 2: Zero Hunger Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation Goal 13: Climate Action Goal 14: Life Below Water Goal 15: Life On Land Epidemiological Triad  Environmental Hazards Factors or conditions in the environment that may be harmful to human health upon exposure to them and thus increase the risk of human disease, injury or death Hazards can be natural or man-made/ outdoors or indoors.  Environmental Hazards Physical: noise, temperature, radiation Chemical: toxic chemicals Biological: infectious agents Mechanical: ergonomics, trauma Psychosocial: discrimination, stress The Effect Of An Environmental Hazard On Individual Health Is Influenced By Several Factors Dose (how much?) Duration (how long?) Exposure route (inhalation, ingestion, etc.?) Personal traits (age, genetics, health status, gender, etc.) Acute/cumulative effect  Environmental Risk Assessment It is a formalized process for characterizing and estimating the magnitude of harm resulting from some exposures and intended to provide objective information to inform public policy decisions Objectives of Environmental Risk Assessment  Maintenance of health and safety of the general population and health & safety of specific exposure groups as workers  Formulating of threshold limit values of exposure to various hazardous agents  Risk Assessment Paradigm Risk Research Communication  Sanitation The idea of environmental sanitation gained momentum with the demonstration by John Snow that spread of Cholera was “feco-oral” Sanitation was, initially, centered around toilets and latrines and how to keep flies away from them  Sanitation Environmental sanitation is the control of all factors in man’s physical environment which exercise a deleterious effect on his physical development, health, and survival Components of Environmental Sanitation Town Air Water Housing planning sanitation sanitation Vector & Waste Food Rodent disposal Sanitation Control  Town Planning Putting general plan and design for any city, town or district before being established  Housing Not only the physical structure providing shelter, but also the immediate surroundings and the related community services and facilities  Air is the immediate environment of man comprises of air on which depends all forms of life. Air It is not only necessary for breathing purposes, cooling of the Sanitation body, hearing and smelling but also it acts as a vehicle of transmission of diseases, resulting in even epidemics and pandemics.  Water Sanitation 70% of our body weight is due to water only Access to safe drinking water is a required cornerstone of public health It acts as a vehicle for transmission of many communicable diseases (typhoid, diarrheal diseases) and constitute the breeding place for mosquitoes (malaria, dengue fever)  Waste Disposal Waste is anything discarded by an individual, household, industry or organization Types of wastes: 1. Non-hazardous waste 2. Hazardous waste 3. Special waste  Food Sanitation The objective of food production, processing and distribution is to provide safe and nutritious food to the consumer Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food  Vector & Rodent Control Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from animals to humans. Many diseases can spread to people directly, through handling of rodents; contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva (such as through breathing in air or eating food that is contaminated with rodent waste); or rodent bites  Bioterrorism Biological and toxin weapons are either microorganisms like virus, bacteria or fungi, or toxic substances produced by living organisms → disease and death in humans, animals or plants Biological agents: anthrax, botulinum toxin and plague Spread by spraying them into the air, person-to-person contact, infecting animals that carry the disease to humans and by contaminating food and water Environmental The Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency Law in Egypt (EEAA) → Ministry of Environment The ministry has focused, in close collaboration with the national and international development partners, on: - Defining environmental policies - Setting priorities - Implementing initiatives within a context of sustainable development  Role of Physicians Regarding Environmental Health Recognition of environmental problems Assessment of magnitude of risk Identifying the agencies responsible for implementing preventive actions Undertaking corrective measures as feasible Continuous monitoring Health education to the public and decision-makers