How Safe is the Environment We Live In?
Environmental Safety
Respiratory Problems such as Allergies and Asthma: Many people today, both young and old, suffer from allergies. These range anywhere from sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes from pollen, dust and other substances in the air. Many suffer from asthma.
Birth Defects: During pregnancy, when a woman is exposed to the fumes of dangerous chemicals and cigarette smoke, there is a risk that the fetus can be significantly affected. This could lead to the malformation of a babies organs or birth defects.
Cancer: It seems as though Cancer can be caused by almost anything, but the major contributors are cigarette smoke, asbestos, radiation and chemicals from the our environment. The risks of developing some type of cancer could be reduced by eliminating human exposure to all known potential or harmful elements.
Dermatitis: Since the skin is the outermost layer of protection on the human body, there are many things that can cause skin inflammation and irritation. It can be caused by coming in contact with poisonous plants (poison ivy, oak and sumac). There are also some chemicals that are used in dyes, paints detergents and even cosmetics that can cause rashes and blisters.
Emphysema: This is a serious condition that affects our breathing. The tiny sacs in the lungs (alveoli) that are involved with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide are not able to function properly and this prevents the lungs from being able to expand and contract normally. Although is is generally thought to be caused by cigarette smoking, air pollution is also a cause.
Heart Disease: Chemicals that are used in the environment do contribute to the cause of various heart ailments.
Job-Related Illnesses: Every job, regardless of how safe it appears, has its hazards. Many of the job-related ailments are caused by either chemicals or fumes, as well as other agents present in the work environment. Some factories and businesses sometimes contain poisonous chemicals, dyes and metals, because that is what they do. In hospitals, there is radiation equipment. In mines, there is quarry dust.
Lead Poisoning: Dust and fumes from lead that contaminate water cause lead to be introduced into the body. The exposure to lead can cause brain damage, kidneys damage, liver damage, as well as damage to other organs.
Mercury Poisoning: The main source of this is eating contaminated fish and other foods. Even a minute amount of mercury in the body can cause damage to the kidneys, liver and brain.
Nervous System Disorders: The toxic chemicals that exist in the the environment can cause a nervous breakdown. This can result in mood swings, memory loss, blindness, paralysis and possibly death.
Pneumoconiosis: The airborne particles from asbestos, cotton and hemp, as well as the dust from silica, graphite, coal, iron and clay can also be very dangerous. They can cause major damage to the lungs.
Queensland Fever: The individuals who work in the animal tanning industry can develop an illness called Queensland fever. This condition is caused by a tiny organism that infects all types of livestock and then spreads to the milk and feces.
Sunburn and Skin Cancer: Too much sun and getting burned are the major causes of sunburn and skin cancer.
Tooth Decay: Without fluoride in our drinking water, there is more tooth decay. With the addition of fluorides in the drinking water and in toothpastes, this definitely helps to protect the teeth from decay.
Uranium Poisoning: This is a very poisonous and dangerous radioactive element that can damage any living tissue in the body.
Vision Problems: Our eyes are very sensitive to any type of change in the environment. Allergies, airborne organisms, over exposure to sun rays or even a slight change in the air quality, can cause eye irritation. The main symptoms are redness, itching and the typical burning sensation.
Waterborne Diseases: Improper water sanitation can cause malaria, typhoid fever, skin irritation and diarrhea.
Xeroderma Pigmentosum: This is inheritable from your parents. When exposed to direct sunlight, the skin can develop tiny dark spots that look like freckles. If this condition is not treated in time, the spots can develop into skin cancer.
It is of absolute importance that everyone make every effort to use extreme caution when working in any type of environment, where dangerous or toxic items are in use and to ensure that our water and sanitation systems are clean and working properly.
Process Technology: Safety, Health, and Environment
by: Ph.D. Charles E. Thomas
publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning, published: 2011-02-08
ASIN: 1111036357
EAN: 9781111036355
sales rank: 180426
price: $70.48 (new), $62.55 (used)
A full range of safety, health and environmental issues that relate to the process industry are thoroughly covered in this newly updated text. Process Technology: Safety, Health and Environment, 3rd edition includes new material such as responding to the use of weapons of mass destruction, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters along with a comprehensive discussion on conducting a job hazard analysis. New safety problems, line-drawings, study/review questions and instructor directed applications that enhance learning and retention of new text material while integrating safety, science and theory with process equipment and systems. The addition of a thorough review of hazards associated with operating systems common to the chemical industry will make this book an invaluable resource.
Elements of Industrial Hazards: Health, Safety, Environment and Loss Prevention
by: Ratan Raj Tatiya
publisher: CRC Press, published: 2010-12-01
ASIN: 0415886457
EAN: 9780415886451
sales rank: 1797586
price: $120.00 (new), $172.19 (used)
An introductory course on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) as applicable to all manufacturing and exploration engineering industries. Its first part deals with fundamentals, ecology and environmental engineering and covers air and water pollution sources, magnitude, measuring techniques and remedial measures to minimize them. The second part deals with industrial hazards, health and safety. It includes standards, strategies, risk assessment and accident analysis. The last part treats eight elements of HSE management, which is currently a critical activity for virtually any engineering business. Intended for a wide audience active in the engineering, ranging form the plant supervisor to HSE consultants to operators in the field.
Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment
by: Graham Matthews
publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, published: 2006-07-17
ASIN: 1405130911
EAN: 9781405130912
sales rank: 783330
price: $118.00 (new), $112.00 (used)
Over the last five decades pesticides have undoubtedly helped to increase agricultural production and control vectors of disease, however the environmental impact of long term agro-chemical use has been cause for concern along with the effects on human health.
In Pesticides, Graham Matthews begins by looking at the developmental history of pesticides, and how crop protection was achieved before they were in use, how pesticides are registered for use and what happens to pesticides in food and the environment. Pesticide application and operator safety is investigated and the future of pesticides in light of the development of genetically modified crops is explored.
- Provides commercially important information for the agro-chemical industry
- Addresses all aspects of public concern relating to human health and the environment, including spray drift, bystander, resident and worker exposure
- Looks at the future of pesticides in light of the increasing prevalence of genetically modified crops
Collecting together the most recent research in the area in a single volume, this book is a vital resource for agricultural scientists, agronomists, plant scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, environmental scientists, public health personnel, toxicologists, crop protection personnel and all those involved in the agrochemical industry and government pesticide registration and legislation.
Safety, Security, Health and Environment Law
by: Michael Tooma
publisher: Federation Press, published: 2011-04-12
ASIN: 1862877955
EAN: 9781862877955
price: $90.00 (new)
A fully updated new edition of Michael Tooma’s ground-breaking integrated approach to the law and practice of workplace health, safety, security and environment management. Tooma identifies a common grounding in risk management and similar legislative treatment of regulation in these areas across State and federal jurisdictions.
New content includes:
- Discussion of the Model OHS Laws
- Discussion of the international context to OHS laws and comparative analysis of OHS law in selected jurisdictions including the USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand
- Nanotechnology
- Case studies including the Texas BP Refinery explosion, the Waterfall train disaster, the Cross City Tunnel fatality and a discussion of the High Court’s Kirk decision.
The Incident – Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Health and Safety captures the events of a fatal incident in a lab, what could happen and how to prevent injury or even death.
Health, Safety and Environmental Protections
OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass discusses how special interests endanger our public protections.
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:14 AM
Some really interesting information, well written and broadly user genial.