Question

Environmental Health Issues

You have learned about the various environmental issues, including physical, chemical and biological agents that impact our health.

Based on your understanding of the environmental issues, create a 5- to 6-page Microsoft Word document that includes the answers to the following questions:

Examine the regulatory agencies related to your chosen environmental agent? What is the role of these agencies?

Discuss the environmental standards related to your chosen agent? How will these standards decrease the hazards in your local community?

Analyze the factors (such as physical, cognitive, behavioral, financial, and emotional) that can influence your chosen environmental issue. Describe the impact of your chosen environmental issue on a diverse population. Support using examples.

Evaluate the ways in which the environmental issue will impact the involved staff. Also, discuss how different staff will be involved to deal with the issue.

Answer 1

Environmental health issues

The natural world, ecosystem or the surroundings is called Environment. There are a number of environmental issues that adversely affects the health of human beings and other living things such as water and air pollution, environmental degradation, global warming and resource depletion. Different physical, biological and chemical agents also contributing to the environmental issues that resulting in deterioration of health such as noice, radiations , vibrations ( physical) and cleaners, disinfectants, asbestos ( chemical ) and biological agents( bacteria, viruses, contaminated food).

Noise pollution

Excess noise, which is unpleasant or harmful is called noise pollution. It has an adverse impact on humans and animals' health.  

1. Regulatory agencies for noise or noise pollution  

  

* EPA ( United States environmental protection agency)

EPA is the responsible agency that investigate  the causes and effects of noise , even though the states and local governments handles the issue. EPA worked on this under 'The noise control Act 1972' and ' quiet communities Act' 1978.

* Other federal agencies are Federal Aviation Administration , Different departments such as department of transport, Housing and Urban development etc.

2. Role of regulatory agencies

EPA ( already explained)

* Federal Aviation Administration (  FAA): regulates noise from aircraft sources. Coordinating program with aviation community for Aircraft noise control. Also there is a provision to report in case of any complaints related to aircraft noise.

Department of housing and Urban development ( HUD): regulates noise in the community.

Department of transportation : regulates highway noise

3 . Environmental standards of noise

Noise standards in the community by Department of housing and Urban development: If environmental and community noise exposure exceeds 65 dB , then the area is considered as noise- impacted area. These ares should implement noise abatement features.  Above 75dB is unacceptable, special approval from Secretary for community planning and development should be obtained in such cases.

High way noise control: Many cities have there own city noise codes. The horn sound of vehicles are limited to 93dB. Unnecessary honking should be avoided in most of the cities.

EPA recommends an indoor noise level( maximum  45 dB) and out door (55 dB for a easy communication process.

For aircraft noise control, there are certification for Aircrafts by FAA. Stage 1 aircrafts are louder and stage 4 are the quieter ones. Technological advances also made in the design and location of aircraft engines to reduce the noise.

4. How standards decrease the hazards in local community

Many health hazards such permanent and temporary effects are produced as a result of noise pollution.There will be permanent effect such as hearing loss may happen as a result of sudden exposure to a high intense volume. Temporary effects such as emotional disturbances, migraine, head aches, communication impairments can be avoided by implementing the noise standards in the public as well as in the indoors.   Cardio vascular complications in the elderly is an another complication of noise pollution. Controlling noise in the workplace may prevent employees from the adverse effects such as hearing impairment, hypertension, sleeplessness at night, heart problems etc.