Environmental health and Technology

Outline
Environmental Health *Infectious and Emergent Diseases *Antibiotics and pesticide resistance Toxicology Movement , Distribution, and Fate of Toxins Minimizing Toxin Effects Risk Assessment Establishing Public policy

Environmental Health
Health *A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Disease *A deleterious change in the bodys condition in response to an environmental factor. *Diet and nutrition, infectious agents, toxic chemicals, physical factors, and psychological stress all play roles in morbidity (illness) and mortality (death).

Environmental Health Risks

Global Disease Burden

Disability-adjusted life years *(DALYs)-combine premature deaths and loss healthy life resulting from illness or disability. Life expectancy has risen worldwide, chronic conditions are become a leading a leading cause of disability and premature death. *By 2020, heart disease may become leading source of disability and disease worldwide.

Recent Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases
Greatest health threats: *Pathogenic organisms, accidents or violence. *Communicable diseases

- Responsible for about 1/3 of all disease related deaths.

- majority in countries with poor nutrition, sanitation, and vaccination programs. Malaria is a major disease in tropical areas.

Emergent Diseases
An emergent disease: - Never known before - Been absent for at least 20 years. *The spread of many and diseases - Is due to the speed and frequency of modern travel Ex. SARS Ex. West Nile Virus

Finding Health Care

Heaviest burden of illness borne by poorest people who cannot afford a healthy environment or adequate health care. * WHO estimates 90% of all dieses burden occurs in developing countries where less than 10% of all health care dollars are spent. -Worldwide, only 2% of people with AIDS have access to modern medicines.

Ecological Diseases
Domestic animals and wildlife also experience sudden and widespread epidemics. * Distemper in seals in western Europe. * Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and elk in North America. * Sudden Oak Death Syndrome in California.

Antibiotic and Pesticide Resistance

The problem with antibiotics and pesticides: Protozoan parasite that causes malaria is now resistant to most antibiotics, while the mosquitoes that transmit it have developed resistance to many insecticides. * Short life spans. - Speeds up natural selection and evolution. * Human tendency to overuse pesticides and antibiotics.

Antibiotic Use
Why is antibiotic use a problem? * At least half of the 100 million antibiotic doses prescribed in the US every year are unnecessary or are the wrong drug. * Many people do not finish full-course. * More than half of all antibiotics manufactured in the US are routinely fed to farm animals to stimulate weight gain.

Environmental Health Risks

Toxicology
Dangerous chemicals are divided into two broad categories: * Toxic Poisonous - Can be general or very specific. Often harmful even in dilute concentrations. * Hazardous Dangerous - Flammable, explosive ,irritant, acid, caustic.

Toxic Chemicals
Allergens * Substances that activate the immune system. * Antigens - Allergen that are recognized as foreign by white blood cells and stimulate the production of specific antibodies. * Other allergens act indirectly by binding to other materials so they become antigenic. - Sick Building Syndrome

Toxic Chemicals
Endocrine Disrupters * Disrupt normal hormone functions - Thyroxin
Regulates cell metabolism

- Insulin
Regulates blood sugar levels

- Adrenalin
Response to stress: stimulate autonomic nerve action

- Endorphins
Reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.

Steroid Hormone Action

Normal: Hormone carriers deliver molecules to cell surface. Intraocular carriers deliver hormones to the nucleus, bind to and regulate expression of DNA

Toxic Chemicals
Neurotoxins * Metabolic poisons that specifically attack nerve cells. *Different types act in different ways. - Heavy Metals kill nerve cells. - Anesthetics and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons disrupt nerve cell numbers. - Organophosphates and Carbamates inhibit signal transmission between nerve cells.

Toxic Chemicals
Mutagens * Agents that damage or alter genetic material. - Ex. Radiation Teratogens * Specifically cause abnormalities during embryonic growth and development. - Alcohol Fetal Alchohol Syndrome Carcinogens * Substances that cause cancer. - Ex. Cigarette smoke