|
Environmental
Health (Section Overview)
- Our
environment is made up of the surroundings
in which we live. Environmental health is
concerned with chemical compounds,
microbiological organisms, and other hazards
in these surroundings which can adversely
affect our health...
Drinking Water Quality
- An estimated 84% of
the population receive water from a public
water supply regulated by the State. While
nitrate and microbiological contamination
are the most commonly occurring contaminants
in these systems...
Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
- Dozen of foodborne
illness outbreaks are reported each year in
Washington State, and this is just the tip
of the iceberg. However, as a result of an
aggressive investigation program...
Shellfish Safety
- Both commercial and
recreational shellfish harvesting remain
active in Washington waters. Illnesses are
caused by a variety of agents including
bacteria, viruses...
Pesticide-Related Illness
- Washington is one of
eight states which actively track and
investigate pesticide-related illnesses.
Approximately 40% of all identified cases
occurred...
Outdoor (Ambient) Air Quality
- Air pollution is a
major public health concern because it can
affect large populations, and people do not
have choices about the air they breathe.
There are many sources of air pollution in
both urban...
Indoor Air Quality
- Indoor air quality
can have a profound effect on a person's
well being because we spend so much time
indoors. The quality of indoor air is
impacted by many sources of air pollutants
as well as by building...
Recreational Waterborne Illness
- Between 1991 and
2000, over 1,000 people were affected in
confirmed waterborne illness outbreaks
associated with recreational waters in
Washington. Children are at particularly
risk of infection...
Childhood Lead Poisoning
- In Washington State
as a whole, fewer than one percent of
children have elevated blood lead levels.
However, this proportion is higher among
Hispanic children in central Washington...
Other
Issues in Environmental Health - This chapter includes
brief descriptions of six important
environmental health problems not covered in
other chapters. Some of these topics are
emerging issues for which there are few data...
|
