CHD

• Environment


  The total sum of all surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and other living things, which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage
• Environment can improve or put health in danger
• Interdependent environments


  • Home
  • Transport
  • Work
  • Recreational
• Unhealthy environment can cause unhealthy community
• Environmental health


  • Interactions of humans with environment – with health consequences
  • Identification, detection, and control of hazards which affect human health
• Hazard


  A source of danger that has the ability to cause harm to a person or damage to property
• Environmental hazards


  • Bacteria & viruses
  • Harmful chemicals
  • Loud noise
  • Slippery floors
  • Stress
• Unhealthy environment exposes people to hazards and lack of protection makes them susceptible, leading to an unhealthy community
• Pillars of environmental health

  • Housing
  • Food safety
  • Water management
  • Waste management
  • Air quality management
  • Noise pollution
  • Radiation control
  • Occupational health
• Toxicity


  A measure of how dangerous a chemical is
• Exposure


  The total amount of a hazard that comes in direct contact with your body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin/membranes contact
• Dose


  The amount of a hazard that actually enters your body
• Dose response


  Depends on the amount of hazard entering, duration of exposure, frequency of exposure, and body size of the person
• People more susceptible


  • Pregnant women and their unborn babies
  • Elderly people whose defense mechanisms are less efficient
  • Sick people who have weakened immune systems
  • Infants and children who are still developing
• Risk assessment


  A careful examination of what in the environment could cause harm to people, to weigh up whether enough precautions have been taken or more should be done to prevent harm
• Steps of a health risk assessment

  1. Identify and determine extent of hazards

  2. Decide who might be harmed and how

  3. Identify control measures already in place

  4. Evaluate the risks and recommend control measures

  5. Record findings and implement measures to reduce risk

  6. Review risk assessment and update if necessary
• COVID-19 is used as a practical example to illustrate the steps of a health risk assessment