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Health Science
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Jun 23, 2024
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HNSC 2130 - HW 2
Fall 2019
1)
Chapter 14: Seeking Solutions Question #6 - You are the parent of two young chil-
dren and you want to minimize the environmental health risks your kids are exposed to. Name five steps that you could take in your household and in your daily life that would minimize your children’s exposure to environmental health hazards.
- Five steps that I could take in my household and in my daily life to minimize my chil-
dren’s exposure to environmental health hazards are: •
Diluting indoor pollution and controlling house dust - house dust is a major source of exposure to toxic substances. To minimize accumulation of dust, I should vacuum, mop and dust areas frequently, etc. Indoor pollution should be diluted with fresh air. This can be done by improving ventilation, using air cleaners, controlling sources of air pollution, etc
•
Switching to less toxic personal care and cleaning products - many brands use toxic substances such as triclosan, parabens, oxybenzone and phthalates. To minimize expo-
sure to these toxins, I could read labels and choose products that are free from these things or I could even make my own cleaning solutions •
Removing shoes when entering the home - many toxic substances including pesticides remain on the soles of your shoes. These substances can remain there for a week even. Removing shoes at the door can make a big difference in the amount of contaminants in the house. •
Being selective with our plastic use - many plastics contain BPA or PVC and they are associated with health effects. The worst thing we can does heat plastic. Heat weakens the material and allows its harmful chemicals to seep into its contents. Also, I can use equipment that require washing or sterilization. •
Encourage hand washing - many germs and chemicals can accumulate on hands. Washing hands, especially before eating, is very important A child’s developing brain is very susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of mercury, lead and ogre toxic chemicals. It can also lead to birth defects, asthma, caner, behavioral disorders, disruption to the endocrine system, etc. These steps, as well as many other important ones can minimize my children’s exposure to environmental health hazards as well as my own.
2)
Chapter 14: After going through the lecture and textbook, pick one type of hazard, disease, or activity listed in your textbook (not used in Question 1) and find more infor-
mation about it.
List the following: a) Health hazard - physical hazards b) Source - UV radiation from sunlight, earthquakes, fires, floods, landslides, blizzards, hurricanes, droughts, volcanic disruptions, etc.
c) Treatment -
d) Prevention - scientists can map geologic faults to determine areas at risk for natural disasters and help people prepare for them, engineers can design and build buildings that are resistant to these disasters, governments and the people can create and implement emergency plans to prepare for aftermaths, improving forestry and flood control practices, regulating development in areas prone to dis-
asters, shielding skin from intense sunlight, etc. e) Copy/paste link(s) to your source(s). 3)
Chapter 15: Seeking Solutions Question #2 - Describe three ways in which your own actions contribute to water pollution. Now describe three ways in which you could diminish these impacts.
- Three ways that I contribute to water pollution are by: •
Pouring just anything down the sink drain or into the toilet - Dumping toxic chemicals will
eventually add up. Waste can clog pipes and cause them to be backed up. They can also contaminate local bodies of water. I can diminish these impacts by properly disposing of toxic chemicals. Many substances be be recycled or dropped off for safe disposal. Also, I can get rid of fat, grease and cooking oil by throwing it in the trash or keeping them in a fat jar for disposal with other solid waste.
•
Not reusing or recycling - when I don’t buy products that are recyclable, I increase con-
sumption. For example, plastic is very difficult to break down after it is produced. Most of the plastic we use end up in the world’s water supply. Here, it is even harder to fish out and safely throw away and eventually spread decay. I can diminish these impacts by
reusing items as many times as possible. This would limit my consumption and less of these products would end up in the world’s rivers, lakes and oceans. •
Leaving water running while brushing teeth or scrubbing body - I often leave the water on just out of pure laziness. Having water that is clean enough to drink and use requires a lot of energy. Conserving water can help preserve water as a global source and every bit of water saved, am help the environment. I can diminish these impacts my turning off faucets when they’re not in use, taking showers instead of baths, taking shorter showers, etc. 4)
Chapter 15: Seeking Solutions Question #4 - California’s governor has put you in charge of water policy for the state. Aquifers beneath the state have been over-pumped and many wells have run dry. Agricultural production in the state is down and farmers are
clamoring for you to do something. Meanwhile, more water is needed for burgeoning ur-
ban populations in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. What policies would you consider to restore California’s water supply? Would you try to take steps to increase
supply, decrease demand or both? Explain why you would choose such policies. - I’d take steps to both increase supply and decrease demand. There has to be a healthy balance between availability and usage. - Policies that I’d consider are:
•
Using irrigation systems instead of blanket irrigation - this would decrease evaporation losses and put water right back into the plant’s roots
•
Education and outreach - this would raise awareness and encourage water recycling •
Using water recycling systems - this would catch any excess runoff or condense steam to
be recycled
•
Using drought tolerant plants - this would decrease water usage
•
Increase oversight of groundwater use - this would regulate usage and decrease overdraft
•
Minimizing groundwater contamination - this would lessen pollution of local drinking supplies ***
In question 2 part c, I wasn’t sure what was meant by treatment. How can physical hazards be treated?
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