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Overview
Overview
In this activity, you will continue your study of the pollutants and environmental contaminants that affect human health. Specifically, you will look at how the human body can react to exposure to different environmental contaminants. Finally, you will graph and compare data on the environmental impacts to human health in different countries around the world.
Content
Content
Today, the level of certain environmental contaminants is lower than it was 20 or 30 years ago, due to restrictions or bans on the use of some substances. There is still cause for concern though, as the incidence of illnesses and diseases connected to environmental contamination is still increasing and new chemicals are being released into the environment.
Trying to determine the overall impact on human health of environmental contamination is difficult because the effects are varied and many are not completely understood.
The World Health Organization has attempted to quantify (assign a number) to the amount of disease caused by environmental risks.
The Disability Adjusted Life Year, or DALY, is a measure of the amount of disease caused by environmental risks. One DALY can be thought of as one lost year of ‘healthy' life, and can be used to compare the environmental impact of human health in different countries to develop ways to improve the environment and human health.
COMMON BODY REACTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS
COMMON BODY REACTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS
There are a wide range of health effects from environmental risks, and many of the effects on the human body are not yet fully understood.
1. Skin Conditions
1. Skin Conditions
A rash is a change in the skin's colour, appearance, or texture. It may cause the skin to change color, become itchy, warm, bumpy, dry, or blistered. A large number of pollutants and skin irritants may cause skin rashes.
2. Asthma and Respiratory Problems
2. Asthma and Respiratory Problems
Many people believe increased air pollution has contributed to an increase in the number of people developing asthma and other respiratory problems. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of a person's airway that causes shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.
The cause of asthma is not known, but asthma symptoms and attacks usually occur as the result of some type of “trigger”. Chemical fumes and other air pollutants are common triggers for many people's asthma attacks.
3. Viral and Bacterial Infections
3. Viral and Bacterial Infections
Thanks to Canada's advanced drinking water systems and food processing procedures, our exposure to viral and bacterial contaminants is far less than in other parts of the world. Our systems do not completely remove the risk of exposure to contaminated water or food though.
In the spring of 2000, seven people died in Walkerton, Ontario from drinking water contaminated with E. coli bacteria from cattle manure. More recently, in 2008, more than 20 Canadians died of listeriosis, a type of food poisoning caused by the Listeria bacteria. Listeria food poisoning causes vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache, or fever. In some cases, it can cause an infection in the brain and/or blood poisoning, either of which can result in death.
4. Heavy Metal Poisoning
4. Heavy Metal Poisoning
Exposure to heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, can cause a variety of body reactions.
Short term effects of lead exposure might include nausea, abdominal pain, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and in extreme cases, seizure and coma. Chronic exposure can lead to nervous system damage, and loss of muscle control in the hands. Scientists have also linked lead poisoning in children with the development of extreme learning disabilities.
Short term mercury exposure causes rashes, excessive sweating, muscle twitching, and high blood pressure. Long term exposure can result in lack of coordination, blindness and hearing loss, and delays in walking and talking in children.
5. Cancer
5. Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably and invade and destroy nearby tissue, affecting the function of the invaded tissue. There are many different types of cancers and the specific causes of many remain unknown.
However, some chemicals have been discovered to cause or promote the growth of cancer. These substances are called carcinogens, and are dangerous pollutants if they are present in our environment. Well known chemical carcinogens include: tobacco smoke, benzene, asbestos, and vinyl chloride.
The increase in cancers, such as breast, testicular, and prostate, may be linked to exposure to various environmental contaminants.
6. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
6. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Over the past few decades, some people have developed allergy-like symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, skin rashes, headaches, seizures, and nausea. What links these symptoms is that there appears to be no single, identifiable cause for them.
Many believe these symptoms may be the result of long term, low level exposure to chemicals and other substances common in today's environment. Substances such as smoke, pesticides, plastics, scented products, and paints are implicated in these ailments. This condition has been calledMultiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and a lot remains to be discovered about this condition.
Class Work
Class Work
Work to be completed in Google Classroom
GRAPHING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
For this assignment, you are going to graph the DALY (see above) values for different countries around the world to compare the impacts of a country's environment on the health of its people.
Using the information in the chart below, you are to create a bar graph of the DALY values for the different countries. You will then use your graph to answer the questions.
Environmental Burden of Disease: DALYs Values for Different Countries
Country
DALYs per 1 000 people
Brazil 37
Canada 16
Mexico 26
Angola 304
Ethiopia 147
Afghanistan 217
Kuwait 15
Liberia 231
India 68
China 34
Japan 15
Chad 190
Switzerland 15
Information courtesy of World Health Organization
Questions:
Submit the answers to the following questions with your graph.
Based on the data from the graph, which country's environment has the greatest negative impact on the health of its residents?
Which country's environment has the lowest negative impact on its residents?
Which region of the world's environment has the greatest negative impact on human health? (Africa, the Americas, the Mediterranean, Europe, or Asia).
Explain the reasons why different countries such as Canada, and Kuwait, can have very low DALY values, compared to countries such as Angola and Afghanistan. You may need to do some Internet research about the different countries to answer this question.
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