An Invitation
to Health:
Build Your Future
DIANNE HALES
1 5 t h E di t i o n
Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
This is an electronic version of the print textbook. Due to electronic rights restrictions,
some third party content may be suppressed. Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed
content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. The publisher reserves the right
to remove content from this title at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. For
valuable information on pricing, previous editions, changes to current editions, and alternate
formats, please visit www.cengage.com/highered to search by ISBN#, author, title, or keyword for
materials in your areas of interest.
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
An Invitation to Health: Build Your Future,
15th Edition
Dianne Hales
Publisher: Yolanda Cossio
Acquisitions Editor: Aileen Berg
Developmental Editor: Nedah Rose/Jake Warde
Assistant Editor: Kristina Chiapella
Editorial Assistant: Shannon Elderon
Media Editor: Katie Walton
Marketing Manager: Tom Ziolkowski
Marketing Assistant: Jing Hu
Marketing Communications Manager: Linda Yip
© 2013, 2011 Wadsworth Cengage Learning
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein
may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form or by any means
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying,
recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks,
or information storage and retrieval systems, except as permitted under
Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
For product information and technology assistance, contact us at
Cengage Learning Customer & Sales Support, 1-800-354-9706.
For permission to use material from this text or product,
submit all requests online at www.cengage.com/permissions.
Further permissions questions can be e-mailed to
[email protected].
Content Project Manager: Carol Samet
Creative Director: Rob Hugel
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011932623
Art Director: John Walker
Student Edition:
ISBN-13: 978-1-111-82700-7
ISBN-10: 1-111-82700-1
Print Buyer: Karen Hunt
Rights Acquisitions Specialist: Tom McDonough
Production Service: Lachina Publishing Services
Text Designer: Yvo Riezebos Group
Photo Researcher: Alexa Orr, Bill Smith Group
Loose-leaf Edition:
ISBN-13: 978-1-111-99033-6
ISBN-10: 1-111-99033-6
Copy Editor: Lachina Publishing Services
Cover Designer: Riezebos Holzbaur/
Brieanna Hattey
Cover Image: Photolibrary/Elan Sun Star
Compositor: Lachina Publishing Services
Wadsworth
20 Davis Drive
Belmont, CA 94002-3098
USA
Cengage Learning is a leading provider of customized learning solutions
with office locations around the globe, including Singapore, the United
Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan. Locate your local office at
www.cengage.com/global.
Cengage Learning products are represented in Canada by Nelson ­Education, Ltd.
To learn more about Wadsworth, visit www.cengage.com/Wadsworth
Purchase any of our products at your local college store or at our preferred
online store www.CengageBrain.com.
Printed in Canada
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 14 13 12 11
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
19
After studying the
material in this chapter,
you should be able to
• Name some of the direct
and indirect health risks
associated with climate
change.
• List the effects of ozone
and particle pollution
on lung health and
functioning.
• Define sustainability and
describe ways college
campuses can promote
sustainability.
• Discuss the risks of
prolonged exposure to
sounds over 85 decibels
•
•
•
•
and how to protect your
hearing.
Compare and contrast
bottled and tap water.
Identify the major indoor
pollutants.
List the key sources and
health risks of electromagnetic fields.
Evaluate your personal
habits and identify ways
you can adopt behaviors that will support
sustainability.
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Until college Neri’s commitment to the environment consisted of carrying the recyclables out to
the curb every week. She opted to live in a “green”
residence hall on campus because she liked the
light, airy architecture, the plantings everywhere,
and the opportunity to join a community of individuals committed to a shared cause. But as Neri
learned more about energy sources and usage,
­living green became a way of life. She stopped
A Healthier Environment
© Pakhnyushcha/Shutterstock.com
buying plastic bottles of water, relied on natural
light whenever possible, and switched to energyefficient lightbulbs. Like a growing number of
students, she joined an environmental action
group whose activities include planting trees,
setting up recycling centers, and launching
energy-conservation makeovers on campus.
(See “How Do You Compare?”)
Some describe the campaign to create a healthier environment and combat climate change as
this generation’s equivalent of the civil rights
movement. Without doubt these issues cannot
be ignored. Although environmental concerns
may seem so enormous that nothing any individual can do will have an effect, this is not the
case. All of us, as citizens of the world, can help
find solutions to the challenges confronting our
planet. The first step is realizing that you have
a personal responsibility for safeguarding the
health of your environment and, thereby, your
own well-being.
This chapter explores the complex interrelationships between your world and your
well-being. It discusses major threats to the
environment, including climate changes; atmospheric changes; air, water, and noise pollution;
chemical risks; and radiation.
The Environment
and Your Health
Ours is a planet in peril. Glaciers are melting.
Sea levels are rising. Forests are being destroyed.
Droughts have become more frequent and
more intense. Heat waves have killed tens of
thousands of people. Hurricanes and floods
have ravaged cities. Millions have died from the
effects of air pollution and contaminated water.
The planet Earth—once taken for granted as a
ball of rock and water that existed for our use
for all time—is a single, fragile ecosystem (a
community of organisms that share a physical and chemical environment). Our environment is a closed ecosystem, powered by the sun.
The materials needed for the survival of this
planet must be recycled over and over again.
ecosystem A community of
organisms sharing a physical
and chemical environment and
interacting with each other.
Visit www.cengagebrain.com
to access course materials
for this text, including the
Behavior Change Planner,
interactive quizzes, tutorials,
and more. See the preface
on page xv for details.
619
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
How Do You Compare?
Do Students Care about the Environment?
Incoming freshmen who consider it very important to
*become involved in programs to clean up the environment
Men
Women
*adopt “green” practices to protect the environment
Men
Women
Percent
27.3
24.5
29.7
42.3
37.0
46.6
How Do You Compare?
How would you describe your commitment to a healthier environment? Have you participated in any environmental cleanups?
Have you adopted “green” practices in your life? Describe what
you’ve done or what you are ready to commit to doing for the
environment’s sake in your online journal.
Source: J. H. Pryor, S. Hurtado, L. DeAngelo, L. Palucki Blake, and S. Tran, The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010 (Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA, 2010).
Increasingly, we’re realizing just how important
the health of this ecosystem is to our own wellbeing and survival. (See Health in Action.)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
identified the three major environmental threats
to health: unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene;
indoor air pollution from solid fuel use; and outdoor air pollution. Improving water, sanitation,
hygiene, and indoor and outdoor air could prevent an estimated 4 million deaths a year and
greatly reduce child mortality in the world’s
lowest-income countries.1
For good or for ill, we cannot separate our individual health from that of the environment
in which we live. However, efforts to clean up
the environment are paying off. According to
the American Lung Association, air quality in
many cities, particularly in the Northeast and
Midwest, has improved in the last decade. In
addition to air quality, the water we drink and
the chemicals we use also have an impact on the
quality of our lives. At the same time, the lifestyle choices we make, the products we use, the
efforts we undertake to clean up a beach or save
wetlands affect the quality of our environment.
For some ideas on what you can do, see Health
on a Budget.
620
Climate Change
The International Panel on Climate Change of
the United Nations, made up of leading scientists
from around the world, has reported with absolute certainty that the world’s climate is changing in significant ways and will continue to do so
in the foreseeable future. These experts predict
an increase in extreme weather events (such as
hurricanes and heat waves), greater weather
variability, and rising water temperatures. The
American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) and other prestigious institutions around the world have issued warnings on
the growing dangers of global climate change.
Global Warming
Earth’s average temperature increased about
1 degree in the 20th century to approximately
59 degrees, but the rate of warming in the last
three decades has been three times the average
rate since 1900. Seas have risen about six to
eight feet globally over the last century and are
rising at a higher rate.
Why is our planet getting warmer? Figure 19.1
shows the normal greenhouse effect: Certain
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Figure 19.1 The Greenhouse Effect
The normal greenhouse effect warms Earth to a hospitable temperature. An increase in greenhouse gases intensifies the
greenhouse effect, trapping more heat and raising Earth’s temperature.
Solar
radiation
passes
through
the clear
atmosphere.
Some solar radiation
is reflected by the
Earth and the
atmosphere.
Some of the infrared radiation passes
through the atmosphere, and some is
absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by
greenhouse gas molecules. The effect of this
is to warm Earth’s surface and the lower
atmosphere.
Infrared
radiation
is emitted
from
Earth’s
surface.
Most radiation
is absorbed by
Earth’s surface
and warms it.
gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap energy from
the sun and retain heat somewhat like the glass
panels of a greenhouse. These “greenhouse”
gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide. Human activities, scientists now
say with 90 percent certainty, have increased
the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. We
burn fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) and wood
products, which release carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere. We produce coal, natural gas,
and oil, which emit methane. Livestock and the
decomposition of organic wastes also produce
methane. Agricultural and industrial processes
emit nitrous oxide. These emissions enhance the
normal greenhouse effect, trapping more heat
and raising the temperature of the atmosphere
and Earth’s surface.
After years of doubt and debate, most leading
experts agree that the buildup of greenhouse
gases is changing natural climate and weather
patterns in new and potentially dangerous ways.
Carbon dioxide levels are higher now than at
any time in the past 800,000 years and, according to the AAAS, are “heading for levels not
experienced for millions of years.”2
The Health Risks
No individual is immune to the effects of climate
change. WHO estimates that climate change is
already causing at least 150,000 excess deaths a
year and that this number will climb to at least
300,000 annually by 2030.3
Climate change can imperil health directly—for
example, as the result of floods or heat waves—
and indirectly—by changing the patterns of
infectious diseases, supplies of fresh water, and
food availability. For example, as the planet continues to warm, infectious diseases—­particularly
mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis—may
spread to more regions. Already in the United
States, mosquitoes and other insects that carry
diseases such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease are spreading to areas once considered too cold for these
insects to survive. The rise in global temperatures has already led to a greater pollen load
and more allergies among more people.4
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
621
Health in Action
Protecting the Planet
Simple steps can help save energy, lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and cut
down on energy costs. Here are some recommendations from the Environmental
Defense and World Wildlife Fund:
• Wash laundry in warm or cold water, not hot. Average annual CO2 reduction: up
to 500 pounds for two loads of laundry a week.
• Buy products sold in the simplest possible packaging. Carry a tote bag or recycle shopping bags. Average annual CO2 reduction: 1,000 pounds because garbage
is reduced 25 percent.
• Switch from standard lightbulbs to energy-efficient fluorescent ones. Average
annual CO2 reduction: about 500 pounds per bulb.
• Set room thermostats lower in winter and higher in summer. Average annual
CO2 reduction: about 500 pounds for each two-degree reduction.
• Run dishwashers only when full, and choose the energy-saving mode rather
than the regular setting. Average annual CO2 reduction: 200 pounds.
• Bike, carpool, or take mass transit whenever possible. Average annual CO2
reduction: 20 pounds for each gallon of gasoline saved.
• Drive a car that gets high gas mileage and produces low emissions. Keep your
speed at or below the speed limit.
• Keep your tires inflated and your engine tuned. Recycle old batteries and tires.
(Most stores that sell new ones will take back old ones.)
• Turn off your engine if you’re going to be stopped for more than a minute.
• Collect all fluids that you drain from your car (motor oil, antifreeze) and recycle
or properly dispose of them.
If you want to write your own goals for working toward a healthy environment,
access the Behavior Change Planner in CengageNOW at www.cengagebrain.com.
mutagen An agent that causes
alterations in the genetic material of living cells.
carcinogen A substance or
agent that causes cancer.
622
Environmental agents that trigger changes, or
mutations, in the genetic material (the DNA) of
living cells are called mutagens. The changes
that result can lead to the development of cancer. A substance or agent that causes cancer is
a carcinogen: All carcinogens are mutagens;
most mutagens are carcinogens. Furthermore,
when a mutagen affects an egg or a sperm cell,
its effects can be passed on to future generations.
Mutagens that can cross the placenta of a pregnant woman and cause a spontaneous abortion
or birth defects in the fetus are called teratogens.
Pollution is a hazard to all who
breathe. Deaths caused by air pollution exceed those from motor vehicle
injuries. Those with respiratory illnesses and
other chronic health problems are at greatest
risk during days when smog or allergen counts
are high. However, as a recent study showed,
even healthy college students suffer impairments in their heart and circulatory systems as a
result of urban air pollution. The effects of carbon monoxide are much worse in smokers, who
already have higher levels of the gas in their
blood.
Any change in the air, water, or soil that could
reduce its ability to support life is a form of pollution. Natural events, such as smoke from fires
triggered by lightning, can cause pollution. However, most sources of pollution are man-made.
There are now about ten times as many cars
around the world as there were 50 years ago. The
number of people living in cities has increased
by more than a factor of four, and global energy
consumption by nearly a factor of five.
As carbon dioxide levels in the air rise due to
the greenhouse effect, air quality will worsen.
Gases found in polluted air—such as ozone,
sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide—contribute to heart disease and worsen the health of
individuals who already have heart conditions.
Poor air quality also contributes to breathing
difficulties and may be responsible for the dramatic increase in asthma in recent decades. Elevated carbon dioxide levels can trigger asthma
attacks and allergies by increasing ragweed
pollen. Greater carbon dioxide in the air also
stimulates the growth of poison ivy and other
nuisance plants.
The effects of pollution depend on the concentration (amount per unit of air, water, or soil) of
the pollutant, how long it remains in the environment, and its chemical nature. An acute effect
is a severe, immediate reaction, usually after a
single, large exposure. For example, pesticide
poisoning can cause nausea and dizziness, even
Toxic substances in polluted air can enter the
human body in three ways: through the skin,
through the digestive system, and through the
lungs. The combined interaction of two or more
hazards can produce an effect greater than that
of either one alone. Pollutants can affect an
organ or organ system directly or indirectly.
The Impact of Pollution
pollutant A substance or
agent in the environment, usually the by-product of human
industry or activity, that is
injurious to human, animal, or
plant life.
death. A chronic effect may take years to develop
or may be a recurrent or continuous reaction,
usually after repeated exposure. Years of exposure to traffic pollution, for instance, has been
linked to an increase in blood pressure.
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Among the health problems that have been
linked with pollution are the following:
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Eye irritation and impaired vision.
• Nasal discharge.
• Cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat.
• Constricted airways.
• Chest pains and aggravation of the symptoms of colds, pneumonia, bronchial asthma,
emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer,
and other respiratory problems.
• Birth defects and reproductive problems
including lower success with in-vitro
fertilization.
• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach cancer.
• Allergy and asthma from diesel fumes in polluted air.
• Higher mortality from strokes.
The Air You
Breathe
Remember the last time you stood at a busy
intersection as a bus or truck spewed brownish
fumes in your face? Maybe your eyes stung, or
your throat burned. But breathing polluted air
can do more than irritate: It can take months or
even years off your life.
An estimated 154.5 million people—more than
half the nation’s population—live in areas with
dangerous levels of air pollution. As pollutants
destroy the hairlike cilia that remove irritants
from the lungs, individuals may suffer chronic
bronchitis, characterized by excessive mucus
flow and continuous coughing. Emphysema
may develop or worsen, as pollutants constrict
the bronchial tubes and destroy the air sacs in
the lungs, making breathing more difficult.
When air pollution levels are high, heart attacks,
strokes, heart failure flare-ups, and lung troubles
increase. Air contamination also has enduring
effects on heart health and increases atherosclerosis and deaths due to heart disease. For the
elderly and people with asthma or heart disease,
polluted air can be life-threatening. In children,
© iStockphoto.com/Daniel Stein
• Constriction of blood vessels and increased
risk of heart disease.
it can impair lung development.5 Even healthy
individuals can be affected, particularly if they
exercise outdoors during high-pollution periods
or spend long periods in dirty air. Breathing air
pollution while stuck in traffic may trigger 7.4
percent of heart attacks.6
Air pollution endangers the well-being
of more than half of
Americans, including
many city dwellers.
Ozone
Ozone, the primary ingredient of smog air
pollution, can impair the body’s immune system and cause long-term lung damage. (Ozone
in the upper atmosphere protects us by repelling harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun,
but ozone in the lower atmosphere is a harmful component of air pollution.) Automobiles
also produce carbon monoxide, a colorless and
odorless gas that diminishes the ability of red
blood cells to carry oxygen. The resulting oxygen deficiency can affect breathing, hearing,
and vision in humans and stunt the growth of
plants and trees.
Several large investigations have confirmed that
ozone at levels currently found in the United
States can shorten lives. Even on days when
ozone levels are below the national standard,
the risk of premature death is greater in areas
with higher levels. The individuals most vulnerable to the effects of ozone are children, senior
citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors,
those with a respiratory disease such as asthma,
ozone A form of oxygen that
is a harmful component of air
pollution.
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
623
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Particle Pollution
Scientists refer to the mix of very tiny solid
and liquid particles in the air as particle pollution. The particles themselves can range in size
from microscopic to one-tenth the diameter of
a strand of hair. Our natural defenses help us to
cough or sneeze large particles out of our bodies,
but they don’t keep out smaller particles, which
get trapped in the lungs. The smallest ones pass
through the lungs into the bloodstream.
Frank Whitney/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
Particle pollution damages the body in ways
similar to cigarette smoking. Even short-term
exposure can be deadly because particle pollution increases the risk of heart attacks and
strokes, especially among the elderly and those
with heart conditions. It also diminishes lung
function, causes inflammation of lung tissue in
young, healthy adults, increases the number and
severity of asthma attacks, and increases mortality in infants and young children.
Renewable energy
sources, such as
wind, can provide
more environmentally
friendly alternatives.
However, individual
choices and behaviors
also have an impact on
the state of our world.
and “responders” who are otherwise healthy
but respond intensely to ozone.
sustainability A method of
using a resource so that the
resource is not depleted or
permanently damaged.
Ozone’s other ill effects include shortness of
breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, coughing, and increased susceptibility to
respiratory infections. Studies of college freshmen who were lifelong residents of Los Angeles
or the San Francisco Bay Area found that long
exposure to elevated ozone levels had reduced
their “lung function,” that is, their lungs’ ability
to work efficiently. Although ozone levels have
declined, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Visalia,
all in California, remain the most ozone-­polluted
cities in the United States.7
624
Living near highways or spending time in heavy
traffic, whether driving or taking public transportation, may be especially dangerous. Several
studies have found an increased risk of premature death in those who live, work, drive, or ride
in high-traffic areas. Air pollution may permanently impair the capacity of the lungs of 10to 18-year-olds who live within about a third
of a mile of a freeway, limiting their ability to
breathe for the rest of their lives and increasing
their risk of serious lung diseases.8
Particle pollution—considered the most dangerous because it can be an immediate as well
as a long-term threat to life—has increased
in the eastern part of the United States but
decreased in the West. Cities that have reduced
particle pollution—such as Pittsburgh, Buffalo,
Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and St. Louis—have
reported gains in life expectancy.9
Working toward
Sustainability
More universities are developing programs to
achieve sustainability, the use of as little as
possible of resources that cannot be renewed.
Innovative programs include “green” dorms
and campaigns to reduce energy waste. Not all
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Three important paths to sustainability are
precycling, recycling, and compositing. Precycling refers to buying products packaged in
recycled materials. According to the consumer
group Earthworks, packaging makes up a third
of what people in the United States throw away.
When you precycle, you consider how you’re
going to dispose of a product and the packaging materials before purchasing it. For example,
you might choose eggs in recyclable cardboard
packages, rather than in foam cartons, and look
for juice and milk in refillable bottles.
Recycling—collecting, reprocessing, marketing,
and reusing materials once considered trash—
serves several important functions, including:
• Preserving natural resources. Reprocessing used materials to make new products
and packaging reduces the consumption of
natural resources. Recycling steel saves iron
ore, coal, and limestone. Recycling newsprint, office paper, and mixed paper saves
trees.
• Saving energy. Recycling used aluminum
cans, for instance, requires only about 5
percent of the energy needed to produce aluminum. Recycling just one can save enough
electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for 31⁄2
hours.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling cuts these gases by decreasing
the amount of energy used to produce and
transport new products.
• Decreasing the need for landfill storage or incineration. Both are more costly
and can contribute to air pollution.
Different communities take different approaches
to recycling. Many provide regular curbside
pickup of recyclables, and others have drop-off
centers. Buyback centers pay for recyclables. In
some places, reverse vending machines accept
returned beverage containers and provide
deposit refunds.
Discarded computers, other electronic devices,
and printer cartridges also should be recycled,
by donating them to schools or charitable organizations. “Tech trash” buried in landfills is creating a new hazard because trace amounts of
Consumer Alert
What Difference Does a
Lightbulb Make?
Facts to Know
• A compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) gives
off the same amount of light as a conventional bulb but uses only a quarter of
the electricity.
Katrina Wittkamp/Photodisc/Getty Images
undergraduates share this concern, but higher
numbers express commitment to environmental
action than in the past.
• A CFL bulb that qualifies for the government’s “Energy Star” symbol lasts about
ten times longer and saves about $30 or
more in electricity over a conventional
bulb.
• If every American home replaced just
one lightbulb with a CFL bulb, this simple
step would save enough energy to light
more than 3 million homes for a year,
more than $600 million in annual energy
costs, and prevent greenhouse gases
equivalent to the emissions of more than
800,000 cars.
Steps to Take
• When shopping for a lightbulb, look on
the product packages for the “Energy
Star” label and buy one labeled as
equivalent to the incandescent bulb you
are replacing.
• CFLs are made of glass and contain
mercury; be careful when removing them
from their packages and installing them.
Always screw and unscrew bulbs by their
base (not the glass). Never forcefully
twist the CFL into a light socket. (If one
does break, follow the EPA guidelines for
cleanup, available at www.energystar
.gov.)
• When a CFL burns out, the EPA recommends disposing of it at a local recycling
center. You can find one near you at
www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www
.earth911.com. Never put a CFL or any
mercury-containing product in an incinerator or a trash bin.
potentially hazardous agents, such as lead and
mercury, can leak into the ground and water.
Find out if your campus has a program to recycle electronic devices.
precycling The use of products that are packaged in
recycled or recyclable material.
With composting—which some people describe as
nature’s way of recycling—the benefits can be
recycling The processing or
reuse of manufactured materials to reduce consumption of
raw materials.
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
625
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Each year the CDC reports an average of 7,400
cases of illness related to the water people drink.
The most common culprits include parasites,
bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and lead. Traces of
prescription drugs also have been found in the
water of some communities. Home filters can
block certain pathogens that can cause diarrhea
and other gastrointestinal problems, but they
do not seem to remove most chemical contaminants. If you decide to use a filter, clean it regularly to prevent a buildup of bacteria.
Portable metal containers are a “greener”
alternative to disposable plastic water
bottles.
Paul Tearle/Jupiterimages
Is Bottled Better?
seen as close as your backyard. Organic products, such as leftover food and vegetable peels,
are mixed with straw or other dry material and
kept damp. Bacteria eat the organic material
and turn it into a rich soil. Some people keep
a compost pile (which should be stirred every
few days) in their backyard; others take their
organic garbage (including mowed grass and
dead leaves) to community gardens or municipal composting sites.
The Water
You Drink
Fears about the public water supply have led
many Americans to turn off their taps. About
two-thirds take steps to drink purer water, either
by using filtration and distillation methods or by
drinking bottled water. However, Consumers
Union, a nonprofit advocacy group, maintains
that the United States has the safest water supply in the world. The Environmental Protection
Agency has set standards for some 80 contaminants. These include many toxic chemicals and
heavy metals—including lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium—that can cause kidney
and nervous system damage and birth defects.
626
Consumers seem convinced that bottled water
is purer than tap. The market for bottled water
in the United States has been growing by 10
percent per year, making it second only to soft
drinks as America’s favorite beverage. On average we drink about 25 gallons of bottled water
every year, compared to 51.5 gallons of soft
drinks and 21 gallons of beer.10
However, medical researchers have not found
a scientific reason to recommend bottled water
over tap water. This conclusion held true even
after very low levels of radioactive iodine were
detected in surface water and rain water in the
United States following the damage to nuclear
reactors in Japan caused by the tsunami of
Spring 2011.11
Dentists report an increase in cavities among
children and teenagers who drink bottled water
rather than fluoridated tap water. An estimated
25 to 30 percent of bottled water sold in this
country is, in fact, tap water, sometimes further
treated and sometimes not. Despite images of
mountain streams and glacier peaks on the
labels, most comes from an urban water supply.
Portable Water Bottles
The simplest, safest, most ecofriendly water
container is a glass. If you want to carry water
with you, you have plenty of alternatives, but
some portable drinking containers may pose
risks to you or to the environment.
Most disposable water bottles are made with
lightweight polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Reusing these bottles may pose some health dangers, although there is little scientific agreement
on how serious these risks may be. Your mouth
leaves a residue of bacteria when you drink from
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Many consumers have switched to harder bottles made with polycarbonate plastic (known by
the brand name Nalgene). Portable metal containers are another option. One popular brand
is aluminum with a nontoxic liner; a second is
simply made of stainless steel.
Indoor Pollutants:
The Inside Story
You may think of pollution as primarily a threat
when you’re outdoors, but people in industrialized societies spend more than 90 percent of
their time inside buildings. Think of how much
time you spend in your dorm, apartment, or
home and in classrooms, dining halls, movie
theaters, offices, stores, and shops. The quality of the air you breathe inside these places
can have an even greater impact on your wellbeing than outdoor pollution. (See Health in the
Headlines.)
Some sources—such as building materials and
household products such as air fresheners—
release pollutants more or less continuously.
Other sources—such as tobacco smoke, solvents
in cleaning products, and pesticides—can produce high levels of pollutants that remain in the
air for long periods after their use.
Environmental Tobacco
Smoke (ETS)
The mixture of smoke from the burning end of
a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and a smoker’s exhalations contains over 4,000 compounds, more
than 40 of which are known to cause cancer
in humans or animals. More than half of U.S.
states have enacted smoking bans in private
worksites, restaurants, bars, airports, schools,
hospitals, and many other locations. However,
some states, mainly in the South and parts of
Image Source/Jupiterimages
a bottle, and these bacteria may accumulate
with repeated use. Disposable bottles also pose
a risk to the environment. The manufacture of
the estimated 30 billion PET water bottles sold
annually in the United States requires about 17
million barrels of oil. About 86 percent of these
bottles become waste, which may take as long as
400 to 1,000 years to degrade.
Secondhand smoke
puts everyone,
including babies,
at risk of serious
health problems.
the West, have resisted comprehensive bans. As
a result, about 88 million nonsmokers in the
United States are still exposed to environmental
tobacco smoke.12
Secondhand Smoke At greatest risk for
the dangers of “passive smoking” or “secondhand smoke” are infants and young children
and youngsters with asthma or other respiratory
problems. Children exposed to secondhand
smoke face a much higher likelihood of high
blood pressure and other risks for heart disease
by age 13 than other children.13 (See Chapter
14 for a further discussion of the health risks of
environmental tobacco smoke.)
Health effects of secondhand smoke include eye,
nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; and possible contribution to heart disease.
In children, the health effects include increased
risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as
bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections;
buildup of fluid in the middle ear; increased
severity and frequency of asthma episodes; and
decreased lung function. Pregnant women who
live or work with smokers may be at higher risk
of having a stillbirth.14
Thirdhand Smoke Tobacco smoke creates
more than an odor in a room. According to a
recent study, tobacco residue—dubbed “thirdhand smoke”—contains cancer-causing toxins
that stick to a variety of surfaces, where they can
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
627
Health in the Headlines
get into the dust and be picked up on the fingers. Babies and young children are most likely
to be exposed to these harmful chemicals.
Environmental Threats
Radon
A wide host of agents in the air
we breathe and the water we
drink can affect our well-being.
To get the most recent findings on environmental health
threats, access Global Health
Watch and search for one of the
topics covered in this chapter,
such as “radon” or “electromagnetic fields.” Scan the headlines
and select a relevant article.
Write a summary in your online
journal.
Created by the breakdown of uranium in rocks,
soil, and water, radon is the second-leading
cause of lung cancer. Colorless and odorless, this
radioactive gas enters homes through dirt floors,
cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains,
and sumps. When radon becomes trapped in
buildings and concentrations build up indoors,
exposure to the gas becomes a concern.
• Sources: Earth and rock beneath home;
well water; building materials. Houses in the
Northeast and Midwest tend to have higher
radon levels than those elsewhere in the
United States.15
• Health Effects: No immediate symptoms.
Exposure to high levels of radon increases
the risk of lung cancer. Smokers are at
higher risk of developing radon-induced
lung cancer.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• If you have any reason to suspect a radon
problem in your home, you can buy
inexpensive, do-it-yourself radon test kits
online and in hardware stores. Look for
ones that are state-certified or have met
the requirements of a national radon proficiency program.
• If testing reveals unsafe levels, contractors
trained to fix radon problems can make
changes to reduce the risk.
• For more information on radon, contact your state radon office, or call
800-SOS-RADON.
Molds and Other
Biological Contaminants
Bacteria, mildew, viruses, animal dander, cat
saliva, house dust mites, cockroaches, and
pollen can all pose a threat to health. One of
the oldest and most widespread substances on
Earth, mold—a type of fungus that decomposes
organic matter and provides plants with nutrients—has emerged as a major health concern.
Common molds include Aspergillus, Penicillium,
and Stachybotrys, a slimy, dark green mold that
628
has been blamed for infant deaths and various illnesses, from Alzheimer’s disease to cancer, in adults that breathe in its spores. Faulty
ventilation systems and airtight buildings have
been implicated as contributing to the increased
mold problem.
• Sources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings,
carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained
humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets.
• Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems. Diseases like
humidifier fever are associated with exposure to toxins that can grow in ventilation
systems of large buildings. However, these
diseases can also be traced to microorganisms in home heating and cooling systems
and humidifiers. Children, the elderly, and
people with breathing problems, allergies,
and lung diseases are particularly susceptible
to disease-causing biological agents in the
indoor air.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Use fans vented to outdoors in kitchens
and bathrooms.
• Clean cool-mist and ultrasonic humidifiers
in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and refill with clean water daily.
• Empty water trays in air conditioners,
dehumidifiers, and refrigerators frequently.
• Keep your personal living space clean. No,
your mother may not be checking on you,
but regular cleaning reduces house dust
mites, pollens, animal dander, and other
allergy-causing agents.
Household Products
The liquids, foams, gels, and other materials you
use to clean, disinfect, degrease, polish, wax,
and preserve contain powerful chemicals that
can pollute indoor air during and for long periods after their use. EPA researchers have found
levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be two to five times higher inside homes
than outside, regardless of whether the homes
were located in rural or highly industrial areas.
• Sources: Paints, paint strippers, and other
solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays;
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
• Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat
irritation; headaches, loss of coordination,
nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central
nervous system. They also may lower estrogen and lead to earlier menopause.16 Some
organics can cause cancer in animals; some
are suspected or known to cause cancer in
humans.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Follow instructions carefully. If the label
says to use the product in a well-ventilated
area, go outdoors or open windows to
provide the maximum amount of outdoor
air possible.
• Use one household care product at a time.
Mixing can create dangerous chemical
reactions.17
• Throw away partially full containers of
old or unneeded chemicals, which can leak
gases even when closed. Do not simply toss
them in the garbage can. Find out if your
local government or any organization in
your community sponsors special days for
the collection of toxic household wastes. If
no such collection days are available, think
about organizing one.
• Buy limited quantities. Purchase only as
much as you will use right away.
• Keep to a minimum any exposure to emissions from products containing methylene
chloride, such a paint strippers, adhesive
removers, and aerosol spray paints. Methylene chloride is converted to carbon monoxide in the body and can cause symptoms
associated with exposure to carbon
monoxide.
Formaldehyde
Some indoor pollutants come from the very
materials that buildings are made of and from
the appliances inside them. Formaldehyde is
commonly used in building materials, carpet
backing, furniture, foam insulation, plywood,
and particle board. This chemical can cause
nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations,
stinging eyes, and burning lungs. Formaldehyde
PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Jupiterimages
cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents
and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned
clothing.
gas, which is colorless and odorless, has been
shown to cause cancer in animals. Most manufacturers have voluntarily quit using it, but
many homes already contain materials made
with urea-formaldehyde, which can seep into
the air.
Read the labels on
common cleaning
products and follow
instructions for use
and storage to avoid
possible health risks.
The rate at which products like pressed wood or
textiles release formaldehyde can change. Formaldehyde emissions will generally decrease as
products age. When the products are new, high
indoor temperatures or humidity can cause
increased release of formaldehyde from these
products.
• Sources: Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particle board,
fiberboard) and furniture made with these
pressed wood products; urea-formaldehyde
foam insulation (UFFI); combustion sources
and environmental tobacco smoke; durable
press drapes, other textiles, and glues.
• Health Effects: Watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and
difficulty in breathing. High concentrations
may trigger attacks in people with asthma.
Has been shown to cause cancer in animals
and may cause cancer in humans.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Use “exterior-grade” pressed wood products (lower-emitting because they contain
phenol resins, not urea resins).
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
629
Health on a Budget
No- and Low-Cost Ways
to “Green” Your Space
Whether you live in a dorm,
apartment, or house, you can take
simple, inexpensive steps to create a greener personal environment. Here are some ways to get
started. (See Figure 19.2 for more
ideas.)
• Buy furniture and household
items secondhand, or recycle
your parents’ things. If you can’t
find everything you need in the
attic or basement, try a website
such as www.freecycle.com,
where you can barter your way
to greener furnishings.
• Choose recycled notebooks and
printer paper and ecofriendly
shampoos, conditioners, and
lotions.
• Rather than relying on air-­
conditioning or central heat,
use a space heater or fan,
depending on the season,
to regulate the temperature
around you.
• Buy a stainless steel or coated
aluminum water bottle instead
of using disposable bottles.
• Use green cleaning products
like vinegar and baking soda
instead of expensive and potentially harmful chemicals.
• Tote books and groceries in
canvas bags rather than paper
or plastic ones.
• Chip in with roommates or
friends so you can buy in
bulk, which saves money and
requires less packaging.
• Don’t throw anything out
before asking yourself if it can
be recycled, donated, or simply
used in another way.
• Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers
to maintain moderate temperature and
reduce humidity levels.
• Increase ventilation, particularly after
bringing new sources of formaldehyde into
the home.
• Always ask about the formaldehyde content of pressed wood products, including
building materials, cabinetry, and furniture
before you purchase them.
Pesticides
According to a recent survey, 75 percent of
U.S. households used at least one pesticide
product indoors during the past year. Products
used most often are insecticides and disinfectants. Pesticides used in and around the home
include products to control insects (insecticides),
630
termites (termiticides), rodents (rodenticides),
fungi (fungicides), and microbes (disinfectants).
They are sold as sprays, liquids, sticks, powders,
crystals, balls, and foggers.
The EPA requires manufacturers to put information on the label about when and how to
use a pesticide. Remember that the “-cide” in
pesticides means “to kill.” Pesticides are also
made up of ingredients that are used to carry
the active agent. These carrier agents are called
“inerts” because they are not toxic to the targeted pest; nevertheless, some inerts are capable
of causing health problems.
• Sources: Products used to kill household
pests or on lawns and gardens (if the product
drifts or is tracked inside the house).
• Health Effects: High levels of certain pesticides can produce various symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching,
weakness, tingling sensations, and nausea.
They also might cause long-term damage to
the liver and the central nervous system, as
well as an increased risk of cancer.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Follow instructions. It is illegal to use any
pesticide in any manner inconsistent with
the directions on its label.
• Use only the pesticides approved for use by
the general public and then only in recommended amounts; increasing the amount
does not offer more protection. Ventilate
the area well after pesticide use.
• If possible, take plants and pets outside
when applying pesticides to them.
• Dispose of unwanted pesticides according
to the directions on the label or on special
household hazardous waste collection
days.
• Use nonchemical methods of pest control
where possible.
• Keep indoor spaces clean, dry, and
well ventilated to avoid pest and odor
problems.
• Minimize exposure to moth repellents,
which contain paradichlorobenzene,
a chemical known to cause cancer in
animals. If using mothballs, place them
and the items to be protected in trunks
or other containers that can be stored in
areas such as attics and detached garages.
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Figure 19.2 Greening Your Space
Artwork: Terri Miller/E-Visual Communications, Inc.; Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images; © iStockphoto.com/futureimage; © iStockphoto.com/René Mansi; © iStockphoto
.com/Skip ODonnell; © iStockphoto.com/Günay Mutlu; © iStockphoto.com/zentilla; © iStockphoto.com/Don Nichols; © iStockphoto.com/Spiderstock
Yellow Dog Productions/Lifesize/Getty Images
Aluminum
water bottle
Recycled notebooks
Space heater
Secondhand clothing
Used desk chair
Ecofriendly boxes
Recycle paper
Canvas tote
Do not buy air fresheners that contain
paradichlorobenzene.
Asbestos
This mineral fiber has been used commonly in
a variety of building construction materials for
insulation and as a fire-retardant. The government has banned several asbestos products, and
manufacturers have also voluntarily limited use
of asbestos. Today asbestos is most commonly
found in older homes, pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints, and floor tiles.
• Sources: Deteriorating, damage, or disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical
materials, and floor tiles.
• Health Effects: Too small to be visible, the
most dangerous asbestos fibers accumulate in
the lungs and can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung
scarring that can be fatal). Symptoms of
these diseases do not show up until many
years after exposure began. Smokers are at
higher risk of developing asbestos-induced
lung cancer.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Leave undamaged asbestos material alone
if it is not likely to be disturbed.
• Use trained and qualified contractors for
control measures that may disturb asbestos
and for cleanup.
• Follow proper procedures in replacing
woodstove door gaskets that may contain
asbestos.
Lead
People are exposed to lead, a long-recognized
health threat, through air, drinking water, food,
contaminated soil, deteriorating paint, and
dust. Airborne lead enters the body when an
individual breathes or swallows lead particles or
dust. Before its risks were known, lead was used
in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many other
products.
• Sources: Lead-based paint; contaminated
soil, dust, and drinking water.
• Health Effects: Lead affects practically
all systems within the body. Lead at high
levels can cause convulsions, coma, and
even death. Lower levels of lead can cause
adverse health effects on the central nervous
system, kidney, and blood cells. In pregnant
women, even small amounts can significantly
increase blood pressure.18 Infants and children are more vulnerable to lead exposure
than adults—lead is more easily absorbed
into growing bodies and the tissues of small
children are more sensitive to the damaging
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
631
effects of lead. Children may have higher
exposures since they are more likely to get
lead dust on their hands and then put their
fingers or other lead-contaminated objects
into their mouths.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure:
• Keep areas where children play as dustfree and clean as possible.
• Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is
in good condition; do not sand or burn off
paint that may contain lead.
• Do not remove lead paint yourself.
• Do not bring lead dust into the home.
• If your work or hobby involves lead,
change clothes and use doormats before
entering your home.
• Eat a balanced diet, rich in calcium, iron,
and vitamin C. High levels of ascorbic
acid (vitamin C) have been associated with
a lower rate of elevated blood lead levels.
Carbon Monoxide and
Nitrogen Dioxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) gas—which is tasteless,
odorless, colorless, and nonirritating—can be
deadly. Produced by the incomplete combustion
of fuel in space heaters, furnaces, water heaters,
and engines, CO reduces the delivery of oxygen
in the blood. Every year an estimated 10,000
Americans seek treatment for CO inhalation; at
least 250 die because of this silent killer. Those
most at risk are the chronically ill, the elderly,
pregnant women, and infants.
• Sources: Unvented kerosene and gas space
heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces;
back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, woodstoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves;
automobile exhaust from attached garages.
• Health Effects: At low concentrations,
fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in
people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, impaired vision and coordination;
headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea.
Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear
up after leaving home. Fatal at very high
concentrations.
endocrine disruptors Synthetic chemicals that interfere
with the ways that hormones
work in humans and wildlife.
632
Another dangerous gas, nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
can reach very high levels if you use a natural gas
or propane stove in a poorly ventilated kitchen.
This gas may lead to respiratory illnesses. Pilot
lights are a steady source of nitrogen dioxide; to
reduce exposure, switch to spark ignition.
• Sources: Kerosene heaters, unvented gas
stoves and heaters.
• Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation. May cause impaired lung function
and increased respiratory infections in young
children.
• Steps to Reduce Exposure of Both CO
and NO2:
• Keep appliances properly adjusted.
• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
• Do not idle a car inside the garage.
Chemical Risks
Various chemicals, including benzene, asbestos,
and arsenic, have been shown to cause cancer in humans. Probable carcinogens include
DDT and PCB. Risks can be greatly increased
with simultaneous exposures to more than one
carcinogen, for example, tobacco smoke and
asbestos.19
According to the CDC, the levels of potentially
harmful chemicals, including pesticides and
lead, in Americans’ blood have declined. Still,
an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 U.S. workers die
each year of chronic diseases related to past
exposure to toxic substances, including lung
cancer, bladder cancer, leukemia, lymphoma,
chronic bronchitis, and disorders of the nervous
system. Endocrine disruptors, chemicals
that act as or interfere with human hormones,
particularly estrogen, may pose a different
threat. Scientists are investigating their impact
on fertility, falling sperm counts, and cancers
of the reproductive organs. Exposure to toxic
chemicals causes about 3 percent of developmental defects.
Agricultural Pesticides
High quantities of toxic chemical
waste from unused or obsolete pesticides are posing a continuing and
worsening threat to people and the environment
in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle
East, and Latin America. In the United States,
the FDA estimates that 33 to 39 percent of our
food supply contains residues of pesticides that
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
may pose a long-term danger to our health. Scientists have detected traces of pesticides in
groundwater in both urban and rural areas.
Exposure to pesticides may pose a risk to pregnant women and their unborn children. Men
whose jobs routinely expose them to pesticides
may be at increased risk of prostate cancer.
Parental exposure does not increase the likelihood of childhood brain cancer.
Organophosphates, including chemicals such
as malathion, break down more rapidly than
the chlorinated hydrocarbons. Most are highly
toxic, causing cramps, confusion, diarrhea,
vomiting, headaches, and breathing difficulties.
Higher levels in the blood can lead to convulsions, paralysis, coma, and death.
© Spencer Grant/PhotoEdit
Chlorinated hydrocarbons include several
high-risk substances—such as DDT, kepone, and
chlordane—that have been restricted or banned
because they may cause cancer, birth defects,
neurological disorders, and damage to wildlife
and the environment. They are extremely resistant to breakdown.
Pesticides protect
crops from harmful
insects, plants, and
fungi but may endanger human health.
Chemical Weapons
Terrorist threats include the possibility of the
use of chemical weapons. Possible bioterror
agents include poison gases, herbicides, and
other types of chemical substances that can
kill, maim, or temporarily incapacitate. Chemical agents can be dispersed as liquids, vapors,
gases, and aerosols that attack nerves, blood,
skin, or lungs. In contrast to biological weapons,
chemical weapons can kill rapidly, often within
hours or minutes, and sometimes with just a
small drop. Possible protection against chemical weapons includes gas masks, shelters, and
sealed suits and vehicles. Treatment and antidotes can sometimes help after exposure. If contaminated, you need to flush your eyes and skin
immediately for at least five to ten minutes while
awaiting emergency help.
Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity
The proliferation of chemicals in modern society has led to an entirely new disease, multiple
chemical sensitivity (MCS), also called environmentally triggered illness, universal allergy,
or chemical AIDS. MCS was first described
almost a half century ago when a Chicago
allergist treated a number of patients who
reported becoming ill after being exposed to
various petrochemicals. Since that time, many
more cases of MCS have been reported, yet
there is no agreed-upon definition of the condition, no medical test that can diagnose it, and
no proven treatment.
According to medical theory, people become
chemically sensitive in a two-step process: First,
they experience a major exposure to a chemical,
such as a pesticide, a solvent, or a combustion
product. The sensitized person then begins to
react to low-level chemical exposures from ordinary substances, such as perfumes and tobacco
smoke. Symptoms include a runny nose, breathing difficulties, memory problems, chest pain,
depression, dizziness, fatigue, headache, inability to concentrate, nausea, aches and pains in
muscles and joints, and heart palpitations.
chlorinated hydrocarbons Highly toxic pesticides, such
as DDT and chlordane, that are
extremely resistant to breakdown; may cause cancer, birth
defects, neurological disorders,
and damage to wildlife and the
environment.
organophosphates Toxic pesticides that may cause cancer,
birth defects, neurological disorders, and damage to wildlife
and the environment.
Among the unseen threats to health are various
forms of radiation, energy radiated in the form
of waves or particles.
multiple chemical sensitivity
(MCS) A sensitivity to lowlevel chemical exposures from
ordinary substances, such as
perfumes and tobacco smoke,
that results in physiological
responses such as chest pain,
depression, dizziness, fatigue,
and nausea. Also known as
environmentally triggered
illness.
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
633
Invisible Threats
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
changes in circadian rhythms (our inner sense of
time), miscarriage, developmental problems, or
cancer. Researchers have documented increases
in breast cancer deaths in women who worked
as electrical engineers, electricians, or in other
high-exposure jobs, and a link between EMF
exposure and increased risk of leukemia and
possibly brain cancer.
Although laboratory
studies on animals
indicate that EMFs
affect human cell
membranes, research
on humans has found
only a weak connection between EMFs
and disease.
electromagnetic fields (EMFs) The invisible electric and magnetic fields generated by an
electrically charged conductor.
634
Copyright © Tony Freeman/PhotoEdit
The National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences concluded that the evidence
of a risk of cancer and other human disease
from the electric and magnetic fields around
power lines is “weak.” This finding applies to
the extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields surrounding both the big power lines
that distribute power and the smaller but closer
electric lines in homes and appliances. However,
the researchers also noted that EMF exposure
“cannot be recognized as entirely safe.”
Electromagnetic Fields
Any electrically charged conductor generates
two kinds of invisible fields: electric and magnetic. Together they’re called electromagnetic fields (EMFs). For years, these fields,
produced by household appliances, home wiring, lighting fixtures, electric blankets, and overhead power lines, were considered harmless.
However, epidemiological studies have revealed
a link between exposure to high-voltage lines
and cancer (especially leukemia, a blood cancer)
in electrical workers and children.
Laboratory studies on animals have shown that
alternating current, which changes strength and
direction 60 times a second (and electrifies most
of North America), emits EMFs that may interfere with the normal functioning of human cell
membranes, which have their own electromagnetic fields. The result may be mood disorders,
Cell Phones
Since cellular phone service was introduced in
the United States in 1984, mobile and handheld
phones have become ubiquitous, and concern
has grown about their possible health risks. The
federal government sets upper exposure limits to
electromagnetic energy from cell phones known
as the specific absorption rate, or SAR. A phone
emits the most radiation during a call, but it also
emits small amounts periodically whenever it’s
turned on.
Can exposure to low levels of electromagnetic
energy that the body absorbs from a cell phone
be harmful? Researchers have found that a onehour cell phone conversation stimulates the areas
of the brain closest to the phone’s antenna, but
they do not know if these effects pose any longterm risk.20 More than 70 research papers on
the potentially harmful effects of cell phone use
have raised concerns about cancer, neurological
disorders, sleep problems, or headaches; others
have shown no association or were inconclusive. A recent British study found no significant
increase in the incidence of brain tumors in
men and women in the decade after cell phones
became widespread.21
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
have stated that “the available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
are associated with using wireless phones. There
is no proof, however, that wireless phones are
absolutely safe.” Additional studies are under
way.
Researchers have documented an increase in ear
canal temperature with cell phone use, protein
changes in human cells exposed to cell phone
radiation, and an increased rate of benign brain
tumors. Other research found no impact on
the daily patterns of hormones secreted by the
gonads, pituitary, or adrenal glands in men.22
Some health experts have discouraged children
from using cell phones largely because of concerns that their developing nervous systems may
be especially vulnerable.
As discussed in Chapter 18, cell phones do pose
one serious health risk. Drivers distracted by cell
phones are more likely to get into accidents and
to hit—and kill—pedestrians.23
Microwaves
Microwaves (extremely high frequency electromagnetic waves) increase the rate at which
molecules vibrate; this vibration generates
heat. There’s no evidence that existing levels of
microwave radiation encountered in the environment pose a health risk to people, and all
home microwave ovens must meet safety standards for leakage.
A concern about the safety of microwave ovens
stems from the chemicals in plastic wrapping
and plastic containers used in microwave ovens.
Chemicals may leak into food. In high concentrations, some of the chemicals (such as DEHA,
which makes plastic more pliable) can cause
cancer in mice. Consumers should be cautious
about using clingy plastic wrap when reheating leftovers, and plastic-encased metal “heat
susceptors” included in convenience foods such
as popcorn and pizza. Although these materials seem safe when tested in conventional ovens
at temperatures of 300° to 350° Fahrenheit,
microwave ovens can boost temperatures to
500° Fahrenheit.
Ionizing Radiation
Radiation that possesses enough energy to separate electrons from their atoms, leaving charged
ions, is called ionizing radiation. Its effects on
health depend on many factors, including the
amount, length of exposure, type, part of the
body exposed, and the health and age of the
individual.
We’re surrounded by low-level ionizing radiation every day. Most comes from cosmic rays
and radioactive minerals, which vary according
to geography. (Denver has more than Atlanta,
for instance, because of its altitude.) Man-made
sources, including medical and dental X-rays,
account for approximately 18 percent of the
average person’s lifetime exposure.
Radiation exposure in humans is measured in
units called rads and rems. A rad (radiation
absorbed dose) is a measure of the energy deposited by ionizing radiation when it’s absorbed by
an object. A rem (roentgen equivalent man) is
a measure of the biological effect of ionizing
radiation. Different types of radiation cause different amounts of damage. The rem measurement takes this into account. For X-rays, rads
and rems are equivalent. A quantity of 1 rad or
1 rem is a substantial dose of radiation. Smaller
doses are measured in millirads (thousandths of
a rad) or millirems (thousandths of a rem). The
average annual radiation exposure for a person
in the United States is about one-tenth of a rem.
Diagnostic X-Rays
The EPA estimates that 30 to 50 percent of
the 700 million X-rays taken every year in the
United States are unnecessary. However, doctors sometimes prescribe X-rays or newer imaging techniques involving radiation, such as CT
scans, to protect themselves from malpractice
suits, and hospitals benefit financially from the
heavy use of X-ray equipment.
Dental X-rays involve little radiation, but many
people receive so many so often that they’re second only to chest examinations in frequency.
New technology has significantly reduced radiation exposure.
Your Hearing
Health
Hearing loss is the third-most common
chronic health problem, after high blood pressure and arthritis, among older Americans.
microwaves Extremely high
frequency electromagnetic
waves that increase the rate
at which molecules vibrate,
thereby generating heat.
ionizing radiation A form of
energy emitted from atoms as
they undergo internal change.
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
635
© iStockphoto.com/Robert Kohlhuber
Besides listening to
the music at your next
concert, tune into the
noise level and how
your ears are feeling.
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most frequent
preventable disability. Nearly 22 million Americans between ages 20 and 69 have irreversibly
damaged hearing because of excessive noise
exposure. Regular use of over-the-counter painkillers also can lead to hearing loss, especially in
younger men.24
How Loud Is That Noise?
decibel (dB) A unit for measuring the intensity of sounds.
636
can reach 110 to 140 dB, about as loud as an
air raid siren.
Effects of Noise
Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable—and irreversible. Hearing aids are
the only treatment, but they do not correct the
problem; they just amplify sound to compensate
for hearing loss.
Loudness, or the intensity of a sound, is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper is 20 decibels; a conversation in a living room is about 50
decibels. On this scale, 50 isn’t two and a half
times louder than 20, but 1,000 times louder:
Each 10-dB rise in the scale represents a tenfold
increase in the intensity of the sound. Very loud
but short bursts of sounds (such as gunshots and
fireworks) and quieter but longer-lasting sounds
(such as power tools) can induce hearing loss.
The healthy human ear can hear sounds within
a wide range of frequencies (measured in hertz),
from the low-frequency rumble of thunder at
50 hertz to the high-frequency overtones of a
piccolo at nearly 20,000 hertz. High-frequency
noise damages the delicate hair cells that serve
as sound receptors in the inner ear. Damage first
begins as a diminished sensitivity to frequencies
around 4,000 hertz, the highest notes of a piano.
Sounds under 75 dB don’t seem harmful. However, prolonged exposure to any sound over 85
dB (the equivalent of a power mower or food
blender) or brief exposure to louder sounds can
harm hearing. The noise level at rock concerts
Early symptoms of hearing loss include difficulty
understanding speech and tinnitus (ringing in the
ears). Brief, very loud sounds, such as an explosion or gunfire, can produce immediate, severe,
and permanent hearing loss. Longer exposure
to less intense but still hazardous sounds, such
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
as those common at work or in public places,
can gradually impair hearing, often without the
individual’s awareness.
Conductive hearing loss, often caused by ear
infections, cuts down on perception of lowpitched sounds. Sensorineural loss involves
damage or destruction of the sensory cells in
the inner ear that convert sound waves to nerve
signals.
Figure 19.3 Louder and Louder
The human ear perceives a 10-decibel increase as a doubling of loudness.
Thus, the 100 decibels of a subway train sound much more than twice as
loud as the 50 decibels of a rushing stream.
*Note: The maximum exposure allowed on the job by federal law, in hours per day: 90 decibels, 8 hours;
100 decibels, 2 hours; 110 decibels, 1⁄2 hour.
Ear canal
Noise can harm more than our ears: High-­
volume sound has been linked to high blood
pressure and other stress-related problems that
can lead to heart disease, insomnia, anxiety,
headaches, colitis, and ulcers. Noise frays the
nerves; people tend to be more anxious, irritable, and angry when their ears are constantly
barraged with sound.
Are Earbuds Hazardous
to Hearing?
Although there is limited research, audiologists
(who specialize in hearing problems) report seeing greater noise-induced hearing loss in young
people. One probable culprit is extended use
of earbuds, tiny earphones used with portable
music players that deliver sound extremely close
to the eardrum. Hearing loss can be temporary
or permanent.
Hearing
Ear bones
canal
(Ossicles) (Cochlea)
Earbud
insert
headphone
Decibels
0
Eardrum
(Tympanic
membrane)
Example
Zone
The softest sound a
typical ear can hear
Safe
10 dB
Just audible
20 dB
Watch ticking;
leaves rustling
30 dB
Soft whisper at
16 feet
40 dB
Quiet office; suburban
street (no traffic)
50 dB
Interior of typical urban
home; rushing stream
60 dB
Normal conversation;
busy office
70 dB
Vacuum cleaner at
10 feet; hair dryer
80 dB
Alarm clock at 2 feet; loud
music; average daily traffic
90 dB*
Motorcycle at 25 feet;
jet 4 miles after takeoff
100 dB*
Video arcade; loud factory;
subway train
110 dB*
Car horn at 3 feet; symphony
orchestra; chain saw
1,000 times
louder than 80 dB
120 dB
Jackhammer at 3 feet; boom
box; nearby thunderclap
Injury
Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you should have your hearing checked:
130 dB
Rock concert; jet engine
at 100 feet
• Do you frequently have to ask people to
repeat themselves?
140 dB
Jet engine nearby; amplified
car stereo; firearms
The dangers to your hearing depend on how
loud the music is and how long you listen.
Because personal music players have long-lasting rechargeable batteries, people—especially
young ones—both listen for long periods and
turn up the volume because they feel “low personal vulnerability” to hearing loss. As long as
the sound level is within safety levels (see Figure
19.3), you can listen as long as you’d like. If you
listen to music so loud that someone else can
hear it two or three feet away, it’s too loud.
For safe listening, limit listening to a portable
music player with earphones or earbuds at 60
percent of its potential volume to one hour a day.
At the very least, take a five-minute break after
an hour of listening and keep the volume low.
1,000 times
louder than 20 dB
1,000 times
louder than 50 dB
Risk of injury
1,000 times louder
than 110 dB
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
637
Your Strategies for Prevention
How to Protect Your Ears
• If you must live or work in a noisy area,
wear hearing protectors to prevent
exposure to blasts of very loud noise.
Don’t think cotton or facial tissue stuck
in your ears can protect you; foam or
soft plastic earplugs are more effective.
Wear them when operating lawn mowers, weed trimmers, or power tools.
• Give your ears some quiet time. Rather
than turning up the volume on your personal music player to blot out noise, look
for truly quiet environments, such as the
library, where you can rest your ears and
focus your mind.
• Soundproof your home by using draperies, carpets, and bulky furniture. Put
rubber mats under washing machines,
blenders, and other noisy appliances.
Seal cracks around windows and doors.
• Beware of large doses of aspirin.
Researchers have found that eight aspirin tablets a day can aggravate the damage caused by loud noise; twelve a day
can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Don’t drink in noisy environments.
Alcohol intensifies the impact of noise
and increases the risk of lifelong hearing
damage.
• Do you have difficulty hearing when someone speaks in a whisper?
• Do people complain that you turn up the
volume too much when watching television
or listening to music?
• Do you have difficulty following conversation
in a noisy environment?
• Do you avoid groups of people because of
hearing difficulty?
• Have your friends or family suggested you
might have hearing loss?
Hearing Loss
In a recent study, as many as onequarter of college students suffered
mild hearing loss, including some
who believed their hearing was normal. This
loss could be the result of use of personal music
devices such as mp3 players.25
Hearing loss generally increases with age, affecting an estimated 21 percent of Americans ages
48 to 59 and 90 percent of those over age 80.26
Yet only one in five Americans older than age 70
uses hearing aids, even though a much greater
number have difficulty hearing and following
conversations.27
• When you hear a sudden loud noise,
press your fingers against your ears.
Limit your exposure to loud noise.
Several brief periods of noise seem less
damaging than one long exposure.
638
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Build
Your
Future
Taking Care of Mother Earth
Environmental problems can seem so complex that you may think
there’s little you can do about them. That’s not the case. This
world can be made better instead of worse. The job isn’t easy, and
all of us have to do our part. Just as many diseases of the previous century have been eradicated, so in time we may be able to
remove or reduce many environmental threats. Your future—and
our planet’s future—may depend on it.
____ Plant a tree. Even a single tree helps absorb carbon dioxide and produces cooling that can reduce the need for air
conditioning.
____ Limit your driving. If you usually drive to campus, check
out alternatives, such as carpooling and public or campus
transportation.
____ Precycle. Surf the web for sites that sell products made
from recycled materials. Click on http://www.ecomall
.com/ for listings.
____ Save the juice. Plug your appliances and e-gadgets, which
drain electricity even when turned off, into a power strip.
Whenever you leave, flicking off the switch effectively
unplugs them.
Self
Survey
____ Integrate a new “green” habit into your life every
week. Turn the thermostat down in winter and up in summer. Spend a few minutes less in the shower. Use both sides
of printer paper. Once a week declare a “spare the air” day
and don’t drive.
____ Avoid disposables. Use a mug instead of a paper or
foam cup, a sponge instead of a paper towel, a cloth napkin
instead of a paper one.
____ Recycle. Buy products made from recycled materials. Shop
for used furniture or clothing. Don’t throw away anything
someone else may be able to use.
____ Be water wise. Turn off the tap while you shave or brush
your teeth. Install water-efficient faucets, toilets, and shower
heads. Wash clothes in cold water. Drink tap rather than
bottled water.
____ Spare the seas. If you live near the coast or are picnicking
or hiking near the ocean, don’t use plastic bags (which are
often blown into the water) or plastic six-pack holders (which
can get caught around the necks of sea birds).
Are You Doing Your Part for the Planet?
You may think that there is little you can do, as an individual, to save Earth. But everyday acts can add up and make a difference in helping or harming the planet on which we live.
Almost Never
Sometimes
Always
1. Do you walk, cycle, carpool, or use public transportation as much
as possible to get around?
_____
_____
_____
2. Do you recycle?
_____
_____
_____
3. Do you reuse plastic and paper bags?
_____
_____
_____
4. Do you try to conserve water by not running the tap as you shampoo
or brush your teeth?
_____
_____
_____
5. Do you use products made of recycled materials?
_____
_____
_____
6. Do you drive a car that gets good fuel mileage and has up-to-date
emission control equipment?
_____
_____
_____
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
639
Almost Never
Sometimes
Always
7. Do you turn off lights, televisions, and appliances when you’re not
using them?
_____
_____
_____
8. Do you avoid buying products that are elaborately packaged?
_____
_____
_____
9. Do you use glass jars and waxed paper rather than plastic wrap
for storing food?
_____
_____
_____
10. Do you take brief showers rather than baths?
_____
_____
_____
11. Do you use cloth towels and napkins rather than paper products?
_____
_____
_____
12. When listening to music, do you keep the volume low?
_____
_____
_____
13. Do you try to avoid any potential carcinogens, such as asbestos, mercury,
or benzene?
_____
_____
_____
14. Are you careful to dispose of hazardous materials (such as automobile
oil or antifreeze) at appropriate sites?
_____
_____
_____
15. Do you follow environmental issues in your community and write your
state or federal representatives to support “green” legislation?
_____
_____
_____
Count the number of items you’ve checked in each column. If you’ve circled 10 or more in the “always” column, you’re
definitely helping to make a difference. If you’ve mainly circled “sometimes,” you’re moving in the right direction, but you
need to be more consistent and more conscientious. If you’ve circled 10 or more in the “never” column, carefully read this
chapter and “Your Health Action Plan for Protecting the Planet” to find out what you can do.
640
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Making Change Happen
Going Green
Environmental concerns may seem so enormous that you
may think that nothing you do will have an effect. This is
not the case. The world can be made better instead of
worse. You have the power to make choices and changes
that will protect the environment we all share.
The lab “OurSpace” in Labs for IPC provides a systematic
approach to living a “greener” life. Based on the Stages
of Change discussed in Chapter 1 of this text and in IPC,
the lab provides a blueprint that will guide you as you
make changes that will benefit you and your environment.
Here’s a preview:
Get Real
Before you know where you’re going, you
need to understand where you are. In this
stage, you evaluate your environmental
­values by rating how important (on a scale of
0 to 100) each of 11 goals is to you, including:
• Slowing or stopping global warming. ______
• Check out campus resources. Look for a local chapter
of groups such as the Campus Climate Challenge, Student Environmental Action Coalition, or the Sierra Club.
These organizations launch energy-conservation campaigns for their campuses, sponsor conferences, and so
on. Download their calendars of scheduled activities for
the term and get involved.
Get Going
his is the stage where you start taking
T
action with concrete steps that you incorporate into your daily life. Here is an excerpt
from the comprehensive six-week green
makeover included in the lab.
• Adopt a space. Take personal responsibility for a
piece of the planet. This could be part of a path you
walk every day to class, the stairs outside your dorm
or apartment building, a neglected flower bed on the
quad, your bus stop, whatever. Check on it regularly,
and . . .
• Improving air quality. ______
Lock It In
You record a second number for how involved you are
with each item, with 0 representing not involved and
100 as involved in taking action as humanly possible.
our planet is going to need your help for
Y
the rest of your life. That’s why it’s important
to make your new environmentally friendly
habits permanent. Here is an excerpt from
one suggestion of how to do so:
You also assess how green your lifestyle is by checking which of 19 things you do regularly. These behaviors
include:
• I buy products packaged simply in recycled or recyclable materials. ______
• I limit use of disposables such as paper napkins and
plastic utensils. ______
Get Ready
• Keep informed of environmental issues. Americans
are paying more attention to global warming and other
environmental threats. Follow political discussions.
Become familiar with the environmental positions of
political candidates. Note which businesses are taking
the initiative in fostering innovative, energy-saving programs. Be aware of . . .
Your next step is to prepare for change by
following recommendations such as the
following:
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
641
Making This Chapter Work for You
Review Questions
1. Which of the following statements about climate
change is true?
a. Increasing carbon dioxide production will slow the
progress of global warming.
b. Most experts say that the buildup of greenhouse
gases is changing natural climate and weather
patterns.
c. Climate change poses no health risks for humans
in the next 20 years.
d.Increasing tree cover and agricultural lands will
­contribute to global warming.
2. An example of the concept of sustainability is
a. getting enough to eat at every meal.
b. lowering the price of gas to 1990 levels.
c. using wind power to generate electricity.
d.maintaining our current levels of energy usage.
3. Mutagens
a. are caused by birth defects.
b. result in changes to the DNA of body cells.
c. are agents that trigger changes in the DNA of
body cells.
d.are caused by repeated exposure to pollutants.
4. Drinking water safety
a. may be compromised if your water comes from a
well.
b. is low in the United States because of chemical
treatment.
c. can be guaranteed by using bottled water, which
is completely free of chemical contaminants.
d.is measured by the cases of illness reported each
year.
5. Threats to the environment include
a. an open ecosystem.
b. depletion of the oxygen layer.
c. ecological processes.
d.global warming.
6. Pesticide risks to health include
a. reduced male fertility.
b. higher incidence of childhood brain cancer if
­parents have been exposed.
c. higher incidence of cancer and birth defects from
chlorinated hydrocarbons such as DDT.
d.higher incidence of diabetes.
7. One of the most important things you can do to help
protect the environment is
a. use as much water as possible to help lower the
ocean water levels.
b. recycle paper, bottles, cans, and unwanted food.
c. avoid energy-depleting fluorescent bulbs.
d.use plastic storage containers and plastic wrap to
save trees from being cut down.
8. Precycling is
a. planning ahead about recycling.
b. buying products packaged in recycled material.
c. removing excess packaging and leaving it in the
store where an item was purchased.
d.preparing to recycle.
9. You can protect your hearing by
a. avoiding prolonged exposure to sounds under
75 decibels.
b. using foam earplugs when operating noisy tools
or attending rock concerts.
c. limiting noise exposure to short bursts of loud
sounds such as fireworks.
d.drinking alcohol in noisy environments to mute the
sounds.
10. Which of the following statements about air pollution
is false?
a. More than 80 percent of the people in the United
States live in counties with unhealthy levels of
ozone or particle pollution.
b. Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from
harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, but in the
lower atmosphere, it is a harmful air pollutant.
c. Air pollution can cause the same types of respiratory health problems as smoking.
d. Particle pollution diminishes lung function and
increases the severity of asthma attacks.
Answers to these questions can be found on page 672.
Critical Thinking
1. How do you contribute to environmental pollution?
How might you change your habits to protect the
environment?
2. An excerpt from a recent newspaper article stated, “Children living in a public housing project near a local refinery suffer from a high rate of asthma and allergies, and
an environmental group says the plant may be to blame.”
642
The refinery has met all the local air quality standards,
employs hundreds in the community, and pays substantial city taxes, which support police, fire, and social
services. If you were a city council member, how would
you balance health and environmental concerns with
the need for industry in your community? What actions
would you recommend in this particular situation?
Section VI Health in Context
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
3. In one Harris poll, 84 percent of Americans said that,
given a choice between a high standard of living (but
with hazardous air and water pollution and the depletion of natural resources) and a lower standard of living
(but with clean air and drinking water), they would prefer clean air and drinking water and a lower standard
of living. What about you? What exactly would you be
willing to give up: air conditioning, convenience packaging and products, driving your own car rather than
using public transportation? Do you think most people
are willing to change their lifestyles to preserve the
environment?
Media Menu
Visit www.cengagebrain.com to access course materials
and companion resources for this text that will:
• Coach you through identifying target goals for behavioral change and creating and monitoring your personal
change plan throughout the semester using the Behavior
Change Planner available in the CengageNOW resource.
• Help you evaluate your knowledge of the material.
• Allow you to prepare for exams with interactive
quizzing.
• Use the CengageNOW product to develop a Personalized Learning Plan targeting resources that address
areas you should study.
Internet Connections
www.envirolink.org
Envirolink is a nonprofit organization that brings together
individuals and groups concerned about the environment
and provides access to a wealth of online environmental
resources.
www.seac.org
Since 1988, the Student Environmental Action Coalition
has been empowering students and youth to fight for
environmental and social justice in our schools and
communities.
Canada and the United States to win 100% Clean Energy
policies at their schools.
www.stopglobalwarming.org
This site is a nonpartisan effort to bring citizens together
to declare that global warming is here now and that it is
time to demand solutions.
www.cdc.gov/nceh/
This site, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, features a searchable database
as well as fact sheets and brochures on a variety of
environmental topics, from emergency preparedness and
public health tracking to environmental hazards and lead
poisoning prevention.
www.campusclimatechallenge.org
The Challenge leverages the power of young people to
organize on college campuses and high schools across
Key Terms
The terms listed are used on the page indicated. Definitions
of the terms are in the Glossary at the end of the book.
carcinogen 622
ionizing radiation 635
ozone 623
chlorinated hydrocarbons 633
microwaves 635
pollutant 622
decibel (dB) 636
precycling 625
ecosystem 619
multiple chemical sensitivity
(MCS) 633
electromagnetic fields (EMFs) 634
mutagen 622
sustainability 624
endocrine disruptors 632
organophosphates 633
recycling 625
Chapter 19 A Healthier Environment
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
643
Making This Chapter Work for You
This page contains qustions for this chapter only
Chapter 19
1. b; 2. c; 3. c; 4. a; 5. d; 6. c; 7. b; 8. b; 9. b; 10. a
672
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
This page contains references for this chapter only
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Chapter 19
1. “Environmental Health.” The World Health
Organization, 2010, www.who.int/topics/
environmental_health/en/.
2. American Association for the Advancement of
Science, www.aaas.org/climate.
3. “Environmental Health.” The World Health
Organization, 2010, www.who.int/topics/
environmental_health/en/.
4. Ziska, L., et al. “Recent Warming by Latitude
Associated with Increased Length of Ragweed
Pollen Season in Central North America.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
of the United States of America, Vol. 108, No. 10,
March 2011, pp. 4248–4251.
5. Chen, B. Y. “Effects of Ambient Particulate
Matter and Fungal Spores on Lung Function in
Schoolchildren.” Pediatrics, Vol. 127, No. 3, March
2011, pp. e690–e698.
6. Nawrot, T. S., et al. “Public Health Importance of
Triggers of Myocardial Infarction: A Comparative Risk Assessment.” Lancet, Vol. 377, No.
9767, February 2011, pp. 732–740.
7. “State of the Air 2011.” American Lung Association, www.stateoftheair.org.
8. Piro, F. N., et al. “A Comparison of Self-Reported
Air Pollution Problems and GIS-Modeled Levels
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
of Air Pollution in People with and without
Chronic Diseases.” Environmental Health, Vol. 7,
No. 1, February 28, 2008.
Pope, “Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life
Expectancy in the United States.” New England
Journal of Medicine, pp. 376–386.
“FDA Regulates the Safety of Bottled Water
Beverages Including Flavored Water and
Nutrient-Added Water Beverages,” May 3, 2010.
“Frequently Asked Questions about Iodine-131
Found in Surface Water.” CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response, April 1, 2011 (e-pub).
“State Smoke-Free Laws for Worksites, Restaurants, and Bars—United States, 2000–2010.”
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR), Vol. 60, No. 15, April 2011, pp. 472–475.
“Living with a Smoker May Raise Blood Pressure
in Boys.” American Academy of Pediatrics, News
Release, May 1, 2011 (e-pub). http://www.aap
.org/advocacy/releases/pas2011/smokersun.pdf.
Crane, J. M. G., et al. “Effects of Environmental
Tobacco Smoke on Perinatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Vol. 118, No. 7, June 2011, pp. 865–871.
“Invisible and Odorless, Radon Poses Risks to
Lungs.” MedlinePlus HealthDay, March 11, 2011
(e-pub).
Knox, S. S., et al. “Implications of Early Menopause in Women Exposed to Perfluorocarbons.”
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 96, No. 6, June 2011, pp. 1747–1753.
Preidt, R. “Keep Safety in Mind When Cleaning
House, Experts Advise.” MedlinePlus, March 26,
2011 (e-pub).
Wells, E. M., et al. “Low-Level Lead Exposure
and Elevations in Blood Pressure during Pregnancy.” Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol.
119, No. 5, May 2011, pp. 664–669.
“Environmental Cancer Risks.” Cancer Facts and
Figures 2008. American Cancer Society, 2008.
Volkow, N. D., et al. “Effects of Cell Phone
Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain
Glucose Metabolism.” Journal of the American
Medical Association, Vol. 305, No. 8, February
2011, pp. 808–813.
De Vocht, F., et al. “Time Trends (1998–2007)
in Brain Cancer Incidence Rates in Relation to
Mobile Phone Use in England.” Bioelectromagnetics, January 28, 2011 (e-pub).
Djeridane, Y., et al. “Influence of Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by GSM-900 Cellular Telephones on the Circadian Patterns of Gonadal,
Adrenal and Pituitary Hormones in Men.” Radiation Research, Vol. 169, No. 3, March 2008,
pp. 337–343.
Loeb, P. D., and W. A. Clarke. “The Cell Phone
Effect on Pedestrian Fatalities.” Transportation
Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation
Review, Vol. 45, No. 1, January 2009, pp. 284–290.
Curhan, S. G., et al. “Analgesic Use and the
Risk of Hearing Loss in Men.” American Journal
of Medicine, Vol. 123, No. 3, March 2010, pp.
231–237.
Predit, R. “Small Study Finds Hearing Loss in 1 in
4 College Students.” MedlinePlus, March 18, 2011
(e-pub).
Nash, S. D., et al. “The Prevalence of Hearing
Impairment and Associated Risk Factors: The
Beaver Dam Offspring Study.” Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Vol. 137,
No. 5, May 2011, pp. 432–439.
Joelving, F. “Hearing Loss Common in Seniors:
National Survey.” MedlinePlus, February 28, 2011
(e-pub).
References
Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
691