CHLH 101- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STUDY GUIDE
early history of environmental health - Answer --much of the earliest PH work based in
thought that unsanitary conditions caused disease
-lots of work on water, living conditions, waste, occupational conditions
-lots of focus on communicable/infectious illness
air pollution - Answer --contamination of air by substances in great enough amounts to
harm living organisms
-major sources in US are transportation, electrical power plants fueled by oil and coal
industry
primary air pollutants - Answer -pollutant coming directly from transportation, power
plants, industrial plants, refineries
secondary air pollutants - Answer -when primary pollutants react with sunlight and
other
thermal inversion - Answer -when warm air traps cooler air at the surface of the earth
Clean Air Act (CAA) - Answer -provided the federal government with authority to
address interstate pollution in 1963
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) - Answer --created by amendments
to CAA in 1970
-3 key parts are emission standards for cars, for new industries, and ambient air
standards for urban areas
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Answer -federal agency responsible for
setting, maintaining, and enforcing environmental standards
Air Quality Index (AQI) - Answer -an index indicating level of pollution in the air and the
associated health risk
criteria pollutants - Answer -most pervasive pollutants, of greatest concern
types of indoor air pollution - Answer --asbestos
-biogenic pollutants
-combustion by-products
-volatile organic compounds
-formaldehyde
-radon
-environmental tobacco smoke
, protecting indoor air - Answer --people spend 50-90% of time indoors
-energy crisis of 1970s led to conservation, very tight ventilation, led to sick building
syndrome
-no federal indoor clean air act
-smoking ordinances
types of waterborne diseases - Answer --cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery
-responsible for 1.5 million deaths each year
2010 - Answer -11% of world population had no access to supply of clean drinking
water
Virtually _________ of US population has access to clean water and sanitation. -
Answer -100%
point source pollution - Answer -pollution that can be traced to a single source
non-point source pollution - Answer --all pollution that occurs through runoff, seepage,
or falling of pollutants into water
Water pollution is classified as _______________. - Answer -biological and non
biological pollutants
examples of biological pollutants of water - Answer -viruses, bacteria, parasits
waterborne disease outbreak - Answer --at least 2 people affected by recreational or
drinking water
-drinking water outbreaks have declined in recent years, but recreational water
outbreaks have increased
non-biological pollutants of water - Answer -heat, inorganic chemicals, organic
chemicals, radioactive pollutants
major issues with non-biological pollutants - Answer --pharmaceuticals and personal
care products, no government regulation on disposal of meds
-water quality in US has deteriorated in many communities due to population growth,
chemical manufacturing, reckless land use, disposal of hazardous waste
West Nile Virus - Answer --caused by mosquitos passing infection to humans
-mosquitoes thrive in standing water
ensuring safety in our water - Answer --little incidence of waterborne diseases in US
-treatment of water for domestic use
-fluoridation
Clean Water Act (CWA) - Answer --1970s
early history of environmental health - Answer --much of the earliest PH work based in
thought that unsanitary conditions caused disease
-lots of work on water, living conditions, waste, occupational conditions
-lots of focus on communicable/infectious illness
air pollution - Answer --contamination of air by substances in great enough amounts to
harm living organisms
-major sources in US are transportation, electrical power plants fueled by oil and coal
industry
primary air pollutants - Answer -pollutant coming directly from transportation, power
plants, industrial plants, refineries
secondary air pollutants - Answer -when primary pollutants react with sunlight and
other
thermal inversion - Answer -when warm air traps cooler air at the surface of the earth
Clean Air Act (CAA) - Answer -provided the federal government with authority to
address interstate pollution in 1963
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) - Answer --created by amendments
to CAA in 1970
-3 key parts are emission standards for cars, for new industries, and ambient air
standards for urban areas
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Answer -federal agency responsible for
setting, maintaining, and enforcing environmental standards
Air Quality Index (AQI) - Answer -an index indicating level of pollution in the air and the
associated health risk
criteria pollutants - Answer -most pervasive pollutants, of greatest concern
types of indoor air pollution - Answer --asbestos
-biogenic pollutants
-combustion by-products
-volatile organic compounds
-formaldehyde
-radon
-environmental tobacco smoke
, protecting indoor air - Answer --people spend 50-90% of time indoors
-energy crisis of 1970s led to conservation, very tight ventilation, led to sick building
syndrome
-no federal indoor clean air act
-smoking ordinances
types of waterborne diseases - Answer --cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery
-responsible for 1.5 million deaths each year
2010 - Answer -11% of world population had no access to supply of clean drinking
water
Virtually _________ of US population has access to clean water and sanitation. -
Answer -100%
point source pollution - Answer -pollution that can be traced to a single source
non-point source pollution - Answer --all pollution that occurs through runoff, seepage,
or falling of pollutants into water
Water pollution is classified as _______________. - Answer -biological and non
biological pollutants
examples of biological pollutants of water - Answer -viruses, bacteria, parasits
waterborne disease outbreak - Answer --at least 2 people affected by recreational or
drinking water
-drinking water outbreaks have declined in recent years, but recreational water
outbreaks have increased
non-biological pollutants of water - Answer -heat, inorganic chemicals, organic
chemicals, radioactive pollutants
major issues with non-biological pollutants - Answer --pharmaceuticals and personal
care products, no government regulation on disposal of meds
-water quality in US has deteriorated in many communities due to population growth,
chemical manufacturing, reckless land use, disposal of hazardous waste
West Nile Virus - Answer --caused by mosquitos passing infection to humans
-mosquitoes thrive in standing water
ensuring safety in our water - Answer --little incidence of waterborne diseases in US
-treatment of water for domestic use
-fluoridation
Clean Water Act (CWA) - Answer --1970s
