ENVIRONMENT
EVERYTHING AROUND A
PERSON
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH
The study of humans and their interactions
with the environment. It examines
chemical, physical and biological agents
that move through the environment
affecting human health and investigates
ways to control or minimize them.
Recognizing that human health is
dependant on a high quality environment.
The professional in environmental health
works to protect the overall quality of air,
water, soil and food.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES
5
POPULATION GROWTH
There are about 6 billion people
living on earth.
PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER
FEWER INFANTS ARE DYING.
AS THE POPULATION GROWS
THE DEMAND FOR EARTH’S
RESOURCES INCREASES
LAND SUITABLE FOR
GROWING CROPS MAY BE
INHABITED BY PEOPLE.
NATURAL RESOURCES
MAY BE LOW
AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
INCREASES
SO DOES THE DEMAND
FOR HEALTH SEVICES
DEVELOPING
COUNTRY
A COUNTRY THAT IS WORKING TO
ACHIEVE AN ACCEPTABLE
STANDARD OF HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
DEVELOPED
COUNTRY
A COUNTRY THAT HAS ACHIEVED
AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF
HEALTH CONDITIONS.
POVERTY AND HUNGER
A CONDITION IN WHICH A PERSON DOES NOT
HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO EAT AND
LIVE HEALTHFULLY.
MALNUTRITION
A CONDITION IN WHICH THE BODY
DOES NOT GET THE NUTRIENTS
REQUIRED FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GLOBAL WARMING
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
PROCESS BY WHICH WATER
VAPOR AND GASES IN THE
ATMOSPHERE ABSORB AND
REFLECT INFRARED RAYS AND
WARM EARTH’S SURFACE.
GLOBAL
WARMING
AN INCREASE IN THE
EARTH’S
TEMPERATURE
BY THE YEAR 2050 THE
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF
THE EARTH WILL RISE
BETWEEN 3 AND 9 DEGREES.
Global warming has caused
glaciers to melt and sea levels
to rise. The greenhouse effect
and global warming may be
affected by burning fuels that
produce greenhouse gases.
These fuels are currently used
as sources of energy.
DESTRUCTION OF THE
OZONE LAYER
OZONE IS A FORM
OF OXYGEN
THE OZONE LAYER IS A
PROTECTIVE LAYER OF THE UPPER
ATMOSPHERE THAT TRAPS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM
THE SUN AND PREVENTS IT FROM
REACHING EARTH’S SURFACE.
CHEMICALS THAT
DESTROY THE
OZONE LAYER.
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
A GROUP OF GASES THAT
ARE EASY TO EXPAND AND
COMPRESS.
CFC”S
CFC’S ARE USED AS A PROPELLANT
IN AEROSOL SPRAYS AND AS
COOLANTS IN AIR CONDITIONERS,
INSULATION AND REFIRGERATORS.
THEY ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF
DESTRUCTION OF THE OZNE
LAYER. OTHER TYPES ARE;
HALONS, WHICH ARE USED IN FIRE
EXTIGUISHERS,
METHYLCHLOROFORM, A CLEANING
SOLVENT AND METHYLBROMIDE
WHICH IS AN AGRICULTURAL
PESTICIDE.
DESTRUCTION OF THE RAIN
FORESTS
RAIN FORESTS ARE LOCATED NEAR
THE EQUATOR IN COUNTRIES OF
LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA AND ASIA.
A RAIN FOREST IS A HOT WET FORESTED
AREA THAT CONTAINS MANY SPECIES OF
TREES, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS. RAIN
FORESTS COVER ABOUT 7% OF LAND ON
EARTH. THE VEGETATION IN RAIN
FORESTS PRODUCES OXYGEN AND
REMOVES CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE
ATMOSPHERE. RAIN FORESTS PROVIDE A
PLACE FOR HALF OF THE WORLD’S PLANT
AND ANIMAL SPECIES. THEY ARE ALSO A
SOURCE OF FOOD, RUBBER, AND TIMBER.
MANY OF THE ACTIVE
INGREDIENTS IN PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS ARE EXTRACTED FROM
PLANTS IN TROPICAL RAIN
FORESTS.
DEFORESTATION
DESTRUCTION OF
FORESTS
IN MANY DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES, THE FORESTS
MAY BE CLEARED FOR
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
PEOPLE NEED THE LAND TO
GROW FOOD AND HOUSE
THEIR FAMILIES. IN SOME
COUNTRIES PEOPLE NEED
THE WOOD FOR FUEL.
DEFORESTATION CAUSES
LESS OXYGEN TO BE
PRODUCED AND LESS
CARBON DIOXIDE TO BE
ABSORBED BECAUSE THERE
ARE FEWER TREES. IT CAN
KILL MANY SPECIES OF
PLANTS AND ANIMALS. THIS
AFFECTS BIODIVERSITY.
BIODIVERSITY
THE VARIETY OF
LIFE ON EARTH
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND
INFORMATION
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THE MEDIA
RADIO, TV, INTERNET, NEWSPAPERS
MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
REGULATORY
AGENCY
AN AGENCY THAT ENFORCES LAWS
TO PROTECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY. (EPA)
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTHADMINISTRATION. (OSHA)
NATIONAL INSTITUE FOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.
(NIOSH)
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
A FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR REDUCING AND
CONTROLLING ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION.
POLLUTION
ANY CHANGE IN AIR, WATER, SOIL,
NOISE LEVEL, OR TEMPERATURE THAT
HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON LIFE
AND HEALTH.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
(OSHA)
A FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKPLACE
ENVIRONMENT. IT SETS AND
ENFORCES STANDARDS FOR A SAFE
AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH (NIOSH)
A FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCY
THAT CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON
HEALTH HAZARDS IN THE
WORKPLACE.
ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, A
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATORY AGENCY.
EIGHT ACTS TO REGULATE
THE ENVIRONMENT
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CLEAN AIR ACT
COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
REPONSE, COMPENSATION,AND LIABILITY
ACT
CLEAN WATER ACT
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT
CLEAN AIR ACT
A LAW THAT ALLOWS THE EPA TO SET
STANDARDS FOR MAJOR AIR
POLLUTANTS. (POLLUTANTS ARE
HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN THE AIR)
THE COMPREHENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE,
COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY
ACT
A LAW THAT PROVIDES FEDERAL
FUNDING TO CLEAN UP
UNCONTROLLED OR HAZARDOUS
WASTE SITES AND OIL AND
CHEMICAL SPILLS
CLEAN WATER ACT
A LAW THAT SETS REGULATIONS ON
WASTES GOING INTO THE WATER AND
ON THE OPERATION OF WASTE
TREATMENT PLANTS AND MAKES IT
ILLEGAL TO RELEASE POLLUTANTS
INTO THE WATER.
SAFE DRINKING WATER
ACT
A LAW THAT PROTECTS THE
QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER.
IT ALSO SETS STANDARDS FOR
OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT
A LAW THAT PROTECTS ANIMAL
AND PLANT SPECIES THREATENED
BY EXTINCTION. THIS ACT MAKES
IT ILLEGAL TO REMOVE AN
ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM IT’S
NATURAL HABITAT.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY ACT
A LAW THAT REQUIRES ALL
GOVT. AGENCIES TO CONSIDER
AND ASSESS THE IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT BEFORE TAKING
ANY ACTION THAT MIGHT
AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
TOXIC SUBSTANCES
CONTROL ACT
A LAW THAT AUTHORIZES THE
EPA TO SET STANDARDS FOR THE
MANUFACTURING, USE,
TRANSPORTATION, AND
DISPOSAL OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ACT
A LAW THAT SETS A
SERIES OF MINIMUM
SAFETY AND HEALTH
STANDARDS THAT ALL
EMPLOYERS MUST MEET.