1 Lec - Environmental Health-1 MPH.pptx

Environmental health and Human Interaction With Environment Dr. Mohammad Suhail Khan Associate Professor Department of Public Health Introduction • WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. • This includes the climate cri...

Environmental health and Human Interaction With Environment Dr. Mohammad Suhail Khan Associate Professor Department of Public Health Introduction • WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. • This includes the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. • The climate crisis is also a health crisis. • In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease. • On World Health Day 2022 WHO will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being. • Our political, social and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. • Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels. • A heating world is seeing mosquitos spread diseases farther and faster than ever before. • Extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity are displacing people and affecting their health. • Pollution and plastics are found at the bottom of our deepest oceans, the highest mountains, and have made their way into our food chain. • Systems that produce highly processed, unhealthy foods and beverages are driving a wave of obesity, increasing cancer and heart disease while generating a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. • The present design of the economy leads to inequitable distribution of income, wealth and power. • With too many people still living in poverty and instability. • A well-being economy has human well-being, equity and ecological sustainability as its goals. • These goals are translated into long-term investments, well-being budgets, social protection and legal and fiscal strategies. • Breaking these cycles of destruction for the planet and human health requires legislative action, corporate reform and individuals to be supported and incentivized to make healthy choices.  All that which is external to the individual host. [It] can be divided into physical, biological, social, and cultural factors, any or all of which can influence health status in populations. - Last, J. M. (Ed.). (1995). A Dictionary of Epidemiology (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. Enviro nment Age nt Ho st Environment (Physical, biological and psychosocial) Human activities Health of individual “The study of those factors in the environment that affect human health.” ◦Factors (“pollutants" or “toxicants”) in air, water, soil, or food. ◦Transferred to humans by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. ◦Production of adverse health effects.   Physical: ◦Air, water, soil, housing, climate, geography, heat, light, noise, debris, etc. ◦Air pollutants, toxic wastes, pesticides etc. Biological: ◦Virus, bacteria and other microbes, insects, rodents, animals and plants ◦Disease producing agents, reservoir of infection, intermediate host and reservoirs of infection,  Social/psychosocial/socioeconomic: ◦Culture, values, customs, habits, morals, religions, education, lifestyle, community life, health services, social and political organizations.      Clean air Safe and sufficient water Safe and adequate food Safe and peaceful settlements Stable global environment            Water supplies Waste water treatment Waste management Vector control Prevention and control of land pollution Food hygiene and safety Air quality management Environmental radiation hazards Occupational health and safety Environmental noise management Accommodation establishments        Environmental impact assessments Port health Accident prevention Environmental health aspects of public recreation and tourism Environmental health measures associated with epidemics, emergencies, disasters and migrations of populations Establishment of an effective environmental health surveillance and information system Research on environmental health issues Sociological Hazards • They are those that result from living in a society where one experiences• Noise • Lack of privacy • Overcrowding • Discrimination Site and Location Hazards • Natural disasters are geographical and meteorological events of such magnitude and proximity to communities that they produce significant damage and injuries. •Examples are cyclones, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions. •-The magnitude of devastation of these events can sometimes be great. •-Biological, psychological and sociological hazards may increase following a natural disaster. Vectors An arthropod or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent to a susceptible individual. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Malaria Filaria Japanese Encephalitis Dengue / Dengue Hemorrhagic fevers Chikungunya Kala-azar Factors increase the risk of vector borne diseases outbreaks 1) Increasing urban population 2) Shortage of water supply 2) Traditional water storage 3) Poor garbage collection 4) Changing lifestyle 6) Rapid transportation 7) Lack of surveillance of clinical cases 7) Lack of laboratory facilities for diagnosis 8) Lack of professional manpower such as epidemiologist, entomologists Steps to Prevent Environmental Hazards • Take action and inspire others: • Walk or pedal to work at least one day a week. • Choose public transport. • Change to a renewable energy provider; don’t heat your rooms over 21.5C, turn off the light when not in the room. • Buy your fresh groceries from local producers and avoid highly processed foods and beverages. • Tobacco is a killer and a polluter. Stop consuming tobacco. • Buy less plastic, use recyclable grocery bags. • “The climate crisis is a health crisis," said Maria Neira, • Director of the department of Public Health & Environment, World Health Organization. • "Let’s reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all. • Where economies are focused on health and well-being. • Where cities are livable, and people have respect for their health and the health of the planet.” References• Health and the environment (who.int) Maxwell NI. Understanding Environmental Health: How We Live in the World. 2014. Textbook of preventive and social medicine. KA Park,26th edition. Bhanot Publisher, Jabalpur, India 2022. Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health & Preventive Medicine. Edited by Wallace R. McGraw Hill Professional Publishers. 15th Edition. ISBN-10: 0071441980 Environmental-health-70767665.pdf