Environmental Issues on Global Health
Environmental Issues on Global Health
Seven Environmental Issues
Complete the following chart by identifying seven environmental issues that affect global health. In the second column, describe in complete sentences how the issue affects global health.
Environmental issue How does the issue affect global health?
Overpopulation The Earth’s natural resources are already being consumed at an unsustainable rate. Many of these resources are required to support world health and human life (Donnatelle, 2010). Human population is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade. This, alone, is the greatest threat to life on our planet.
Air pollution Air pollution affects everything from agriculture and ecosystems to human health, on a global scale. The five major air pollutants are ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide (Donnatelle, 2010). A majority of these pollutants are the result of human action. One example being coal power plants. These plants release greenhouse gas emissions and particle air pollution. The burning of the coal creates pollutant byproducts. Other forms of industrial pollution, exhaust fumes, burning wood, and several forms of indoor air pollutants result in air contamination. The combination of various air contaminates can be extremely toxic. The pollutants irritate the lungs and may even cause respiratory diseases and cancer in humans (Donnatelle, 2010).
Ozone Layer Depletion / Global Warming The ozone layer protects us from ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. UVB radiation damages human DNA, weakens the immune system, and is the primary cause of skin cancer (Donnatelle, 2010).
As a result of human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, the increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have thinned the ozone layer. It is believed that this has accelerated global warming. Melting polar ice caps, threatened eco-systems and catastrophic weather have all
Seven Environmental Issues
Complete the following chart by identifying seven environmental issues that affect global health. In the second column, describe in complete sentences how the issue affects global health.
Environmental issue How does the issue affect global health?
Overpopulation The Earth’s natural resources are already being consumed at an unsustainable rate. Many of these resources are required to support world health and human life (Donnatelle, 2010). Human population is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade. This, alone, is the greatest threat to life on our planet.
Air pollution Air pollution affects everything from agriculture and ecosystems to human health, on a global scale. The five major air pollutants are ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide (Donnatelle, 2010). A majority of these pollutants are the result of human action. One example being coal power plants. These plants release greenhouse gas emissions and particle air pollution. The burning of the coal creates pollutant byproducts. Other forms of industrial pollution, exhaust fumes, burning wood, and several forms of indoor air pollutants result in air contamination. The combination of various air contaminates can be extremely toxic. The pollutants irritate the lungs and may even cause respiratory diseases and cancer in humans (Donnatelle, 2010).
Ozone Layer Depletion / Global Warming The ozone layer protects us from ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. UVB radiation damages human DNA, weakens the immune system, and is the primary cause of skin cancer (Donnatelle, 2010).
As a result of human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, the increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have thinned the ozone layer. It is believed that this has accelerated global warming. Melting polar ice caps, threatened eco-systems and catastrophic weather have all
References: Donnatelle, R. (2010). Access to Health (Green ed.). San Fransisco, CA: Cummings/Pearson. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, July 26). Hazardous Waste. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/