Environment assignment - Essay Example

i. Environmental Risks to Human Health Envronmental risks related to lifestyle (behaviors and actions). a). The risk of bites by venomous aquatic animals such as jellyfish and fire corals while swimming in the ocean. Swimming and is a favorite outdoor I enjoy on weekends. This risk is an involuntary. b).The risk of hypoxia which is reduced supply of oxygen to body tissues and leads to headaches, anorexia, vomiting and vomiting. This risk is posed by mountain climbing expeditions which involve moving to high altitude areas with reduced oxygen pressure.

This is an involuntary risk. C). Exposure to ultraviolet radiations (UV). The UV radiations exposure during sun bathing after swimming can damage the eyes and the skin. This is a voluntary risk. 2) Environmental risks related to home and Neighborhood. a)Inhaling Carbon Monoxide that emanates from incomplete combustion of fossil fuel . These fuels are used for cooking or heating homes during cold seasons. Exposure to carbon monoxide at home may be considered as involuntary and poses the risk headaches, cognitive impairments and other neuro-psychiatrist problems. b) Risk posed by pesticides that are used for exterminating and preventing insect pests.

The pesticide has a negative effect on the human reproductive and neurological systems. This is an involuntary risk. C) Exposure to volatile organic compounds used at home for cleaning appliances and for personal hygiene such as hair fresheners. These compounds cause nose eye and throat irritation and also affects the kidney and the nervous system. It is an involuntary risk. 3. Environmental risks related to living (school and work). a) Noise and Vibration risks. The noise and vibration emanates from highway traffic when traveling from home to and from school.

This noise cause headaches, stress and may also result in damaging of the eardrum and the subsequent impairment of hearing capability. b) Risk of sudden change of heat and humidity. The sudden change in heat and humidity especially in while working in the field during hot dry conditions may cause heat stroke and dehydration. This is an involuntary risk since the exposure occurs on normal work performance schedule. c) The risk of Slips and fall. This risk is posed by highly polished floors and wet surfaces at school and the work place.

Slips and falls cause joint dislocations, broken ribs and traumas. This is an involuntary risk. ii. Entry of the toxic substance to the body. a).For a child living in an old house in which the paint is peeling is found to have an elevated level of lead in his blood the entry roe is through ingestion of the peeled paint. The lead in the ingested paint is absorbed by the blood stream, where it is then passed on to body tissues and bones. (Committee on Health Environment, 2005). b) For worker in a retail dry-cleaning establishment who specialized in removing stains by rubbing them with special solvents who develops liver disease, diagnosed to be caused by chlorinated hydrocarbons the route of entry through inhalational exposure to the vapors.

The inhaled vapors are absorbed by the blood in the lungs and transported by the blood to the liver where they may cause distal renal tubular acidosis (emedicine, 2009). c) For a hiker becomes violently ill after being bitten by a rattlesnake the route of entry of the venom is through the blood. The venom is then transmitted within the blood whereby it causes blood coagulation and poisoning of the nervous system (Joseph, 1992). The high circulation rate of to hikers blood due to engaging in physical activity increases the rate of spread of the venom in the body thus making him/ her violently ill. a) Iii.Chlorine poisoning from chlorinated water.

Chlorine is sued in treatment of drinking water to kill pathogens that causes diseases such as typhoid fever, gastroenteritis, cholera and dysentery. However, the safe dosage for human health may not kill worms, viruses and cysts. Therefore, chlorination should be supplemented with filtration to disinfect water for consumption purposes. Alternatively super chlorination may be undertaken which is then followed with dechlorination treatment to remove excess chlorine residues. There is reduced death rates in countries having access to chlorinated water in comparison to countries whose water is untreated The level of chlorine concentration should not exceed 250mg/litre to avoid health complications (WHO, 1996).

References Committee on Health Environment. (2005). Lead Exposure in Children: Prevention, Detection, and Management. Retrieved 13 February 2011, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/116/4/1036 Emedicine. (2009). Toxicity, hydrocarbons. Retrieved 13 February 2011, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821143-overview Joseph, K. J. (1992).Snakes, Venom and Snake Bites. Retrieved 13 February 2011, from http://www.physicianbyte.com/SnakeVenom.aspx WORLD Health Organization (1996).

Chloride in Drinking Water. Guidelines for Drinking- Water Quality, 2nd edition vol 2. Retrieved 13 February 2011 from