Environmental+health

=Environmental Health = The world has always been full of dangers for humans. Early hunters and gathers had to find out by trial and sometimes fatal error which plants and fruits were safe to eat and which were poisonous. In previous centuries, cities were often crowded, dusty places where poor sanitation spread diseases such as cholera, the plague, and tuberculosis. Today, advances in sanitation, health, and nutrition have more than doubled longevity worldwide. Previous causes of death throughout history- smallpox, flu, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, plagues, and measles- have been virtually eliminated as serious threats in industrialized nations. Yet, influenza, HIV-AIDS, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, measles, and malaria remain primary killers in Africa, Asia, and other developing regions. Of the one million people who die of malaria each year; 90 percent are from Sub-Saharan Africa. Due in part to these rampant infectious diseases, Sub-Saharan Africa is currently one of only two regions in the world in which longevity is declining (the other is Russia). Many diseases are related to poor land and water use practices. For example, schistosomiasis is believed to have arisen in the last few decades because of irrigation systems in hot climates. Other water contaminants can also cause health problems. Arsenic is a particular problem in Bangladesh, where it has been estimated that 20 percent of wells originally dug to prevent the spread of infectious diseases are contaminated with arsenic levels that pose serious health problems. The ever growing globalization of transportation, trade, and travel also has an impact on environmental health. According to WHO's World Health Report (2007), due in part to the high-mobility of the population, Infectious diseases are now spreading geographically much faster than at any time in history [and] they appear to be emerging more quickly than ever before. Cholera, for example, once largely eliminated from developed countries, continues to be a major health risk all over the world: in 1991, a pandemic from Africa, Asia, and Europe spread to Peru and, by 1995 more than 1 million cases were reported in the Americas. Moreover, diseases once well-controlled by antibiotics, such as tuberculosis, are developing strains highly resistant to current treatment regimens. There is also increasing concern about non-human animal diseases, including Avian Flu and Mad Cow, developing new human-related variants. In addition to infectious agents in the environment, there are also hazardous natural and man-made substances that can pose a risk under certain levels of exposure. For example, airborne particulates can cause respiratory distress and some heavy metals can act as neurotoxins at certain levels. Research aims to identify hazards and assess the level of risk at existing or proposed exposure concentrations, so that exposures can be reduced to acceptable levels. In some cases, however, a substance used to reduce exposure to one hazard is later discovered to pose a risk itself. Asbestos is a good example; it was credited with saving many lives by reducing the threat of deadly fires on ships at sea, but was later found to pose a health risk, particularly among those working in close quarters with the substance. Research is also expanding to understand why individuals vary in their susceptibility to environmental toxins and infectious agents. This is termed gene-environment interaction research. It is known that some populations have developed genetic defenses against certain diseases. Those who carry the sickle cell gene, for example, are less susceptible to malarial infections. Rapidly growing knowledge in the genetic sciences is providing new insight into interactions between genetic characteristics and environmental factors and giving rise to the field of toxicogenomics. A world without risk cannot be expected, but it is possible to reduce exposures to a hazard once it is known and understood to pose a risk at existing levels. There is often disagreement, however, about whether a substance poses a risk at low levels of exposure. More precise measurement equipment has permitted researchers to identify exposures to substances at extremely low levels that were previously unknown to be present in humans. It is usually impossible to test empirically using human or animal studies whether trace levels of agents pose a risk. New approaches are often required. Although there has been remarkable progress in health and genetic research, many research challenges lie ahead.   The World Health Report

The United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO) publishes yearly reports assessing global health, with statistics on all countries.  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

This institute, part of the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), focuses on environment-related diseases and risks. Their site includes fact sheets and questions and answers about environmen­tal health topics such as asbestos, electromagnetic fields, dioxin, aflatoxin, asthma, and cancer. Also see Environmental Health Perspectives, their monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health.  U.S. Centers for Disease Control: Environmental Health

This federal agency offers a comprehensive portal to information and resources on environmental health, including case studies in environmental medicine, toxicological profiles, and related statistics. Create an Environmental Health WebMap which displays information by region, state, zip code, or contaminant.  American Council on Science and Health

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A non-profit consumer education consortium, this organization discusses environment-related diseases and risks in various publications, including its online newsletter Health Facts and Fears.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">FOR THE CLASSROOM
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Health Politics with Dr. Mike Magee

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This site offers over 100 video programs (6-8 minutes each) on a wide variety of public health and policy topics, including infectious diseases and environmental health. Each video is accompanied by downloadable PowerPoint slides, an annotated transcript, and in-depth discussion questions to facilitate classroom conversation. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> The Biology Project ? Chemicals and Human Health

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">University of Arizona Professors Bill Grimes and Rick Hallick share tutorials and quizzes on toxicology, covering what a hazard is, where they can come from, how they affect humans, and methods of control. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): Education page

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The NIEHS website includes general information on environmental health and links to materials suggested for classroom use. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP), University of California, Berkeley: Curricular Materials

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">All SEPUP materials are issue-oriented and hands-on. The collection includes activities on topics in environmental health, in general, and risk assessment, in particular, including probability, acute vs. chronic toxicity, thresholds, and scientists' sampling techniques. [Grades 4-12] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">**References** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">Smith, Allan, Elena O. Lingas, and Mahfuzar Rahman. Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency. World Health Organisation, 2000. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">World Health Organisation. The World Health Report 2007. []