1. Describe the major sources of air pollution, and list strategies for minimizi
ID: 637442 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Describe the major sources of air pollution, and list strategies for minimizing their effects.
2. Analyze sources of water pollution, and list ways to protect water quality.
3. Describe the risks of noise pollution and methods for minimizing it.
4. Describe the elements of the visual environment and how they affect health.
5. List the common energy sources and describe how to conserve them.
6. Explain the benefits of recycling, and describe methods of waste disposal.
7. Discuss the impact of the natural environment on human health status, and list guidelines for protecting and preserving the environment.
8. Describe ways to become an effective health advocate for the environment.
Explanation / Answer
1. Major sources of air pollution-
Strategies to minimize the air pollution-
1)Reduce the air pollution of your automobile
2)Save energy
3)Use eco-friendly products in your home
4)Do not smoke inside your home
5)Keep air-cleaning houseplants
2. Sources of water pollution -
Ways to protect water quality
3.Noise health effects are the physical and psychological health consequences of regular exposure, to consistent elevated sound levels. Elevated workplace or environmental noise can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance.
Methods to minimize noise pollution-
1)Shut the Door when using noisy Machines
We can shut the door after we turn on dishwashers or washing machines for rooms where it is kept or we can turn them on before leaving house so that overlapping of exposure to loud noises can be reduced
2) Use Earplugs
Use of earplugs or earmuffs can bring down loud noises to manageable level. Earplugs are small inserts that fit into out ear canal. And earmuffs fit over the entire outer ear to form an air seal keeping ears safe from loud noises.
3) stay away from Noisy area
Noise producing industries, airports, vehicles should be far from residential areas as it very dangerous for infants and senior citizens.
4) Follow the Limits of Noise level
Community law should check use of loudspeakers, outdoor parties as well as political public announcements.
5) Control Noise level near sensitive areas
There should be control on noise level (Silent zones) near schools, hospitals. Place noise limits boards near sensitive areas.
6) Go Green by planning trees
We can plant more trees as they are good noise absorbents. According to studies it can reduce noise by 5 to 10 decibels Db around them.
4. Elements of visual environents and their affects to human health -
1) Quality Food Production and Food Security
Quality food production and food security have several components, including the production of sufficient amounts of food, adequate nutrient content in the food products, and the exclusion of potentially toxic compounds from the food products.
2) Influence of Soils on Crop Yield and Food Security
Soils that contain substances such as heavy metals, which may be toxic to humans, can pass those substances on to humans through crop uptake, leading to unsafe foods that compromise food security.
3) Heavy Metals
Heavy metals enter soils naturally through the weathering of rocks, but they have also been introduced into soils through human activity. Heavy metals are the by-products of mining ores, and they are present in mine spoils and in the immediate surroundings of metal processing plants. Heavy metals are released into soils from landfills that contain industrial and household wastes and from sewage sludge that comes from wastewater treatment plants.
4) Organic Chemicals
A large amount of these organic chemicals come from the agricultural application of herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides. Soil pollution with organic chemicals is not limited to farming areas. Soils in urban areas are also polluted with organic chemicals as a result of industrial activities, coal burning, motor vehicle emissions, waste incineration, and sewage and solid waste dumping. Both farming and urban areas have soil contamination that includes a complex mixture of organic chemicals, metals, and microorganisms caused by municipal and domestic septic system waste, farm animal waste, and other biowastes.
5. Common energy sources -
Conservation measures of energy -
1). Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
To reduce energy consumption in your home, you do not necessarily need to go out and purchase energy efficient products. Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them. You can also use energy-intensive appliances less by performing household tasks manually, such as hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer, or washing dishes by hand.
2) Replace your light bulbs
Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume an excessive amount of electricity and must be replaced more often than their energy efficient alternatives. Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use anywhere from 25-80% less electricity and last three to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.
3) Install a programmable or smart thermostat
A programmable or smart thermostat can be set to automatically turn off or reduce heating and cooling during the times when you are asleep or away. When you install a programmable thermostat, you eliminate wasteful energy use from heating.
4) Purchase energy efficient appliances
On average, appliances are responsible for 13% of your total household energy use. When purchasing an appliance, you should pay attention to two numbers: the initial purchase price and the annual operating cost. Although energy efficient appliances usually have higher purchase prices, their operating costs are 9-25% lower than conventional models.
5) Reduce your water heating expenses
Water heating is a major contributor to your total energy consumption. Other than purchasing an energy efficient water heater, there are three methods of reducing your water heating expenses: you can simply use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, or insulate your water heater and the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes.
6) Install energy efficient windows
Windows are significant source of energy waste, which can amount to 10-25% of your total heating bill. To prevent heat loss through your windows, you can replace single-pane windows with double-pane ones.
6. Benefits of recycling -
Methods of waste disposal
1) Incineration
Incineration is a fancy way to describe burning waste as a disposal method. This process generates heat, which is then used for energy. Incineration also creates byproducts, including various gases and inert ash. The incinerator design and the waste material being burned dictates how much pollution this method creates. Filters can minimize the pollution.
2) Recycling
Materials you put into your recycling bin get a new purpose after being processed and turned into new or similar products. The most common recyclable items are plastic, paper, glass and aluminum. Recycling bins are available for home, office or public use to collect recyclables before being taken to recycling centers. Many communities also offer curbside pickup of recyclables to make this option easier. Recycling is the most environmentally friendly method because it doesn't add any waste material.
3) Composting
Composting is a natural process where organic wastes break down into nutrient-rich compost perfect for your garden plants. Microbes decompose the organic materials as they sit in a compost pile or bin for months. Composting preserves more nutrients than incineration and is the preferred method for organic waste disposal.
4) Sanitary Landfill
A landfill is an option for items that you can't get rid of through other methods. A protective lining beneath the waste helps to prevent harmful chemicals from leaking into the groundwater and polluting drinking water. A layer of earth goes over the compacted waste. Soil with low permeability is preferred for landfills to cut down on the potential for leakage.
7. The effects on health from exposure to chemicals and air pollutants vary from allergies to cancer. Although the link between exposure and disease is often not clear, a direct causal relationship has been found for some cases. Even at low exposure levels, urban air pollutants can cause asthma, allergies, respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases if the exposure is continuous or long term. Heavy metals have been shown to cause neurological disorders and various cancers. POPs can also cause various cancers and are suspected of causing birth defects and reproductive disorders.
Guidelines for protecting and preserving the environments -
8. Ways to become an effective health advocate for the environment -
1)Communicating
Health Care advocates educate patients and their families by interfacing with providers and payers to ensure patients understand their diagnoses, prognoses, treatment options, and post treatment instructions.
2) Promoting Patient Safety, Empowerment, and Rights
Advocates educate patients about their rights within the health care system, safety, procedures and treatments, discharge instructions, costs, and insurance coverage. Health care advocates are tasked with presenting this information in a transparent and meaningful way to help the patient fully understand their choices. This responsibility is a key component of being an advocate.
3) A working knowledge of Medical Terminology and the Health Care System
Understanding the complex nature of health care requires attention to detail and an excellent grasp of medical terminology. Appropriate and thorough notation and documentation of issues expressed by patients regarding their care is essential.
4)Understanding how Health Care is Financed
A key responsibility of a health care advocate is helping patients navigate the stressful financial aspects of healthcare. This includes educating patients on reimbursement, billing, and financing options.
5) Resolution and Follow Up
Through active listening, health care advocates find solutions to patient concerns and bring issues to the attention of providers and payers. This is especially important for patients with chronic health conditions or complex medical needs where care may need to be coordinated among multiple providers.
6) Professionalism in Maintaining and Ensuring Patient Confidence
Patient advocates understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding private health information. It is very important that health care advocates are trustworthy and have high ethical standards so they are trusted liaisons among patients, caregivers, and health care professionals, which leads to better and safer care.
7) Being Proactive
Alerting hospital administrators about potential legal issues regarding unresolved complaints is one way health care advocates are proactive in the organizational environment. Health care advocates may also work as patient care coordinators ensuring all providers are informed about treatments, tests, and medications.
8)Improving Systems and Policy
A hospital advocate works to decrease risk to the hospital by ensuring that patients' complaints and grievances are reported and acted upon in a timely manner - and that the hospital takes steps to prevent reoccurrence in the future.
9) Relationship Building
Health care advocates may have clinical or administrative backgrounds in the health care system (e.g. former case managers, doctors, nurses) and can use their experiences to help patients navigate the bureaucracy of this complex environment.
10) Professional Development
There is currently no certification or credentialing for patient advocacy in the U.S. However, there are ethical guidelines and parameters promoted by professional organizations such as the National Patient Advocate Foundation to drive industry standards, educate patients and health care workers, and partner with other state and federal organizations.
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