The A to Z

of
Environmental Health
ENVR 1030

Prof Joseph Kwan

Feb 10, 2022

A https://youtu.be/GVBeY1jSG9Y
 B
Dying Bee Colonies and contaminated Honey world wide

Neonicotinoid insecticides are found in

75% of global honey samples and half contain a
cocktail of chemicals
https://www.science.org/content/article/pesticides-found-honey-around-world
C

All human societies, from primitive to advanced, have had to adapt to the challenges
posed by climate. It affects where people live, how they make a living, what they eat,
the abundance or lack of fresh water and even what they do in their leisure time.
NIH 2010
 D

The World Health Organization considers access to safe drinking-water a basic

human right. About 1 to 2 billion people lack safe drinking water, a problem that
causes 30,000 deaths each week. More people die from unsafe water than from war.
UN 2010
https://youtu.be/2rQ0TNhx_YQ https://youtu.be/LSqan1xmMpY
 E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibfAF66JzFE

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are mostly man-

made, found in various materials such as pesticides, metals, additives or
contaminants in food, and personal care products.
EDCs have been suspected to be associated with:
- altered reproductive function in males and females;
- increased incidence of breast cancer,
- abnormal growth patterns and neurodevelopmental delays in children,
- as well as changes in immune function.
WHO 2012
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-
Unsafe Food causes many diseases, ranging from diarrheal diseases to
various forms of cancer. Foodborne disease outbreaks have devastating health
and economic impacts everywhere.

- With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food
is a threat to human health and economies globally. Foodborne diseases in low-
and middle-income countries costs at least US$100 billion a year, with this cost
exceeding US$500 million for 28 countries, according to a recent World Bank
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https://youtu.be/rx953M-tpp4
Controversies and public concern surrounding GM Foods and crops commonly focus on human and
environmental safety, labelling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty
reduction and environmental conservation.

With this new technology on gene manipulation what are the risks of “tampering with Mother Nature”?, what
effects will this have on the environment?, what are the health concerns that consumers should be aware of? and is
recombinant technology really beneficial?
J Food Sci Technol v.50(6); 2013 Dec
H

Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious
heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat
exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided.
I

Influenza – Seasonal epidemics and periodic pandemics

Epidemics - Illnesses range from mild to severe and even death. Hospitalization
and death occur mainly among high risk groups. Worldwide, these annual
epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness,
and about 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths.

•Pandemics –
• Spanish flu (1918–1920): 40-50 million deaths
• Asian Flu (1957–1958):
• Hong Kong Flu (1968–1969)
• Russian Flu (1977–1978)
• H1N1/09 Flu Pandemic (2009–2010): 6000+ deaths
J

https://youtu.be/jzw5YgUESiY

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Japan

….presence of radioactive tuna off the coasts of the Pacific U.S.

K
 L

Legionnaires’ Disease is caused by a ubiquitous water-borne bacterium, Legionella pneumophila.

It causes outbreaks of pneumonia world-wide. In USA alone, there are 8000-18,000 cases per year.
https://youtu.be/uojhgOpEsk4

Hong Kong authorities find excessive levels of Legionella in MTR cooling towers after 11
M

Malaria is widespread in the tropical and subtropical

regions. In 2016, there were 216 million cases of malaria
worldwide resulting in an estimated 445,000 to 731,000 deaths.
 N

Noise-induced hearing loss is hearing impairment from exposure to loud sound

- About 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise
- Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases.
- By the age of 60, 70% of miners suffer hearing loss.
- Construction workers also suffer an elevated risk.
- Occupational hearing loss is present in up to 33% of workers overall.
O

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical

substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through
the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human
health and the environment. This group of priority pollutants
consists of pesticides (such as DDT), industrial chemicals (such as
polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) and unintentional by-products of
industrial processes (such as dioxins and furans).
P

Air and Pesticides Soil and Pesticides

Wildlife and Pesticides Pollinator Protection
Water and Pesticides Plants and Pesticides
Beneficial Insects Backyard Beekeepers
 Q

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Health officials investigate Q fever outbreak in Melbourne's west (theage.com.au)

Q fever is a disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. This bacteria naturally
infects some animals, such as goats, sheep, and cattle. C. burnetii bacteria are found in the
birth products (i.e. placenta, amniotic fluid), urine, feces, and milk of infected animals.
People can get infected by breathing in dust that has been contaminated by infected
animal feces, urine, milk, and birth products. Some people never get sick; however, those
who do usually develop flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle pain.

Coxiella burnetii is considered a biological warfare agent

R
 Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to
develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. S
Estimates show smoking increases the risk:
For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
For stroke by 2 to 4 times
Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times
Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times

Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased

absenteeism, & increased health care utilization & cost.

https://youtu.be/lW6hwmdZbmE

Cigarette Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. (1/5 all deaths)
Smoking causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Illegal drug & Alcohol use, Motor vehicle injuries, Firearm incidents
>10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the
wars fought by the United States.
Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths. More women die from lung cancer each year than
from breast cancer
Smoking causes about 80% of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.
The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in the U.S.
USCDC 2017
 T

We are surrounded by environmental toxins. Substances that may cause distress or disease to our
bodies can be found in our food, drink, and air. Some of these compounds are
- by-product of an industrialized world,
- naturally-occurring toxic substances.

A high body burden has been implicated in:

- Immunotoxicity - leading to asthma, allergies, cancers and chronic disease;
- Neurotoxicity - leading to cognition impairment, memory loss & sensory and motor dysfunction
- Endocrine toxicity - leading to reproductive issues, loss of libido and metabolic impairment.
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V
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Artificial substances, which did not exist in nature before their synthesis by humans:
- carcinogens, drugs, environmental pollutants, food additives, hydrocarbons, & pesticides

Transport and fate in the environment?

Transport and fate in the human body? https://youtu.be/Z0ikkdNDdmI
 Y

“The Black Death”, Plague, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an
estimated 75 to 200 million people in Eurasia and peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.

The bacterium Yersinia pestis, which results in several forms of plague, is believed to have been the cause.
Transmission of Y. pestis to an uninfected individual is possible by any of the following means:
•droplet contact – coughing or sneezing on another person
•direct physical contact – touching an infected person, including sexual contact
•indirect contact – usually by touching soil contamination or a contaminated surface
•airborne transmission – if the microorganism can remain in the air for long periods
•fecal-oral transmission – usually from contaminated food or water sources
•vector borne transmission – carried by insects or other animals
https://youtu.be/Pb0xBh1X_uU
Yersinia pestis is considered a biological warfare agent
Z

https://youtu.be/mgf-DP589tU

Scientists estimate:
6/10 known infectious diseases in people are spread from animals, and
3/4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people are spread from animals