power point environmental and occupational health
TRANSCRIPT
CHAPTER 25
Environmental and Occupational Health
Occupational and Environmental Health Hazards
Hazards such as chemicals, toxins, and other manufactured hazards are found in the home, workplace, and environment through the air and water
Hazards affect health, may cause myriad cancers, neurologic disorders, allergies, and behavioral changes
Increasing research shows a relationship between environmental health and reproductive health and children’s health
Reproductive and Children’s Health
Environment has shown to impact reproductive health, some examples are elevated rates of cancer in reproductive organs, premature births, miscarriages and birth impairments
Fetuses and babies unable to metabolize and inactivate harmful chemicals
Sperm and eggs can be damaged by pesticides, chemicals, or other chemical exposures leading potentially affecting the embryo’s development
President’s Cancer Panel (2010) found approx. 300 chemicals present in umbilical cords
Reproductive and Children’s Health
Toxins transferred through breast milkSome babies are at higher risk
example indigenous people in the high Arctic are seven times more prone than babies in the US or Canada
Many chemicals have been banned in the USBreast milk is still considered better than formula
due to the benefits out weighing the risksFormula fed babies have a greater risk of ear
infections, respiratory tract infections, SIDS, and childhood leukemia, asthma, diarrhea, and eczema
Reproductive and Children’s Health
Due to a more vulnerable immune system, physiology, and metabolism children are at greater risk of damage to nervous system, brain, reproductive organs, and endocrine system
As the amount of concentrated chemical rises so do the number of childhood illnesses such as leukemia, brain cancer, and other cancers linked to environmental carcinogens
Occupational Health
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) focuses on workplace health and safety
Workers and surrounding environments are vulnerable to industrial practices and pollution
People constantly being exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides
Advocacy
Only a few hundred of the tens of thousands of chemicals used are adequately tested; many chemicals suspected of causing cancer are not regulated at all
Community activists, researchers, and advocates are advocating for a new paradigm that encourages anticipatory action in the absence of scientific uncertainty
Precautionary Principal: requires taking action in the face of uncertainty, shifting the burden of proof to those who create risks, and analyzing alternatives to potentially harmful chemicals one at a time
Advocacy
Women are pushing for more research on risks, launching community-based health projects, calling for enforcement of regulations to keep our environment safe, and insisting that vulnerable communities are protected and compensated for health burdens
Collaborative on Health and the Environment: organization of international partnership that pays special attention to reproductive and cross-generational impacts
Types of Hazards - Lead
Lead: neurotoxin, which means affects the nerve cells. It is natural in the environment in trace amounts: travels through air, food, water, dust, and various products.
Has industrial and commercial uses: plumbing pipes and car batteries
Acute exposure can cause lead poisoning, affects 1 million children in the US. Low income families are at an 8 times greater risk, due to standard housing and lack of nutritional foods. African American children are 5 times more likely to develop then white children
Symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma, and death
Long term exposure: brittle bones, anemia, damage to brain and nervous function, liver, kidney, and blood systems
Types of Hazards - Radiation
2 types non-ionizing and ionizingNon-ionizing radiation is found in microwave,
electronics, and voltage line wavesUndetermined if exposure leads to
reproductive complicationsIonizing radiation exposure is due to nuclear
power plant emissions, uranium mining, weapons testing, and medical technologies
Found to be the longest established environmental cause of breast cancer in men and women
Types of Hazards - Mercury
Mercury can damage central nervous system, endocrine system, heart, lungs, immune system, and kidneys
Especially harmful to pregnant women and fetuses: Can cause neurological disorders, decreased brain function, delayed onset of walking, permanent kidney damage, and decreased sperm count in boys
Pregnant women are told to are recommended to avoid or ingest a small amount of high risk fish, including tuna and shark
Types of Hazards - Mercury
Symptoms or Mercury poisoning include itching, burning or pain: skin discolorations; shedding of skin; muscle weakness; red face; loss of teeth; hair and nails; and photophobia
Mercury has been banned in most cosmetic products and thermometers
Mercury still found in trace amounts in some eye make-up
Types of Hazards – Pesticides
Most common and utilized synthetic product1.2 billion pounds used annually in US, 5 billion
worldwideExposure has been linked to developmental problems
and reproductive complications: abnormal ovary and menstrual function; decreased sperm count; early puberty; delayed testis, prostate, and penis development; infertility; miscarriage; stillbirth; and increased risk of cervical, vaginal, testicular, and childhood brain cancers
If exposed during pregnancy can cause brain autism
Types of Hazards and Avoidance – Pesticides
Journal of Agro-medicine (2007) “every chemical class of pesticides has at least one agent capable of affecting a reproductive or developmental endpoint in laboratory animals or people
Avoidance: -avoid using pesticides in homes and on lawns and
gardens - wear protective clothing when using pesticides - never smoke, eat, or drink when using pesticides - do not apply pesticides before a heavy rain, may wash
into sewers contaminating water supply - apply in early cool weather with a small breeze to reduce
air travel - Follow disposal recommendation, never pour down toilet,
sink, or sewer
Pesticides and Food Safety
Purchase certified organic foodsPurchase and consume the 15 least sprayed
fruits and vegetables: onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapple, mango, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potato, and honeydew melon
Wash and limit intake of most sprayed fruits and vegetables celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, cherries, potatoes, and imported grapes
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals EDCs
Industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals that mimic natural hormones and include any chemical or substance that affects development and function.
Used to block or interfere with complex hormonal messages that affect body function such as thyroid mechanics, sexual development and behavior, metabolism, and nervous and immune function
Low level exposure is not greatly understood, however increasing concerns on the danger of high level exposure on reproductive health
Example: diethylstilbestrol, or DES, a synthetic estrogen have shown high miscarriage rates and vaginal cancers in the children of pregnant DES users
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals EDCs
Found in pesticides, bisphenol (a material used to make plastic), some cosmetics, flame retardants, glues, sealants, and cleaning products
Fat-soluble – they accumulate in animal fat and animal products and are then consumed
Women at higher risk due to increased body fat
Exposure affected by indoor air quality
BPA - Bisphenol A
used in hard plastics such as baby bottle linings, cans, sippy cups, food containers, ect
Endocrine disrupting chemical May cause cancers, infertility, heart disease,
liver abnormalities, genital abnormalities, obesity, early puberty in girls, cognitive and behavioral impairments, diabetes, asthma, ADD, hyper activity disorder, and cardiovascular system abnormalities.
BPA - Bisphenol A - Avoidance
Look for number 7 on bottom of plastic items, as this identifies as containing BPA
Don’t microwave plastic containers, and discard old or damaged bottles
Choose glass or stainless steel bottlesMinimize use of canned foods and drinksAsk dentist for BPA free sealants
Other Hazards to Avoid
PCBS Polychlorinated biphenyls, one of the most hazardous chemicals
Most usage banned since 1979, but can contaminate our bodies and environment for years
PCS hotspots are NYC, Lake Erie and Lake OntarioPhthalates – chemical that makes plastic more
pliableFound in wallpaper, paints, soda cans, pesticides,
and foodNearly all Americans have this in their urineExposure associated with asthma, allergies, autism,
endocrine disorder, among others
Exposure
Exposure is heavily affected by environmental conditions, gender, race, ethnicity, and class
Economic and social power determines how we are able to protect ourselves
Low socioeconomic status=higher exposure risks
3 of 5 largest landfills in US are based in Black or Latino communities
Decrease Risks
Be a careful consumer, be aware of ingredients in all foods and containers
Investigate environmental conditions, get info on under worker and right to know legislation at scoregaurd.com
Investigate studies, find out who paid for study, are they biased?
Talk to your neighbors, develop alliances to protect community health
Document your health. Keep a log of exposures and diagnosis
Decrease Risks
Work in coalition – Join a movement or organization. There are many organizations work to protect families and communities, such as The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and many more
Improving Workplace Safety
Substitute safer alternativesIsolate or enclose the processImprove housekeepingAccept personal protective equipment Secure ProtectionsCreate CommitteesNegotiate contracts
Women making a Difference
Alice Hamilton – grandmother of environmental movement Author of Exploring the Dangerous Trades, a book on
occupational hazards Rachel Carson – author of Silent Spring, publicized
risks of pesticide dangers Hazel Johnson – cofounded West Harlem
Environmental Action to challenge the location of a water treatment plant
Patty Martin – founded Safe Food and Fertilizer after discovering hazardous wastes being blended into fertilizers causing crop failure
QUOTE by President’s Cancer Panel
“ The true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated. With nearly 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, many of which are used by millions of Americans in their daily lives and are un- or under studied and largely unregulated, exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is widespread”
Page 728 – Our Bodies, Ourselves
Reflection
The chemicals mentioned are widespread and obviously recognized to be harmful. Don’t you see something wrong with a well known BPA chemical being used in our children’s baby bottles and cups when people are ware of the possible affects? This really boggles my mind. I wonder why the government has not done away with this chemical. They are so worried about healthcare and costs. Why wouldn’t they attack at the root of a lot of diseases?