Chapter 15 Lecture Health The Basics Tenth Edition Promoting Environmental Health

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. OBJECTIVES Explain the environmental impact associated with global population growth. Discuss major causes of air pollution and the consequences of the accumulation of greenhouse gases and ozone depletion. Identify sources of water pollution and chemical contaminants often found in water. Distinguish municipal solid waste from hazardous waste and list strategies for reducing land pollution. Discuss the health concerns associated with ionizing and nonionizing radiation. Describe the physiological consequences of noise pollution and how to prevent or reduce its effects.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Impact of Overpopulation Impact on other species Impact on our food supply Land degradation and contamination of drinking water Excessive energy consumption

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Estimated and Projected World Population Growth,

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Overpopulation Factors that Affect Population Growth –Fertility rate refers to the number of births a woman has by the end of her reproductive period. –U.S fertility rate is just over two births per woman. Differing Growth Rates –India is expected to have the largest growth by adding another 600 million people by Zero Population Growth (ZPG) –This is the idea that each couple should produce only two offspring. –Over 20 countries have a ZPG.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

Air Pollution Pollutants are either naturally occurring or anthropogenic (caused by humans). Natural air pollutants include particulate matter, such as ash from volcanic eruptions. Anthropogenic sources include stationary sources such as power plants, factories, and refineries, and mobile sources, such as vehicles, planes, trains, and watercraft.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Components of Air Pollution Sulfur dioxide is the yellowish-brown gaseous byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels. Particulate matter is nongaseous air pollutants. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that originates primarily from vehicle emissions. Nitrogen dioxide is an amber-colored gas found in smog; can cause eye and respiratory irritation. –Smog is a brownish haze that is a form of pollution produced by the photochemical reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons, nitrogen compounds, and other gases in vehicle exhausts. Ground-level ozone is a molecular form of oxygen and is produced when nitrogen dioxide reacts with sunlight and oxygen molecules. Other air pollutants include carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Air Quality Index (AQI) The AQI is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is on any given day. The AQI focuses on health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. Index runs from 0 to 500, with higher values having a greater level of air pollution and health risk.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Air Quality Index (AQI)

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Indoor Air Pollution Indoor air can be times more hazardous than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution comes primarily from woodstoves, furnaces, passive cigarette smoke exposure, asbestos, formaldehyde, radon, and lead. Mold is an emerging form of air pollutant. Prevention focuses on source control, ventilation improvements, and air cleaners.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. ABC News Video: Power of 2: Get an Energy Audit Discussion Questions 1.How does eating less beef help to reduce the effects of climate change? 2.What is an energy audit? How does it help to save energy?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Ozone Layer Depletion The ozone layer protects the planet and its inhabitants from ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contribute to ozone depletion. –They were used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and cleaning solvents and also in medical sterilizers, rigid foam insulation, and Styrofoam.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Global Warming An enhanced greenhouse effect is a warming of Earth's surface as a direct result of human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping more of the sun's radiation than is normal. This causes increasing surface temperatures, perhaps by 5-10 degrees, and the rise will continue unless immediate preventive steps are taken. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, CFCs, and hydrocarbons.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Reducing Air Pollution Air pollution and climate change problems are rooted in our energy, transportation, and industrial practices. Reducing consumption of fossil fuels, shifting to alternative energy sources, improving gas mileage, and using mass transportation are crucial to reducing air pollution.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Water Pollution and Shortages Point source pollutants enter a waterway at a specific location through a pipe, ditch, culvert, or other conduit. –Major sources are sewage treatment plants and industrial facilities. Nonpoint source pollutants seep into waterways from broad areas of land. –Major sources are land practice uses.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Water Contamination Among the pollutants causing the greatest potential harm are –Gasoline and petroleum products –Chemical contaminants –Polychlorinated biphenyls –Dioxins –Pesticides –Lead

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Land Pollution Per day, each person generates more than 4.5 pounds of municipal solid waste (MSW), totaling about 243 million tons each year. About 90% of waste is recyclable, but only 33.8% of MSW is recycled or composted. Strategies to reduce MSW include source reduction, recycling, composting, and combustion with energy recovery.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. What's in Our Trash?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. ABC News Video: Crack Those Recycling Codes Discussion Questions Why is the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" particularly important for plastics? Why do you think the rate of recycling single-use water bottles is down? Why is the great Pacific garbage patch an environmental danger? Which number of plastic is dangerous for use and recycling?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. How Much Do We Recycle?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste is toxic waste that poses a hazard to humans or to the environment. The Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act was enacted to provide funds for cleaning up hazardous waste. Many types of waste are now banned from land disposal or are being treated to reduce toxicity before disposal.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Radiation Nonionizing Radiation –Electromagnetic waves having a relatively long wavelength and enough energy to move atoms around or cause them to vibrate Ionizing Radiation –Electromagnetic waves and particles having a short wavelength and energy high enough to ionize atoms Radiation exposure is measured in radiation absorbed doses, or rads. –The maximum "safe" exposure ranges from 0.05 to 5 rads per year.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Nuclear Power Plants Proponents believe it is a safe and efficient way to generate electricity. Disposal of nuclear waste is extremely problematic. A nuclear meltdown can occur when the temperature in the core of a nuclear reactor increases enough to melt both the nuclear fuel and its containment vessel.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Noise Pollution A sound with a decibel (dB) of 110 is 10 times louder than one at 100 dB. The human voice measures about 60 dB; a jet takeoff from 200 feet measures 140 dB. Short-term exposure to loud noise reduces concentration and productivity and may affect mental and emotional health. Prolonged exposure can lead to hearing loss.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Noise Levels of Various Sounds

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Noise Pollution To protect your hearing –Play home and car stereos at reasonable volume. –Keep the volume down on your iPod or other MP3 device. –Wear earplugs when using power equipment. –Close windows to establish a barrier between yourself and outside noise. –Wear earplugs when attending loud concerts, and clubs.