AHECSOUTHCAROLINA

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental ImpactsOn HealthOn Health

Dorothy Cumbey, Ph.D., RN

Jerry Dell Gimarc, MA

with the special help of

Lill Mood, MPH, RN,

Community Liaison, EQCSouth Carolina Department of Health

and Environmental Control

AHECSOUTHCAROLINA

Developed as part of an Developed as part of an Enhanced AHEC Community Enhanced AHEC Community

Partnership for Health Partnership for Health Professions Workforce and Professions Workforce and Educational Reform project Educational Reform project

funded by the Health funded by the Health Resource and Service Resource and Service

Administration (HRSA)Administration (HRSA)

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ObjectivesObjectives

Discuss environmental impacts on health

Describe the role of public health in responding to environmental threats

Identify your role as citizen and health care provider

AHECSOUTHCAROLINA

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impactson Healthon Health

Much of our health improvement has come from clean water and pure air

Health and the environment are inextricably linked

New data are emerging that demonstrate this linkage

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Health and the Environment Health and the Environment Are Inextricably LinkedAre Inextricably Linked

Air quality Water quality Soil contamination

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Health Care Providers must be Health Care Providers must be knowledgeable and active toknowledgeable and active to

Relate to patient concerns Communicate effectively about real

concerns and fears Be active as citizens in policy

decisions that affect the environment Understand how human health is

affected

AHECSOUTHCAROLINA

EverythingEverythingIs Connected to EverythingIs Connected to Everything

Air to water and soil Water to air and soil Soil to water and air Soil and water to food Waste has to go somewhere Population pressures - especially in

vulnerable areas like coast

Click for larger picture

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Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

Identify at least 3 ways your community has been altered in recent times in a way that might affect health status

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Growing number and complexity of chemicals in everyday life

No data on small doses of many chemicals over a long term or on vulnerable populations

Continuing data on health effects of small doses of some contaminants (lead)

New ConcernsNew Concerns

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Everything Is Connected: Everything Is Connected: The Case of LeadThe Case of Lead

Naturally occurring Used for centuries because of its

malleablity and chemical properties Found in air, water, soil and food Has known health effects

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Everything Is Connected: Everything Is Connected: The Case of LeadThe Case of Lead

Children and other vulnerable populations are at particular risk

Removal of lead from gasoline has dramatically lowered children’s blood lead levels

Researchers are identifying impacts at smaller doses

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Challenges to Minimize Challenges to Minimize Impacts on HealthImpacts on Health

Challenges Prevention

EducationWaste MinimizationLand Use Planning

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Environmental Protection to Environmental Protection to Minimize Impacts on HealthMinimize Impacts on Health

Challenges PreventionRegulation for protection and

control Permitting based on environmental

standards Monitoring Compliance and enforcement

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DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

Identify roles of health care providers as citizens and professionals in the community

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Your Role as Citizen and Your Role as Citizen and Health Care ProviderHealth Care Provider

Trusted source of information Interpreter of scientific information Spokesperson for citizen concerns Data gatherer on community concerns Leader in community mobilization Evaluator of public policy with

implications for health

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Public CommunicationPublic Communication

RiskMagnitude X Probability

Perceived Hazard Outrage

Perceived Hazard + OutragePerceived Hazard + Outrage

= Perceived Risk= Perceived Risk

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Sandman’s Outrage FactorsSandman’s Outrage Factors

Decreases Outrage Voluntary Natural Familiar Not memorable Not dreaded Chronic

Increases Outrage Involuntary (Coerced) Industrial (Artificial) Exotic Memorable Dreaded Catastrophic

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Sandman’s Outrage FactorsSandman’s Outrage Factors

Decreases Outrage Knowable (Detectable) Individual controls Fair Morally irrelevant Trustworthy sources Responsive process

Increases Outrage Unknowable

(Undetectable) Controlled by others Unfair Morally relevant Untrustworthy sources Unresponsive process

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Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

Discuss the difference in challenge to public health when the threat is real, but not perceived the outrage exists but has the wrong

target

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Resources for the Health Resources for the Health ProfessionalProfessional

National Library of Medicine (NLM) NLM toxicology data bases CDC EPA Scorecard

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SummarySummary

The complex environment in which we live will continue to present threats to our health and we must continue to work as a community to minimize those threats