Elevated blood lead levels in children can cause developmental disabilities.Poor air quality can trigger asthma attacks.Science has proven some links between health conditions and the environment. WE KNOW SOME THINGS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND HEALTH EFFECTS. These health effects can be both short term (acute) and longer term (chronic).Some health effects are known, others are suspected.There are gaps in information about how the environment affects human health.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS & HEALTH EFFECTSĮNVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS CAN AFFECT HUMAN HEALTHĮnvironmental hazards-like water and air pollution, extreme weather, or chemical exposures-can affect human health in a number of ways, from contributing to chronic diseases like cancer or to acute illnesses like heat exhaustion. To give you a sense of the practice of environmental public health from a national perspective, watch this video from CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health about the work they do. Preventing and/or lessening health effectsĮNVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

Researching possible health effects related to exposures.

Assessing individuals’ exposure to hazards.

Collecting and monitoring data on environmental hazards and health effects.

Though she was not an environmental health professional, Erin Brockovich did plenty of activities that are part of environmental health practice. What she found out led to a record-breaking settlement for a group of class-action plaintiffs in 1996. Some of the wastewater percolated into the groundwater, affecting an area near the plant. The wastewater dissolved the hexavalent chromium from the cooling towers and was discharged to unlined ponds at the site. This is a real-life environmental health story about a woman who helped spearhead a case alleging contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium, which was suspected by residents of causing cancer in the southern California town of Hinkley.īetween 19, PG&E used hexavalent chromium in its cooling towers to fight corrosion.

Implementing interventions and programs to address environmental health issuesĮNVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EXAMPLE: ERIN BROCKOVICH.

Developing standards, guidelines, and recommendations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTICEĮNVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AIM TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND THEIR ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS THROUGH: The most common environmental health hazards are air and water pollution.

Extreme temperatures and weather events.

Disease-causing microorganisms and plants.

This includes physical, chemical, and biological factors that are external to a person.ĮXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INCLUDE:.

An environmental health hazard is a substance that has the ability to cause an adverse health event.

Fosters a safe and healthful environment.

Promotes human health and well-being, and.

Focuses on the inter-relationships between people and their environment,.

Likewise, people can affect the health of the environment.ĮNVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IS THE DISCIPLINE THAT… There is a connection between the environment and the health of individuals and communities. The places where we live, work, and play.

List examples of applications of environmental public health tracking data.

Identify types of environmental public health data available on the Tracking Network.Describe the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.Explain environmental public health surveillance.Describe the relationship between the environment and health.Discuss environmental public health practice.Teach you about the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program and its flagship product, the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.īy the end of this module, you will be able to:.Provide you with information about how the environment affects public health and.WELCOMEĮssentials of Environmental Public Health Tracking is a learning module designed to: Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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