BLOG #1
Compare and contrast your definition of environmental health to the previous definition.


MY Definition of Environmental Health: The health of the environment it that which we have made it to become.

• How was your definition different? How was it similar? I believe my definition is somewhat similar. The environment may have its own "natural" triggers that may alter our health such as molds, spores, allergens but for the most part, we generate a lot of changes and pollutants that change our environment.
• Are there elements of environmental health that you are called to more than others? Why is that? I am more called to the elements of air pollution as I have a child who has asthma and has had to move away from home due to the contamination and poor air quality in the Central Valley. 
• Did you discover any environmental risks in your home by completing the home assessment?Yes, unfortunately there were more risks than I would have wanted.
  • In the home assessment, why did we want to know about the age of your home? (You'll be learning the answer to this when we discuss lead-based paint.)
  • Why would we want to know if someone lives in the basement? (You'll be learning more about this when we discuss indoor carbon monoxide exposure.) There is a higher exposure to carbon dioxide in the basement
  • Who is responsible for home-based environmental health risks? (The answer to this question is more complex and we will be discussing it in a number of locations in this course and the next 3 courses.) I believe each state should be responsible for it environmental health risks to its citizens as each state may have different risks.
• Were you able to create a list with 10 separate and unique exposures in each area? 
• •  
    List of Environmental Exposures in my Home.
    Homes
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Gas stoves
  • Radon* (in air)
  • Beauty products
  • Cat litter
  • Dust mites
  • Mercury (salmon, tuna consumption
  • Mold, dual pane window build up humidity
  • Medications
  • Carbon Monoxide
  Schools
  • Lead*
  • Mold*
  • Radon*
  • Allergens*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds, chemistry labs
  • Fertilizers on school lawn
  • Pesticides*
  • Indoor/Outdoor Air Pollution
  • radio active waves? computer screens?
  • Vehicle Emissions (school buses)

  Workplaces
  • Asbestos old buildings
  • Radiation (healthcare workers/patients)
  • Radon*
  • Pesticides*
  • Mold*
  • Cleaning Supplies (bleach)
  • Antibacterial soaps overuse
  • Nosocomial Infections
  • communicable disease (accidental contact with bodily fluids)
  • Respiratory contamination via ventilation system

  Community
• Sun exposure/UV Rays, hot sun in San Joaquin Valley
• Tobacco smoke, vaping
• Molds*
• Pesticides*
• Air Pollution by car exhaust
• spores uprooted form earth during construction
• water supply contamination with antibiotics
• Food made from animals treated with antibiotics
• Radon*
• Allergens, weeds, spores, etc..
• 
  
  • Was it more difficult or easier than you expected? It was mare difficult than I expected.
  • Were your exposures specific (such as "atrazine") or broad (such as just "pesticides")? Some were more specific as it related to Radon, natural gas etc. However, as I began to explore risk associated with household personal care products like toothpaste, the ingredients became harder to read and understand. After completing my home assessment, I was surprised to discover environmental risks that I had not thought about such as the use air fresheners. I use air fresheners as we have a cat in the house. I need to start washing my vegetables. I always assumed they came clean from the store. I did not know about the toxicity of flame retardants that I have in my furniture. This was very shocking to me. I feel like buying new furniture but this time I'll be checking labels. As far as lead is concerned, I live in a relatively new home so I hope my lead risk is less. I do not have a basement in my home. After this exercise  and watching the third video, I feel very upset that these risks to the consumer are not regulated. I am glad for chemists and environmental specialists that work very hard to protect us. (When we delve into the health effects associated with exposures, we need to be as specific as possible in order to review the literature and other credible sources of information. For example, there are hundreds of pesticides and they each have their own specific health and ecological risks. Therefore, as nurses, we need to be as specific as possible in order to be the most effective and credible in terms of patient/community education, clinical applications, and policy/advocacy efforts.)