Deck 14: Community Health and the Environment

Question 1

During the next week, create a list of at least 10 things you could have done to conserve the water you use.

Answer 1

Conservation of water:
Water must be conserved and protected as it may elapse in few years if the people waste it enormously. This is mainly done to save water for future generations. A person must be taught to save water from his/her childhood so that it becomes a practice.
The following are the ten ways to conserve water usage:
1. Bath using bucket and mug instead of shower
2. Check and repair the water leaks in pipe and faucet
3. Avoid using the tap water directly to wash vessels in kitchen. Instead, fill in the bucket, and use it for washing. It helps to save more water.
4. Use bucket water to wash vehicle instead of using hose water
5. Fix the automatic starter and stopper to fill the water tank in home. It helps the water wastage.
6. Use water treatment method and use the treated water to plants instead of using fresh water
7. Avoid washing vegetables in running water. Instead, wash it using the stored water in a vessel
8. Use the water meter to identify the hidden water leakage
9. Do not dispose waste materials in the toilet as more water is required to flush the waste materials.
10. Use sensor water tap to reduce the water wastage

Question 2

What is a foodborne disease outbreak? What factors contribute to foodborne disease outbreaks? Name some common foodborne disease causative agents.

Answer 2

Foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs):
At least two persons are affected with similar illness from mild to severe range after using the common food and proof associates' food as actual cause of illness.
The organs that are affected due to foodborne illness are liver, stomach and intestines, kidneys, brain, liver, and nervous system.
The following are the factors contributed to foodborne disease outbreak:
•The major factor is inadequate temperature. When there is inadequate temperature while cooking, it causes FBDO.
•Unsanitary practices or conditions at the service point of the food court leads to FBDO
•Failure to wash hands before cooking, serving, or eating food (norovirus outbreaks) causes FBDO
•Drinking milk without boil causes bacterial outbreaks
The following are the common foodborne disease causative agents:
•Bacterial agents
•Salmonella sp.
•Staphylococcus enterotoxin
•Clostridium perfingens
•Chemical agents
•Ciguatoxin
•Scombroid toxin
•Plant toxins
•Parasites agents
•Giardia
•Cyclospora
•Trichinella
•Viruses agents
•Hepatitis A
•Calicivirus (Norovirus)

Question 3

Suppose the well water is found to contain high levels of nitrates. Assuming that Juan and Maria cannot move, what steps could they take to improve their chances of a successful pregnancy? What might they do to restore the safety of their well water? What local, state, or federal agencies might be able to help them? Environmental injustice is a term used to describe situations in which undesirable industries or waste disposal sites are preferentially located in minority areas. Is there anything about this situation that might suggest that this is a case of environmental injustice?

Answer 3

Case summary:
From the past two years, Mr. J and Mrs. M were trying to have a baby. E is their child four-and-half years old. She was born when they came to the present home and she was born without any problem.
From the last 14 months, three miscarriages have been experienced by Mrs. M. Three years ago, Mr. J tested their well water and it was determined safe to drink. However, after six month, rural hog farm started to operate one and half miles away from Mr. J's house.
At present, the area people experienced stench from the large size of waste lagoon. State's health inspector had been visiting several times in the past year. Mr. J doubted if the well water is still safe to drink and he decided to test their water again.
The following are the steps to be taken to improve the possibilities of successful pregnancy:
•The couple should always confirm the quality of the drinking water before they could consume.
•They should have organic food, which is harvested from the pollution free environment.
•They should create green environment around their living area to reduce the air pollution.
•The couples must avoid having fish that lives in polluted water.
•They should wash the vegetables in clean water before cooking.
The following is the way to restore well water from pollution:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps to restore well water from pollution. Based on the water test result, they must suggest the steps to be taken to restore the well.
The EPA federal agency can help to protect their water. The local health department helps to test the water. The state's Water Protection legislation helps to reduce the pollution due to large scale industry.
Determine whether the environmental injustice occurred in this situation:
The health inspector had visited the place several times in the previous year. He had not taken any steps to protect the ground water from hog farm's wastewater. Hence, this should be treated as an environmental injustice.

Question 4

What are some of the local, state, and federal agencies that help protect our food?

Question 5

What role does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) play in protecting the environment?

Question 6

What is a pest? What is a pesticide? Explain the difference between target organisms and nontarget organisms and give examples. Explain some safety concerns with pesticides.

Question 7

Write a one-page paper describing either your support for or opposition to (a) nuclear power plants or (b) strengthening the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Question 8

What types of refuse make up our municipal solid waste? How much MSW do we generate per person per year? What options do communities have for managing MSW?

Question 9

Are industrial hog farms a problem in the county or state where you live? What about cattle feedlots? What are your state's regulations regarding the establishment of huge factory farms?

Question 10

What is hazardous waste? Can you give some examples?

Question 11

What is the Clean Air Act? What are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards? What is the Air Quality Index?

Question 12

What are the purposes of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

Question 13

In a one-page paper, identify what you feel to be the number 1 waste or pollution problem faced by the United States, and then detail your rationale for feeling this way.

Question 14

How do excessive amounts of lead get into our environment? Why is lead detrimental to our health? Which segment of our population is at highest risk for lead poisoning?

Question 15

What are some major kinds of indoor air pollutants? How can we reduce our exposure to them? What is radon and why is it dangerous?

Question 16

What is a vector? What is a vectorborne disease? Can you give some examples of each?

Question 17

Call your local health department and find out what kind of efforts have been made to eliminate lead poisoning. Ask about education programs and possible state or local laws. Also, find out if the health department will test for lead in the water and paint. If they will, ask about the procedures they use to do so. Write the results of your findings in a two-page paper.

Question 18

What is ionizing radiation? Why is it a health issue? How can individuals lower their health risk?

Question 19

What is the difference between point source and nonpoint source pollution? Which is the bigger problem?

Question 20

What is a natural disaster? How do natural disasters affect the health of a community?

Question 21

For all of us to be better stewards of our environment, we need to be aware of how our community handles various important environmental issues. Find the answers to the following questions about your community and state:
a. How does your community dispose of solid waste?
b. How far do you live from a secured landfill? What is the closest community to it?
c. Where does your community get its water? If you personally get your water from a well, when was the last time the water was evaluated?
d. Where is the closest nuclear power plant to your home? What are you supposed to do in case of an accident?
e. Does your state have legislation to protect communities and individuals from factory farm operations that might pollute aquifers or surface water?

Question 22

How would you interpret the relationships among population growth, the environment, and human health?

Question 23

What are waterborne disease outbreaks? Name some waterborne disease agents.

Question 24

How would you define terrorism ? How did the World Trade Center attack result in environmental health repercussions?

Question 25

Make arrangements to interview a director of environmental health in a local health department. Find answers to the following questions and summarize these answers in a two-page paper.
a. What are all the tasks this division of the health department carries out?
b. What is the primary environmental health problem of your community? Why is it a problem? How is it being dealt with?
c. If they inspect restaurants, which ones have the best sanitation practices?
d. What is an average day like for a health department sanitarian?

Question 26

What role does the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) play in preparing for and responding to catastrophic events? What is the role of the American Red Cross in providing assistance to people and communities after a natural disaster?

Question 27

For 2 weeks, watch a television weather program that mentions the Air Quality Index (AQI). During that 2-week period, chart the AQI in a graph form and identify the major pollutant for each day.

Question 28

What are endocrine disruptors and why are they an environmental concern? What are pharmaceuticals and personal care products and why should we be concerned with them?

Question 29

Many people like Juan and Maria live where industrial poultry or livestock operations have become established. What additional precautions could Juan and Maria have taken before moving into their current home to protect their health?

Question 30

How do communities ensure the quality of drinking water, and what steps do communities take to reduce the likelihood that their wastewater harms the environment?

Question 31

What are the major sources of air pollutants? What are criteria pollutants? What is the difference between primary and secondary pollutants?

Question 32

What are the purposes of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act?