ENV 1101 Lecture : Environmental Health.docx

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Environmental Studies
• Course: ENV 1101
• Professor: Sonia Wesche

Document Summary

All environmental issues examined in course to date and coming up have human health implications: population growth/decline, water availability and quality, soil quality, biotech and food resources, energy, livable cities, sustainable development. Hazard: anything that can cause injury, death, disease, damage to personal/public property, or deterioration or destruction of environmental components. Two ways to look at hazards: lack of access to necessities, exposure to dangerous chemicals, substances, activities. Risk: mathematical probability of suffering a loss as a result of exposure to a hazard. Natural disasters: tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Avoidance of risk important in prevention: ex. : building homes in floodplains, living on a coast. Pathogenic bacteria, fungi, worms, viruses: vector borne, crowding, contamination of food and water. Climate plays important role in transmission of many biological hazards. Anthropogenic (ex. pesticides) or natural (ex. asbestos) Exposure via ingestion, inhalation, absorption through skin. Rate of removal from atmosphere: dilution and dispersion, chemical processes in atmosphere.