Term
| 1. Comprehend the links between human health and the environment. |
|
Definition
• The environment can affect human health in many ways. Some of these are immediate and obvious. Other effects may be more difficult to discover. Where people live, work, and spend time can have direct consequences on their health.
• Exposure occurs when there is contact between people and an environmental contaminant
• Conditions in the environment may exacerbate existing health conditions. The environment can also help improve people’s health. |
|
|
Term
| How does assessment examine the impact of the environment on human health? |
|
Definition
o Assessing contaminants in the environment: source of contamination, environmental media and transport mechanisms, point of exposure, route of exposure, receptor population
o Determining the heath impact of a completed exposure pathway
o Assessing the environment of a community
o Assessment of individuals: taking an exposure history |
|
|
Term
| How does intervention examine the impact of environment on human health? |
|
Definition
| after assessing the situation, the nurse decides which intervention will best help to protect and improve health. The intervention is most often something designed to interrupt or break the exposure pathway. Interventions make a community’s environment healthier need to include the community input, be as evidence based as possible, and be feasible given political and economic limitations |
|
|
Term
| How does evaluation examine the impact of environment on human health? |
|
Definition
trying to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention that stops exposures or makes an environment healthier can be challenging. An evaluation performed for any intervention should help decide whether the intervention has achieved its goals and whether improvements or changes need to be made.
Some types of questions to consider when evaluating an intervention include the following:
- Has the exposure pathway been interrupted?
- What does the community think about the intervention- are people satisfied?
- How has people’s health improved?
- How many people did the intervention affect?
- Can the intervention demonstrate any cost savings?
- Is the evaluation sustainable? |
|
|
Term
| What is the exposure pathway? |
|
Definition
1. Source of contamination
2. Environmental media and transport
3. Point of exposure
4. Route of exposure
5. Receptor population |
|
|
Term
| What happens if any part of the exposure pathway is interrupted? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 4. Describe several environmental conditions to consider when assessing the environment of a community. |
|
Definition
Access to healthy housing
Access to potable water
Sanitation and waste removal
Access to green spaces
Ambient air
Indoor air
Advanced buildings, vacant lots, or facilities
Access to healthy and safe foods
Access to physical activity such as biking, or other public spaces that encourage physical activity
Location of schools, public facilities, public transportation, and entertainment
Safety and crime
Animals-strays or pets
Vectors
Access to healthcare (primary care providers and services such as pharmacies)
Climate
Noise
Ultraviolent (UV) radiation
Subsistence or supplemental food gathering and hunting
Cultural practices and traditions
Natural and man-made hazards
Community concerns |
|
|
Term
| What is environmental justice? |
|
Definition
The belief that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental health consequences (regardless of race, culture, or income)
Key Concept---environmental justice is important to consider when looking at the impact of the environment on a community. |
|
|
Term
| 6. Identify major global environmental health issues. |
|
Definition
• Clean water and sanitation- in the US, most have access to clean water and sanitation. The regions with the lowest access were sub-Saharan African, southern Asia, and eastern Asia. A major killer, diarrhea, is largely preventable
• Air quality
• Climate change |
|
|
