ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
DIET and EXERCISE
* A 12oz soda contain 10 tsp of sugar
* Some Indian farmers claim that coke is an insecticide
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Over the past 50 years we have all been
unwitting participants in a vast, uncontrolled,
worldwide chemistry experiment involving the
oceans, air, soils, plants, animals, and human
beings.
You are not the same as our grandparents
were. You are partly synthetic
PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
Whenever there is a serious threat to health and
environment, lack of scientific certainty should not
postpone cost-effective measures to prevent harm
CHEMICAL PESTICIDES
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Cyanide
Lead
Copper
Increased
Increased
Increased
Decreased
Decreased
Decreased
CYANIDE
Cyanide affects body organs that have a high oxygen requir
heart and brain
Short term effects
Long term effects
1. Irritation
of
mucous
1.
Eye irritation
membranes
5. Skin Ulceration
2. Difficulty of breathing
6. Thyroid enlargem
3. Headache
7. Damage to the
4. Nausea and Vomiting
brain
LEAD
Damage to the nervous system occur in children at blood lead le
previously considered safe or normal
Short term effects
Long term effects
1. Seizures
1. Pallor
2. Headache
2. Seizures
3. Dizziness
3. Memory Loss
4. Memory deficit
4. Wrist/ Foot Dro
5. Epigastric
discomfort,
5. Renal failure
6. Miscarriage
nausea
MERCURY
1. Respiratory Problems
1. Kidney disease
2. Personality chang
3. Tingling/ Numbne
COPPER
1. Metal-fume fever (flu-like)
4. Kidney diseases a
2. Eye and skin discoloration/
5. Liver diseases an
6. Lung diseases an
irritation
**Minamata Disease in Japan: Factory refuse drains
in the river where locals get their fish
**Small-scale Mining in the Cordilleras
Before the main industry of Cordillerans is
focused in farming and agriculture
The introduction of small-scale mining shifted
the industry paradigm
More are into small-scale mining
EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
PHILIPPINE CONCERNS:
1. Toxic waste from abandoned and former US
bases (Asbestos in base camps)
2. Oil spils: Guimaras oil spill
August 11 2006: Petron tanker carrying
2M liters of low-grade bunker oil sank
Living in areas exposed to the crude oil
spillage was significantly associated
with higher anxiety and depression,
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FAMCOMM
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World War
Labor shortage
Influx of inexperienced workers
Higher accident rates
US federal grants for safety
programs
and
health
1960s
coal miners strike vs Black Coal Lung Disease
resulted in:
a. 1969 Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
b. 1972 Black Lung Benefits Act
1970s
different organizations that tackle Occupational
Health
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH)
Setbacks:
low budget
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Biological (6%)
Chemical (34%)
Physical (25%)
Psychological
Ergonomic (35%)
Hazards vs Risk
Hazard: potential to cause harm
Risk: Likelihood of harm
Eg: Cook: Hazard : Knife Risk: Nonuse of personal
protective equipment (apron, gloves etc)
Eg: Potassium Dichromate is a highly carcinogenic
material. It is used to analyze exhaled breath for
alcohol content. For this purpose it is sealed in a tube,
and does not become airborne when air is drawn over
it
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
Occupational Hazards can be classified as:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
BIOLOGIC HAZARDS
SARS: Which occupational groups at risk? health
practitioners
Corona virus is a group of virus that have a
halo or crown like appearance when viewed
under the microscope
In view of the disproportionate association of
SARS cases with people working in the food
industry, a detailed analysis of the exotic
animals sold in Chinese food markets was
carried out. A virus was found in civet cats a
species eaten as a delicacy in China.
How did it affect the workplace?
Directly linked to work and workplaces
No trading
Employees doubts about managements ability
to handle the situation
How can we control this hazard?
The routine use of Use of PPEs such as: Caps,
N-95 mask, Gown, Goggles, Gloves, Shoe
covers
Routine use of PPEs is currently not
recommended in the general workplace
(outside the health-care setting)
Other
Biological Hazards
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis B
HIV/AIDS
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
Leptospirosis
Rabies
Organic dust toxic syndrome
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Over 4 million hazardous chemicals
70,00 chemicals used for commercial purposes
1-3.5% tested for carcinogenicity
5-10% carcinogenic to humans
Less than 10% have been studied for reproductive
effects
Heavy metals: Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Cadmium,
Arsenic
Pesticides:
Organophosphates,
Carbamates,
Organochlorines
Solvents: Benzene, Toulene, Xylene
Gases: Hydrogen sulfide, Carbon monoxide
SOLVENTS
Paint
Ink
Adhesives
Pesticides
Cleaners
-
Paint strippers
Degreaser
Refrigerants
Anesthetics
Dry Cleaning Fluids
Effects:
LOW
LEVEL
EXPOSURE
mild skin irritation
headache
dizziness
feeling of intoxication
nausea
eye,
nose,
throat
irritation
visual disturbances
Long term effect
Toulene
Trichloroethylene
Occupational Hazards
Animal handlers
Agricultural workers
Wood and paper workers
Waste management workers
Sewage workers
Food production workers
Benzene
Ethanol
Glycol Ethers
HIGHER
LEVEL
EXPOSURE
disorientation
confusion
difficulty
in
concentrating
diarrhea
vomiting
shortness of breath
Skin rash
Memory loss, confusion
Facial numbness
Aplastic anemia
Leukemia
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Reproductive toxicity
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VERY HIGH
Seizures
Cardiac arr
CNS depres
Coma and D
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Gases
salivation
Cytogenetic/immunotoxic eff
Solubility in water
Integument: Rashes, sweating
If highly soluble: Irritation of upper airways
Chlorine
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Chlorine dioxide
Ammonia
Can be classified as:
Sulfur dioxide
a) Extremes of temperature: Heat and Cold
b) Pressure
Hydrogen chloride
c) Vibration
Hydrogen fluoride
d) Radiation
Sulfuric acid
e) Noise
Less water soluble irritants cause lower
respiratory tract injury
Extreme Heat
Ozone
Heat rash
Nitrogen dioxide
Heat cramps: sweating, salt loss
Phosgene
Transient heat fatigue
Asphyxiants
Decline
in
task
performance,
Inhalants
that
act
by
oxygen
coordination,
alertness,
and
vigilance
deprivation
Heat exhaustion
Sweating,
weakness
or
fatigue,
oxygen from inspired air
giddiness,
nausea,
or
headache,
hyperthermia,
anhydrosis,
CNS
SIMPLE
Methane from: confined spaces, mining and
disturbances,
(confused,
delirious,
ASPHYXIANTS
sewage
convulsions, or unconscious), death
Carbon
dioxide
from:
combustion
and
can occur.
fermentation
Where it could happen:
TOXIC
Carbon monoxide
Outdoor operations in hot weather,
ASPHYXIANTS
Odorless by-product of combustion
including surface mining, roofing, road
Leading cause of death due to gas
repair and construction, dam building,
and other construction
inhalation
Farming operations
Hemoglobin impairment (COHb)
Iron, steel and nonferrous foundries
Cyanide
brick-firing
and
Bitter almond smell, metal plating, Manufacturing:
ceramics,
glass
products,
rubber
mining, fishing, fires
products
Mitochondrial impairment
Electrical utilities (particularly boiler
Hydrogen sulfide
rooms)
Rotten egg smell
Bakeries
From breakdown of organic materials
Confectioneries
Mitochondrial impairment
Restaurant kitchens
Laundries
PESTICIDES
Food canneries
Prevalent use in the cordilleras.
Mines
Dithane
(fungicide),
Tamaron
Smelters
(organophosphate), and Thoidan (banned
Steam tunnels
organochloride) is still being used in Baguio
Control of extreme Heat
and Benguet
Mechanization of work
Toxicity rating:
Isolate workers from heat
a) RED: Danger! Poison Extremely
toxic
Ventilation: windows, fans, exhaust ventilation
b) YELLOW: Warning! Harmful
Modify work-rest schedule
Highly toxic
Schedule outdoor work
c) BLUE: Caution Moderately toxic
Gradual exposure
d) GREEN: Least toxic
Provide cool rest area
Make liquids available (not alcohol!)
Health effects of exposure:
Wear clothing allowing better heat loss
ACUTE
CHRONIC
CNS:
Dizziness,
headache, Endocrine
disruption Vibration
(thyroid,
Transmission of mechanical energy from oscillating
tremors, seizures, coma CVS: reproductive)
sources
Cardiac
irregularities, Cardiovascular (hypertension)
hypertension
CNS and PNS Disease (neuropathies)
A. Whole body vibration
Respiratory:
Difficulty
of Cancer
Transport fixed machinery can cause:
breathing
Bone marrow effects
a) Disc displacement
GIT: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, Skin lesions
b) Degenerative spinal changes
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FAMCOMM
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B. Local Vibaration
Power tools:
Hand-arm vibration syndrome: Dead hand
or Vibration White Finger
With
vascular,
neurologic,
musculoskeletal components
effects:
Noise-induced hearing loss
Acoustic Trauma ~160 dB
Temporary Threshold Shift (TSS) ~120 dB
Permanent Threshold Shift (PSS)
Interference with communication - safety
hazard
Psychological effects (stress, annoyance, loss
of concentration
Noise control
Work processes
Remote operations
6.3
6.3
6.3
Occupational Stress
Recent promotion beyond capacity
Conflicts due to multiple responsibilities
Too many demands on time
A tiring shift pattern, excess overtime
Too little or boring work
New technology
A new or unreasonable boss
Increased productivity targets
Threat of redundancy
Sexual harassment or bullying
High sickness absence in colleagues
Effects:
Hypertension
Heart Disease
Alcoholism
Mental illness
Immune System alterations
Occupational Stress Control
Primary Prevention: Promote teamwork and Involve
members in decision making
ERGONOMICS
The science of making the work environment safer and
more comfortable for workers using design and
anthropometric data
Workers who are exposed to:
a) repetition
b) prolonged trunk/upper limb intensive activities
c) forceful exertions
d) awkward posture
e) static posture
f) whole body or segmental vibration
g) temperature extremes
h) localized mechanical stress
Occupational Hazards
Epicondylitis
Tendinitis
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FAMCOMM
Dr. Hora January 18 2014
Reynauds phenomenon
Carpet layers knee
Herniated spinal disc
Low back pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Rotator cuff syndrome
De Quervains disease
Trigger finger
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Sciatica
Engineering controls
Recent advancement to prevent
ergonomics includes chanes in:
a) Machines
b) Tools
c) Work station lay-out
hazards
from
Machines/ Equipment
30.0 %
Materials/ Objects
21.5
Hand Tools
20.7
Building Structures
5.2
Distribution Systems
1.2
Occupational Injuries: Causes
Stepping on, striking against or being struck
by objects
Being caught in or between objects
Struck by falling objects
Falls of persons
Over-exertion or strenuous movements
Exposure to or contact with extreme
temperatures
34.8%
17.3%
9.8%
6.8%
12.1%
7.1%
b) Occupational Disease
An abnormal condition or disorder
other than one resulting from an
occupational
injury
caused
by
exposure over a period of time to risk
factors
associated
with
work
activity
OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY
1. Complete work history
2. Work walk-through
Tasks and sub-tasks
Hazards and sources of accidents per
sub-task
The future of occupational health is perhaps to know
how to resolve the conflict between the right to health
and the right to work at the level both of the individual
and all workers, with the aim of protecting health and
allowing employment.- G. Coppee, 24th ICOH, 1993
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