Environmental Wellness

Concepts of Fitness and Health

Dr. Rachel Casiday
Department of Public Health

What is the environment?

If our focus is on human health, we can consider the
environment to be all the external (or nongenetic)
factors physical, nutritional, social, behavioral, and
others that act on humans. (Frumkin, 2016, p. 4)

What caused Otiss throat cancer?

Living next
door to coalfired power
station?

Occupational
exposure to
asbestos?
Smoking?

Other factories near

home?

Environmental Health and Spirituality

He makes springs pour water into the

ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11They give water to all the beasts of the
field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13He waters the mountains from his
upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his
work.
14He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate
bringing forth food from the earth:
10

hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their
hearts.
16
The trees of the LORD are
well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he
planted.
17
There the birds make their
nests;
the stork has its home in the
junipers.
18
The high mountains belong to
the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the
hyrax.
(Psalm 104: 10-18, New

Emerging issues in environmental health:

Environmental Justice

Focus on susceptible groups

Goals for Sustainable Development

So, lets look at some of the things that could

compromise our environmental wellness:

Air and water pollution (chemical toxicity)

Not enough access to water
Not enough access to healthy foods
Radiation
Poor city planning and design

Chemical contaminants in drinking

water

Coal ash: the largest source of toxic water

pollution in the United States

Toxic Elements in Coal Ash

Bioaccumulation of Contaminants

Microbiological Contaminants

Escherichia coli

Water Filtration, Purification, and

Treatment

Not Enough Water

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Waste Treatment and Disposal

Reduce, reuse, recycle (Primary prevention) is best
Crude incineration account for 29% of global PM, 10% of
global airborne mercury (Hg)
Sanitary landfills daily covering of earth for each days waste
to eliminate problems of open landfills
Need barriers to protect groundwater from leachate

Incineration
Aims to reduce volume and hazardous characteristics of waste
Now subject to strict air pollution control regulations
May recapture energy released

Conservation Tips for College Students

Hang dry clothes.

Wash laundry in cold water.
Full load of laundry.
No air conditioning (or turn down while youre away).
Energy-efficient refrigerator.
Shortre showers.
Report leaks.
Water off.
Sleep computers.
Light bulbs.
Natural light.
from http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2010/05/09/50-great-green-tips-for-dorm-life/