Transcript Pollution and Human Health - Pleasant Valley High School

Environmental Health
Chapter 3
Lesson 3.1
Pollution and Human
Health
Theme Outline
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Lesson 3.1
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Pollution and Human Health
Water Pollution
Water Pollutants and Human Health
Waterborne Disease Outbreaks in Pennsylvania
Air Pollution
Allergies and Asthma
Pennsylvania Air Quality
Common Soil Pollutants
Indoor Pollution
Manufacturing Common Household Cleaning Products
Academic Standards for
Environment & Ecology
Standard 4.3.10.A
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Describe environmental health issues.
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Identify the effects on human health of air, water and soil
pollution and the possible economic costs to society.
Describe how indoor pollution may affect human health (e.g.,
dust mites, fumes, cat dandruff).
Explain the costs and benefits of cleaning up contaminants.
Explain how common household cleaning products are
manufactured and how to dispose of their by-products after
use.
Learning Objectives
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Students will identify the effects on human health of air,
water, and soil pollution and some of the economic costs to
society.
Students will explain how human practices affect the
quality of the water and soil.
Students will describe how indoor pollutants might affect
human health, how common household cleaning products
are manufactured, and how to dispose of those products
after use.
Students will explain the costs and benefits of cleaning up
contaminants.
Students will identify some environmental regulations and
their impacts on environmental health.
Love Canal
Pollution and Human Health
The human population depends on the Earth at
several different levels
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Hydrosphere
Example: water
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Atmosphere
Example: air
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Lithosphere
Example: soil
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Biosphere
Example: living world
Categories of Pollutants
Pollution
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Pollution can be classified according to the
medium which is contaminated or where the
contamination occurs
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Water pollution
Air pollution
Soil pollution
Also commonly referred to as land pollution
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Indoor Pollution
Water Pollution
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In developed nations…
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Potable drinking water is readily accessible
Water used in households is treated to remove
dangerous pollutants
Pollutants enter water supplies several ways
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Example: pollution from precipitation
Example: pollution from irrigation runoff
Water Pollution
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Common waterway pollutants
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Sediments
Nutrients
These substances wash into waterways from
farmlands, animal feeding facilities, construction
sites, and other areas where the ground is disturbed
Effluent
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Definition: wastewater from factories and refineries that
is released directly into urban water supplies
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Why is effluent a concern in waterways?
• May contain harmful by-products of manufacturing
processes
Example: washing of solvents in drainage systems
• May be in the form of heated wastewater from industry
Example: raising the temperature of aquatic systems
Sewage
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Definition: polluted water that contains
human waste, garbage, and other household
wastewater
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In developed countries, sewage is treated with a system of screens, filters,
and chemicals to remove particulate matter, organic matter, and other
contaminants.
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Sewage processing in the United States
 80% of sewage goes through treatment processes
 10% of sewage goes through septic systems
 10% of sewage is untreated
Wastewater Treatment Facilities
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A by-product of the sewage treatment process is
sediment, called sludge
Historically, sludge was dumped into water bodies
or taken to landfills.
Now, sludge is dried and then used for compost
material or as fertilizers in agricultural settings
Water Pollutants and Human Health
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Most water pollutants can be dangerous to human
health
Example: lead in water supplies from pipes and pipe solder
may cause brain damage, especially in children
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Untreated or inadequately treated sewage
discharges can also be harmful to human health
Example: microbes
Definition: very tiny pathogens, or organisms such as
protests, bacteria, or viruses, that cause disease
Some Common Water Pollutants
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Common water-related illnesses
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Cholera
• Intestinal infection
• Caused by water contaminated with the bacterium
Vibro cholerae
• Spread by drinking and eating contaminated water
and food products
• Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and
dehydration
• World Health Organization (WHO) considers
cholera a pandemic, mostly contained to developing
nations
Pandemic
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Definition: outbreak of a disease that affects an
exceptionally high portion of a population and occurs over
a very large geographic area
Some Common Water Pollutants
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Common water-related illnesses
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Dysentery
• Caused by several types of bacteria
• Spread by person-to-person contact and by
consuming contaminated water and food products
• Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal
cramps, fever and less seldom seizures and kidney
failure
• Antibiotics offer effective treatment until antibiotic
resistance develops
• World Health Organization (WHO) considers
dysentery an epidemic in many developing nations
Epidemic - temporary prevalence of a disease
Some Common Water Pollutants
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Common water-related illnesses
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Malaria
• Caused by parasitic disease
• Spread by contact with infected female mosquitoes
• Symptoms include flu-like symptoms, headache,
fever, and vomiting.
• World Health Organization (WHO) considers
malaria a potentially life-threatening disease in
many developing nations. Kills > 1 million people
annually.
Some Common Water Pollutants
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Common water-related illnesses
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Cryptosporidiosis
• Caused by cryptosporidiosis cysts that enter the
human body and “hatch”
• Often present in surface water supplies
• Spread by contact with untreated or inadequately
treated wastewater
• Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal
cramps, weight loss, and dehydration
Some Common Water Pollutants
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Common water-related illnesses
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Giardiasis
• Caused by cysts that enter the human body and
“hatch”
• Often present in surface water supplies
contaminated by feces
• Spread by contact with untreated or inadequately
treated wastewater
• Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal
cramps, weight loss, and dehydration
• Unlike cryptosporidiosis, medication can eliminate
giardia parasites in human hosts
Waterborne Disease
Outbreaks in Pennsylvania
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Between 1971 and 1985, Pennsylvania reported more cases
of waterborne disease than any other state
Pennsylvania created the Safe Drinking Water Program
under the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
to oversee the state’s public water supplies
• Mission: evaluate and monitor the state’s water treatment
plants
Since 1990, a sharp reduction in waterborne diseases
statewide has been recorded
Pollution
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Pollution can be classified according to the
medium which is contaminated or where the
contamination occurs
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Water pollution
Air pollution
Soil pollution
Also commonly referred to as land pollution
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Indoor Pollution
Air Pollution
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Causes of air pollution
• Natural
Example: forest fires
• Human Activities
Example: combustion of fossil fuels as energy
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Major sources of air pollution remain
industrial processes and motor vehicles
1948: Donora, PA
http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/D
onoraSmog.html
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Common air pollutants
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Ozone (O3)
• Found in Earth’s upper and lower
atmosphere
Upper atmosphere
Protects Earth from harmful solar
radiation
Lower atmosphere
Pollutant that can cause (chronic) respiratory
tract infections, eye irritation, coughing,
shortness of breath, nausea, wheezing, and
headaches
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Common air pollutants
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Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Colorless, odorless gas
• Formed from the incomplete combustion of fuels
• Commonly found in automobile and industrial
emissions
• Exposure to carbon monoxide includes symptoms
such as headaches, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms at
low levels
• Exposure to carbon monoxide includes symptoms
such as impaired vision and hearing, problems with
fine motor skills, and lack of concentration at
moderate to high levels
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Common air pollutants
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Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Formed from the burning of coal containing pyrite,
that combines with oxygen in the atmosphere
• Exposure to moisture in the atmosphere produces
sulfuric acid (acid rain)
• Exposure to sulfur dioxide includes symptoms such as
respiratory illnesses, decreased lung functions, and
aggravation of existing heart disease
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Common air pollutants
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Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Formed from the burning of fuels
• Common component of smog (smoke and fog)
• Commonly found in industrial areas and areas with a high
concentration of motor vehicles
• Exposure to nitrogen dioxide includes symptoms such as eye
irritation, stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat, lung inflammation,
and various illnesses of the human respiratory system
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Common air pollutants
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Particulate Matter
• Solid particles present in air
• Common particulate matter includes soil,
construction dust, bites of tire rubber, asbestos from
brake linings, and vehicle exhaust
• Exposure to particulate matter includes symptoms
such as irritation and illness of human respiratory
system and certain kinds of cancer
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Common air pollutants
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Toxic Substances
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Nearly 200 known toxic substances are known to be
air pollutants
Example: lead is a highly toxic metal when ingested or inhaled
Example: mercury containing plant emissions are now closely
monitored and regulated to reduce overall emissions
What are toxic air pollutants?
Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are those
pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other
serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects,
or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local,
and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases of 188 pollutants
to the environment. Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene,
which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from
some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as
a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Examples of
other listed air toxics include dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals
such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds.
Allergy
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Definition: reaction to the body to a foreign substance
that, in similar amounts and circumstances, is harmless to
most other people
Produced by allergens which cause the allergic reaction
Common allergens include bacteria, pollen, cigarette smoke,
animal dander, and dust
Commonly controlled with medication and the avoidance
of the irritating substance or activity
Asthma
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Definition: disorder of the lungs in which airways
tend to constrict, resulting in episodes of
breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, and tightness
of the chest
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Triggered by dust mites, animal dander, pollen,
exercise and various air pollutants
Develops in young children as a result of inherited
susceptibility to allergens
Adults develop asthma in response to allergens,
viruses, certain medications, exposure to certain
materials in the workplace, and exercise
Commonly controlled with medication and the
avoidance of the irritating substance or activity
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Pennsylvania Air Quality
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Vehicle traffic on Pennsylvania roadways has increased
Increased vehicle traffic means higher levels of potentially
harmful air pollutants
Regulated by the Department of Environmental
Protection’s Bureau of Air Quality
DEP: Bureau of Air Quality
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Works with industry, businesses,
schools, and communities to reduce air
pollutant emissions
Issues permits, regulates emissions, and
approves air quality plans
Enforces air quality by monitoring
overall air quality
Pennsylvania Air Quality Programs
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Clean Mower Rebate Program
http://www.epa.gov/air/recipes/mowers.html
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Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program
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http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/alternati
ve_fuels_incentive_grant-move_to_grants/10492
Goal: provide financial assistance and information on
alternative fuels and vehicles
Small Business Assistance Program
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Goal: replace gasoline-powered lawn equipment with
electric equipment
Goal: provide small businesses with information on
pollution prevention practiceshttp://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/default.htm
Drive Clean Pennsylvania
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Goal: ensure registered motor vehicles are properly
inspected and maintained
Pollution
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Pollution can be classified according to the
medium which is contaminated or where the
contamination occurs
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Water pollution
Air pollution
Soil pollution
Also commonly referred to as land pollution
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Indoor Pollution
Common Soil Pollutants
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Pollution that contaminants all, or at least
portions of land and underlying soils
Common soil pollution sources
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Agriculture
Example: sediments, pesticides, herbicides, animal wastes, and
fertilizers resulting from poor irrigation systems and the
improper disposal of wastes
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Industrial Processes
Example: release of toxic substances from industry, poor mining
practices, oil and gas well leaks, and underground storage
tanks (Ex. Love Canal, NY et. al.)
Love Canal, New York
Soil Pollutants : Nuclear Wastes
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Radioactive waste is generated by industry and
research facilities
Example: hospitals
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Two types of waste
 High- level waste (HLW)
 Low- level waste (LLW)
Nuclear Wastes:
High-level wastes (HLW)
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Highly radioactive
Remains radioactive for long periods of time
Found in nuclear reactor waste products and industrial
gauges
Disposal and storage is the responsibility of the federal
government in the United States
A typical High Level Waste (HLW) or
Spent Fuel (SF) disposal concept
includes steel canisters (1) containing
waste (2) placed in horizontal drifts (3),
surrounded by a clay barrier made up of
blocks (4) manufactured from highdensity compacted bentonite and
situated deep within crystalline rock.
Yucca Mountain
• Ideal to build an underground
repository where wastes can
be stored several hundred
meters deep in solid rock
• This site is far from urban
areas and is geologically
stable
• If approved, could cost
between 30-50 billion dollars
• Possibly operational by 2010
http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/08/gop-congressional-controlwould-open-door-for-yucca-mountain-nuclear-disaster/
Not in My Back Yucca
It seems like the good citizens of
Nevada would sooner elect an
orangutan as governor than let
the federal government fill Yucca
Mountain with radioactive waste.
Can't blame them, I guess, but
that spent nuclear fuel has to go
somewhere. What, then, are the
alternatives to stashing it beneath
Yucca Mountain?
Nuclear Wastes:
Low-level wastes (LLW)
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Low to moderately radioactive
Emit radioactive particles under decay is complete
Found contaminated clothing, filters, and paper, some glass
item used for medicine, manufacturing, and research, resins,
radiation gauges, and smoke detectors
A low-level waste facility has been proposed for Pennsylvania
to isolate and store waste material
Indoor Pollution
Indoor Pollution
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Common in households and pose potential health risks to
humans
Common household materials that are potentially hazards
include carpeting adhesives, paints, cleaning products, oils,
and pesticides
Potential harm from misuse and mishandled materials
Indoor Pollution: Reducing the Risk
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Several ways to reduce the
risk of indoor pollutants
• Read instructions carefully and
follow the material on labels
exactly
• Use minimal amounts of
materials to accomplish the
task
• Discard excess or unused
wastes according to the
manufacturers label
• Remove household hazardous
waste by contacting a local
collection program for proper
disposal
Manufacturing Common
Household Cleaning Products
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Common household cleaning items that pose potentially
dangerous health risks to humans include chlorine
bleaches, ammonia, and laundry detergents
Example: Household chlorine bleach
 Manufacturing process uses electric
current to break down salt water into
sodium hydroxide, hydrogen, and chlorine
 The resulting sodium hydroxide is mixed
with water
 Chlorine is added to this mixture to form
sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient
 Chlorine gas, a by-product of this
manufacturing process, is a yellowish-green
toxic gas