MODULE 1: Concept of Community and Environmental Health

• Community


  A sociological group in a large place sharing one environment, including the individual and the family
• Environment


  The surrounding in which you live
• Refuse


  Dump, food waste or discarded materials composed of solid, semi-solid, liquid and gas materials
• Types of refuse materials:

  • Rubbish
  • Garbage
  • Yard Cuttings
  • Street night soil
  • Stable manure
• 3 R's of ecological waste management:

  1. Reduce

  2. Reuse

  3. Recycle
• Composting


  A form of waste disposal where organic waste decomposes naturally under oxygen-rich conditions, an easy and profitable way of disposing waste
• Air pollution


  Any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the atmospheric air, caused by the release of harmful materials into the atmosphere in big amounts
• Land pollution


  The land becomes polluted when it is filled with solid wastes that cannot be broken down easily
• Types of land waste

  • Biodegradable (wastes that can be broken down easily by bacteria, e.g. leftover foods, animal wastes)
  • Non-biodegradable (wastes that cannot be broken down by bacteria, e.g. plastic, styrofoam, metals)
• Water pollution


  Any alteration of the chemical properties of a body of water resulting in the impairment of its purity and quality, may cause cholera, diphtheria and diarrhea
• Noise pollution


  Excessive sound that causes hearing loss, stress, fatigue, irritability, tension headaches and high blood pressure
• Rubbish


  These are waste materials like bottles, broken glass, tin cans, waste papers, discarded porcelain wears, pieces of metal and other wrapping materials
• Garbage


  Leftover vegetables, animal and fish material, food in kitchen and establishments.
• Yard cuttings


  Leaves, branches, grass and other similar materials produced during cleaning of gardens or after typhoons.
• Street night soil


  These are human wastes, normally wrapped and thrown into sidewalks and streets, including human waste from the pale system.
• Stable manure


  Animal wastes from barns, stables or the likes.
• Reduce 


  Cutting back on the amount of trash made.
• Reuse


  Finding a new way to use trash so it doesn't have to be thrown out.
• Recycle


  The process of making used materials into useful ones that can be sold again.
• Harmful Chemicals:

  1. Carbon Monoxide
  2. Sulfur Dioxide
  3. Nitrogen Dioxide
  4. Lead
  5. Particulates
• Carbon monoxide


  Colorless, odorless gas that robs brain cells of oxygen.
• Sulfur dioxide


  Foul smelling gas that can irritate nose and skin, cause respiratory ailments.
• Lead


  Heavy metal that can cause cancer and brain damage.
• Nitrogen dioxide 


  Causes serious lung damage with delayed effects, shortness of breath and chest pains.
• Particulates 


  Very tiny mixture of solids and liquids like dusts and mists, linked to respiratory ailments including asthma.
• R.A. No. 9003 - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
• Healthy Community 


  The foundation for achieving all other goals and essential for a productive society.
• Healthy Community


  Term used to describe the state of health and how easy or difficult it is to be healthy where people live, learn and play.