In: Operations Management
please answer the following questions.
Introduction
Which global/environmental health problem did you pick? How many are affected by this health problem on a given year. (Use latest yearly data). Is it fatal? If so, how many people die on a yearly basis? (Use latest yearly data). Any future projections of the health problem?
Societal Impacts of the Health Problem
How does the health problem affect individuals? Physically? Mentally? What is the economic costs to society/country/individuals due to the health problem? What are the environmental effects from the health problem? (if environmental) What are the determinants of health which may cause/contribute to the health problem? Which geographical areas is mostly affected by this health problem? Countries/regions? Urban vs. Rural? Add any other pertinent information you think is important.
Programs/Policies Enacted for the Health Problem
Are there any preventive measures taken against the health problem? Are there any government policies implemented? Are there any future policies to be enacted? Is there a treatment prescribed for the health problem? OR if an environmental issue how to minimize the effects?
Summary
Just briefly summarize on the previous sections. Include what you think is crucial from each section.
WATER POLLUTION
Water is essential for the existence of all life forms. In addition to household uses, water is vital for agriculture, industry, fishery, and tourism etc. Increasing population, urbanization and industrialization has led to the decreased availability of water. The quality of water used is also being deteriorated as it is getting more and more polluted
Water covers over 70% of the Earth surface. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans. This harms human health and the natural environment.
Water Pollution Parameters: Water may be called polluted when the following parameters stated below reach beyond a specified concentration in water.
i) Physical parameters. Colour, odour, turbidity, taste, temperature and electrical conductivity constitute the physical parameters and are good indicators of contamination. For instance, colour and turbidity are visible evidences of polluted water while an offensive odour or a bitter and difference than normal taste also makes water unfit for drinking.
ii) Chemical parameters: These include the amount of carbonates, sulphates, chlorides, fluorides, nitrates, and metal ions. These chemicals form the total dissolved solids, present in water.
iii) Biological parameters: The biological parameters include matter like algae, fungi, viruses, protozoa and bacteria. The life forms present in water are affected to a good extent by the presence of pollutants. The pollutants in water may cause a reduction in the population of both lower and higher plant and animal lives. Thus, the biological parameters give an indirect indication of the amount of pollution in water.
Affect of Water Pollution: Water, air and soil pollution, along with other environmental factors, contribute to 40 percent of deaths worldwide each year.
In a review of research into the effects of environmental pollutants and other sources of environmental degradation, estimates that 62 million deaths per year (40 percent of all that occur) can be attributed to environmental factors, particularly organic and chemical pollutants that accumulate in the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Dirty water
With an estimated 1.1 billion people in the world lacking access to clean water (according to WHO estimates), it is little wonder that waterborne infections account for 80 percent of all infectious diseases in the world.
Water contaminated with untreated sewage and fecal matter can facilitate the transmission of diarrheal diseases such as cholera (bacteria that live in feces), intestinal infections (which can compound health issues by causing malnutrition) and other diseases—all of which kill millions every year, especially children.
A 2004 study found that 2.2 million infants and children die each year from diarrhea, caused largely by contaminated water and food. And, according to their estimates, polluted water in Africa and India causes 1.4 million deaths each year as a result of diarrheal diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
Issues in Environmental Health:
Environmental health is a dynamic and evolving field. While not all complex environmental issues can be predicted, some known emerging issues in the field include:
Climate Change: Climate change is projected to impact sea level, patterns of infectious disease, air quality, and the severity of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and storms.
Disaster Preparedness: Preparedness for the environmental impact of natural disasters as well as disasters of human origin includes planning for human health needs and the impact on public infrastructures, such as water and roadways
Nanotechnology: The potential impact of nanotechnology is significant and offers possible improvements to:
However, nanotechnology may also present unintended health risks or changes to the environment
The Built Environment
Features of the built environment appear to impact human
health-influencing behaviors, physical activity patterns, social
networks, and access to resources
Exposure to Unknown Hazards
Every year, hundreds of new chemicals are introduced to the market.
It is presumed that some of these chemicals may present new,
unexpected challenges to human health, and their safety should be
evaluated prior to release.
These cross-cutting issues are not yet understood well enough to inform the development of systems for measuring and tracking their impact. Further exploration is warranted. The environmental health landscape will continue to evolve and may present opportunities for additional research, analysis, and monitoring.