Environmental and Occupational Health Issues in Public Health

Cells during the division phase are at an increased risk for damage. When dividing cells are exposed to toxic chemicals, they can have alternations in their DNA sequence, causing a variety of different or unexpected effects. Fetuses, infants, and children who are growing and developing are at an increased risk for toxic chemical exposure because of their rapidly dividing cells. We are exposed to over 300 chemicals during embryonic development, including atrazine. Atrazine, an agricultural pesticide, has been shown in animal studies to be a significant reproductive toxin, resulting in hydospadias, cryptorchidism, micropenis development. Atrazine also causes immune failure, neural damage, and spontaneous abortions. Atrazine has even been shown to have epigenetic effects in animal studies and, therefore, causing damage for generations. Toxic chemical exposure has also   been shown to alter brain development in children resulting in a life-long impact.  Children in the United States h

            The social determinants of health are influential aspects of an individual’s make-up that influence his or her health outcomes. These factors include race, housing, income, education, and gender. The environment where an individual lives matters for their health. If they live on a farm, they might be exposed to pesticides or if they live next to a factory, they will likely be exposed to toxic pollutants. Nick Chiles (2015) described that African Americans have a history of being at greater risk of exposure to pollutant chemicals due to where they lived. He presented eight different examples of where black people were living in close proximity toxic chemicals. In my backyard of Richmond, CA, Chevron has been dumping air pollution over the mostly African American neighborhoods for the past 100 years. In healthcare, we have been searching for reasons why African Americans have higher rates of most chronic diseases and some cancers. Toxic chemicals are likely a contribu

Here’s a super brief introduction to air pollution. Simply put, air pollution are chemicals that we inhale that cause negative health effects. Some air pollutants are naturally sourced chemicals like those created from fires, while others result from man-made industrial sites or vehicles. Examples of air pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs,) carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides NO x , sulfur dioxide SO 2 , particulate matter (PM), and lead (Pb). Unfortunately, these chemicals can create secondary chemicals in the atmosphere resulting in nitric or sulfuric acid rain. Air quality is regulated by government in hopes of keeping us safe. The Clean Air Act set restrictions on the amounts of VOCs, CO, NO x , SO 2 , PM, and Pb that was allowed to be released into the atmosphere. I live in Marin county, the land of environmentally conscious people and the land without any industry produced air pollutants. For a county that prides itself in healthy living, the air q