Question

Select an environmental health issue, such as acid rain, air pollution, plastic in the ocean, etc. Discuss why it is an issue in Australia and recommend three steps healthcare professionals in the community or in policy making can take to change the issue for the better. (200 words)

Answer 1

One of the common environmental issue is mining and related health issues in Australia. Impacts of this is very broad. There are direct environmental impacts of uranium mining in terms of tailing waste.,production and mining process and their impact on the local environment. Tailings from uranium mining contain 80%of the level of radioactivity of the original ore as a result of the presence of urarani decay. Products.

Impacts of uranium mining is very broad. There are impacts resulting from the end use of uranium in energy and weapons production involving risk of radioactive leaks ,emissions, melt downs,and nuclear detonations at great risk to the environment and public health.At the end of the uranium cycle ,the uranium either ends up as some form of waste or as a weapon.

For the uranium mining needs lots of water.in future this rate can increase .The impact of this water usage has been the long term degradation of the mound springs as well as serious depletion of the ground water tables in the Great artesian basin and the mound spring system. This degradation needs urgent investigation with expertise in the environmental effects of uranium mining.

Tailings dams at the mine have been plagued by similar problems of poor design ,faulty construction, and mid management yo those mine.the risks tailing dams leaking is risk to the environment through contamination. Members of the public, indigenous people ,and workers are exposure to radiation.

Uranium mining facilities produce tailing that generally are disposed of in near surface impoundment close to the mine.these poses serious environmental and health risks in the form of randon emission, windblown dust dispersal and leaching of contaminants including heavy metals and arsenic into the water.

Community health services are depends on the needs of individuals, families and community living in this area.community health program support flexibility in the delivery of services and enables CHSs to devolep models of care that meet the needs of their local communities.

CHSs focus on health promotion,disease prevention and management which designed to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents as well as take pressure off the acute health care system.

Primary healthcare services include

• Counselling and support services
• Health promotion activities.
• Medical and nursing services.
• Allied health services including audiology, physiology exercise, dietetics, occupational therapy, speech therapy.

And also they provide other services also .

• Aged care services
• Alcohol and drug programs
• Mental health program
• Rehabilitation program
• Support for self help
• Disability services

CHSs provide affordable health care,services for the local residents regardless of income.