Environmental Week #7 Slides PDF

Environmental health encompasses all aspects of human health ▪ Physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and quality of life ▪ Is concerned with the impact of environmental hazards on health ▪ Physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychological factors ▪ It also encompasses the assessm...

Environmental health encompasses all aspects of human health ▪ Physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and quality of life ▪ Is concerned with the impact of environmental hazards on health ▪ Physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychological factors ▪ It also encompasses the assessment of these environmental factors as they pertain to human health Environmental exposures are just about everything… ▪ The food you eat ▪ The water you drink ▪ The air you breath ▪ The home you live in ▪ The workplace you work in ▪ The community you live in ▪ The people you associate with ▪ The naturally and unnaturally occurring radiation around you ▪ The animals around you ▪ The pathogens you are exposed to ▪ Even the sun you are exposed to ▪ … many more The list of environmental diseases is extremely long ▪ Any disease that may have an environmental component ▪ Only some of the examples… ▪ Cardiovascular disease ▪ Diabetes ▪ Respiratory diseases ▪ Substance use ▪ Cancers ▪ Asthma ▪ Accidents and unintentional injuries ▪ Motor vehicle accidents ▪ Diarrhoeal disease ▪ Malaria ▪ Poisonings ▪ … many more The environment contributes to 23% of global deaths (around 12.6 million) each year ▪ Greatest contribution in the South-East Asia Region ▪ Least contribution in the Americas ▪ Around 65% of global deaths attributable to the environment are non-communicable ▪ Stroke (19.8%) ▪ Ischemic heart disease (18.3%) ▪ Unintentional injuries (13.5%) ▪ Cancers (13.5%) ▪ Chronic respiratory diseases (11.1%) Became a big issue during and after the industrial revolution ▪ Belgium, 1930, 60 people died due to pollution from steel mills and smelters ▪ Donora, Pennsylvania, 1948, 17 people died in one day due to pollution from the zinc refinery and coal-fired industrial operations ▪ London, 1952, 4000 people died and the city shut down due to a thick blanket of toxic, smoke-like, fog ▪ These events spurred the field of air pollution epidemiology and pollution control ▪ Countries undergoing their own industrial revolutions are still facing major pollution issues China currently facing major pollution issues ▪ China #1 source of SO2 emissions in the world ▪ Between 350,000 and 500,000 deaths attributable to air pollution in China each year ▪ Premature mortality due to air pollution costs China an estimated $30.6 billion CAD each year ▪ Acid rain costs around $5.8 billion CAD in crop damage and around $2.3 billion in material damage Strong links between air quality and mortality due to ▪ Lung cancer ▪ Cardiopulmonary disease ▪ Asthma ▪ Environment Canada reports air quality measures ▪ Air Quality Health Index ▪ Reports for many major cities Canada has generally good air quality ▪ Ranked highly by the WHO ▪ Second hand smoke ▪ One of the current environmental hazards of interest ▪ Laws now restrict smoking in public spaces United Nations recognized access to clean water as a human right in 2010 ▪ “The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.” ▪ In Canada, water is supposed to be treated before consumption to limit contaminants to biologically safe levels ▪ Water can become contaminated in many ways ▪ Ground and surface water can be contaminated by industrial processes, landfills, and pesticides ▪ Natural chemicals found in soil, such as manganese and arsenic, can leach into the water ▪ Water can become contaminated after purification through the transport line – such as lead in water mains, service lines, or fixtures There are many diseases associated with unsafe drinking water ▪ Water-borne illnesses – cholera, guinea worm disease, typhoid, hepatitis A, amoebiasis, etc. ▪ Chemical contaminants – arsenicosis, fluorosis, lead poisoning, etc. ▪ In Canada, we have had issues with ▪ Lead concentrations in drinking water ▪ E-coli contamination ▪ Fluoride additives in water for the prevention of dental decay ▪ Removed from the Prince George water system in 2014 Canada tightly regulates the additives permitted in foods, though there is always controversy ▪ Process regulated from growing, to manufacturing, to packaging, and to storage ▪ Certain chemicals are banned as food additives in Canada – nitrogen trichloride, a bleaching agent in flour; cobaltous chloride, a foam-stabilizer in beer; benzyl violet, a food colouring; potassium bromate, a flour treatment; etc. ▪ Given Canada’s tight regulations, there is little concern over food additives causing cancer ▪ Though studies are still being conducted to determine if any food additives should be removed from the population ▪ Any new additives must be approved by Health Canada before being permitted into the Canadian market ▪ Any food additives must be effective for their intended use and must not pose a hazard to the health of Canadians Many environmental contaminants are implicated in diseases, with more being discovered regularly ▪ Most are linked with chronic disease and disabilities – lung cancer, ADHD, heart disease, and dementia ▪ Lead ▪ Was used as an additive in paint and gasoline in Canada and the United States ▪ Lead exposure extremely harmful – especially to children ▪ Affects nervous system - can cause coma, convulsions, and death ▪ Lasting effects – learning disabilities and behavioural disorders ▪ Can also cause ischemic heart disease and stroke ▪ Still an issue in industrializing countries ▪ Can still be found in some pigments, paints, solder, stained glass, crystal, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewelry, toys, and cosmetics ▪ Asbestos ▪ An amazing mineral ▪ Extremely flexible, tough, does not conduct electricity, and resists heat and corrosion ▪ Was extensively used in building products and industrial applications ▪ Canada was a major producer and exporter of asbestos – exports banned in 2018 ▪ The issue? ▪ Asbestos exposure is directly linked to lung cancer – mesothelioma ▪ Large latency between exposure and death Climate change is leading to increased temperatures across North America ▪ Increase in the number of heatwaves – causing excessive deaths ▪ The problem is getting worse ▪ Heatwaves are expected to increase in severity and frequency ▪ Heat-related mortality expected to increase as a result – double by 2050 and triple by 2080 ▪ Urbanization and aging population will further increase deaths ▪ Not limited to heat waves ▪ Increasing uncertainty regarding climate stability ▪ Especially an issue in the northern regions ▪ Traditional lifestyles of Indigenous people impacted People of low socioeconomic status disproportionately affected by environmental hazards ▪ Canadian Indigenous communities, particularly reserve communities, most at risk ▪ Reports of unsafe drinking water ▪ Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation on the Manitoba-Ontario boarder ▪ 22-year boil advisory! ▪ Construction of a water treatment facility started in late 2019 ▪ Sanitation not always at high standards ▪ Often do not have access to high quality foods ▪ Housing conditions are often substandard – leads to further environmental hazards ▪ Greatest proportions of Indigenous people living in remote and northern regions – creates even greater issues related to environmental hazards The traditional territory of the Inuit people (the Inuit Nunangat) is particularly under treat of climate change ▪ Threatens traditional ways of knowing and being ▪ Threatens health and safety What can be done? ▪ Reduce greenhouse gas emissions ▪ Low carbon energy generation ▪ Reduce reliance on fossil fuels ▪ Enact further smoking bans ▪ Increase the use of clean fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting ▪ Reduce occupational exposures and improve living conditions ▪ Increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation ▪ Use sun protection – sunscreens and reduce heat exposure ▪ Consider health in all policies ▪ Work toward Truth and Reconciliation