1. 1 Major Issues in Community Health: Environmental Health John Krezoski, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Dept. of Environ. Health, Safety and Risk Mgt.

2. 2 Introduction n Viewpoints n Ecological Review n Contemporary Management of High Standard of Living n Human Impact on Environmental Resources Atmospheric Aquatic Terrestrial

3. 3 Introduction - 2 n Other sources of Community Health Risks Accidents Social Interactions Radiological n Conclusions

4. 4 Viewpoints n Environmentalist n Industrialist n Regulator Government Agency Political Agenda n Scientist Epidemiologist Sociologist Ecologist Toxicologist

5. 5 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems require environmental resources for survival Air Water Nutrients (Food) Shelter Social Interaction

6. 6 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems require optimum levels of resources for survival Air Water Nutrients –C, H, N, P Trace Metals –Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe

7. 7 Elements of Environmental Health n Living systems are sensitive to un-needed/undesirable (harmful) resources Volcanoes –H 2 S, CO 2, Toxic metals, etc. Hurricanes –H 2 O, Wind Earthquakes Industrial Pollution

8. 8 Elements of Environmental Health n Higher order living systems have adaptive strategies for survival Seeking –Food –Shelter –Social interactions Avoiding –Danger –Hazardous materials

9. 9 Elements of Environmental Health n Exceeding optimum useful levels of environmental resources or exposure to harmful resources causes system stress Reduced wellness Onset of disease Community health problems

10. 10 Management of High Standards of living n Post industrial economic theory and management practices have focused on short term gains and have often overlooked or ignored long term costs n Environment receives cultural byproducts n Pollution = excessive amounts of any undesirable material

11. 11 Management of High Standards of living n Toxic substance = a biological or chemical agent which interferes with normal metabolic processes

12. 12 Atmospheric Impacts n Outdoor vs Indoor n CO 2, Global Warming n VOC’s n Acid Rain n di-Benzo Furans n Cd, Ni, NO x, O 3, Pb, Rn-222 n Photochemical n PCB’s n Particulates

13. 13 Atmospheric Impacts n Indoor Air Quality n CO 2, Rn-222 n Bacteria, Molds, Fungus n Asbestos n Particulates n HVAC

14. 14 Aquatic Impacts n Atmospheric Inputs n Acid Rain n Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn n Oil, Coal, PCB, PAH n di-Benzp Furans n Tributary Inputs n As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg n Pesticides n Pathogens

15. 15 Aquatic Impacts n Groundwater n Ra-226 n Injection Wells n Landfill Seepage n Remediation n Bioaccumulation

16. 16 Terrestrial Impacts n Landfills (Solid Wastes) n Non-hazardous Wastes n Hazardous Wastes n Agriculture Pesticides Nutrients n Natural Asbestos Volcanoes Actinide Ores

17. 17 Other Community Health Risks n Accidents n Social Interactions Controlled Uncontrolled n Stress n Diet n Lifestyle n Radiological Non-Ionizing Ionizing

18. 18 Conclusions n American society has one of highest standards of living in the world n We are striving to do even better n High standard has caused environmental problems n Short term gains have not been weighed against long term consequences

19. 19 Conclusions - 2 n “Hidden Costs” often paid for in terms of community health. n Barry Commoner: Everything is related to everything else Everything has to go somewhere Nature knows best There is no free lunch