ENV 101

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

BY :
KAMARUDDIN ARSHAD
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCE
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
KAMPUS BERTAM,P.PINANG
1

This subject will provide the student :

An introduction to the foundations for the discipline of Environmental
Health/Health Inspection in Malaysia.
Will be discussed :

disease prevention in the health system

The entire Malaysian Health Care System a special emphasis
placed on Environmental Health.
The behavior, roles, duties, and responsibilities of Assistant
Environmental Health Officer and other related health officials.
Will be reviewed with respect to health programs @ urban and rural.
.

Assessment:
Continuous Assessment
Test 1
= 15%
40
%
Test 2
= 15%
Assignment = 10%
Final Exam (2 hrs ) = 60%
Total
= 100%

Lesson 1
Topic: Definition and discussion
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students should be
able to:
Define Health, Public Health and
Environmental Health
State the focus of EH
State the Objectives of EH
State the Mission and Function of EH & PH
Explain the basic relationship between the
environment and health
Explain impact of environmental factors on
health

Definition: Health
is a state of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1948)
Health is only possible where resources are
available to meet human needs and where the
living and working environment is protected
from life-threatening and health threatening
pollutants, pathogens and physical
hazards(Who, 1992a)

WHAT IS HEALTH?
HEALTH means a state of complete physical,
mental and social wellbeing, and not merely in
the absence of diseases or infirmity
( by WHO).

HEALTH is state whereby a person has

the optimum capability to do his work
and responsibilities .
(Alcott Parson, 1959)

DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH

Social
health.

Physical
health
Is a state of well
being void of
disease or
illness

Emotional
health

Awareness of
feeling and
ability to
express them.

Spiritual
health

Is the ability to
Mental
Maintaining
form
health.
balanced
Healthy
relationship
relationship and
with other
to fulfill social
living things.
roles
Is the ability to think
and learn from life
experience, being open
to new ideas, and the
ability of one to
question and evaluate

Major factors influencing health

(Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kesihatan)

Heredity

keturunan

Environm
ent

persekitaran

Behaviou
r

tingkahlaku

Healthca
re
services

Penjagaan
kesihatan

Six essential factors that influences our health

Health is influenced by a number of factors which exist

within the individual and the society. The important factors
which determine health are:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

heredity
environment
life-style
socio - economic conditions
health services
health related systems.

1. Heredity:
Genes determine the health of an individual from the
moment of conception.
The genetic makeup cannot be altered.
Some diseases like diabetes and mental retardation
have genetic origin.
So the health of an individual depends on his genetic
constitution.
Genetically inherited diseases
Examples: hemophilia, anemia, diabetes, lack
of resistance to diseases etc.

2. Environment:
Diseases are caused by changes in environment like
air, water, climate etc.
Environment is of two types: internal and external.
Internal environment relates to each and every tissue,
organ and system of the body and their harmonious
functioning.
External environment is the physical, biological and
psychological components to which an individual is
exposed.
Environment has a direct influence on the physical,
mental and social well being of an individual.
Environmentally related diseases - Water, air, food
sources.
Poor environmental management - Causative
agents of diseases .Examples: Salmonella typhi,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

3. Life - style:
It means 'the way people live'. It includes culture,
behaviour and also habits like smoking and
alcoholism.
A number of diseases like heart diseases, cancer and
diabetes are related to life - style.
Good life - style like good food, sleep and exercise
promotes better health.
Individual lifestyle
- usually include diet and physical activity, tobacco
and alcohol use, drug intake and sexual activity.

4. Socio - economic conditions:

They include income, education, nutrition, employment and
housing.
i) Income:
Rich people have a capacity to seek better medical care.
So they are healthy. But rich people are inactive and
sedentary. So they are prone for heart diseases,
diabetes and obesity.
ii) Education:
Education especially female education has an influence on
health. Education helps people to understand the
importance of clean environment and maintaining good
health.
iii) Nutrition:
Starvation has an adverse effect on health. Good nutrition
is essential for normal growth and also for resistance
against infection.
iv) Occupation: Employment provides income.
Employed people enjoy good health. Due to lack of income
unemployed people do not have access to health care.

5. Health services:
The aim of health and family welfare services is to
treat diseases, prevent illness and promotion of health.
Health services like safe water supply and immunisation
prevent a variety of diseases.
Provision of preventative services
Access to culturally appropriate health services
Community participation in the planning and delivery of
health services
6. Other health related systems:
They include agriculture, education, industry and rural
development. They have an impact on health by raising
the standards of living.

WHAT IS
It's everything that
makes up our surroundings
ENVIRONMENT
?
and affects our ability to live on the earth :
Apa sahaja yang berada disekeliling kita dan
membolehkan kita hidup didunia ini :- the air we breathe,
udara yang kita hidu
- the water that covers most of the earth's
surface
air yang menyelubungi sebahagian dari
permukaan bumi
- the plants and animals around us, and much
more.

What is Environment?

The air we breathe

The water we drink, cook with, and bathe in
The ground we play on and grow our food in
The homes, buildings, offices, we work and towns
we live in .
(National Institute of EH Sciences, USA)

Definition: Environment
[All] that which is external to individual
human host. [It] can be divided into
physical, biological, social cultural any or
all of which can influence health status in
populations. (WHO, 1995)

What is Environment?
Is the surrounding factors that influence
and give effects to the lifestyle of a person
Its also include the chemicals, radiation,
microbes, and physical forces with which we
come into contact.
(National Center for EH (NCEH, USA)

ENVIRONMENTA
L HEALTH:

An important
components of
PUBLIC HEALTH

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH?

What is Environmental
Health?
EH is one of the facets @ aspect of PH
EH encompasses a wide variety of issues.
Examples of EH in our daily life:

Secondhand cigarette smoke

Air pollution and asthma/respiratory
diseases
Water is it safe for consumption
Lead paint at home will it harm our
family
Handphone will it cause brain cancer

What is Environmental Health?

Those aspects of human health, diseases, and injury
that are determined or influenced by factors in the
environment.
Includes the study of both the direct pathological
effects of various chemical, physical, and biological
agents.
The effect on health of the broad physical and social
environment such as housing, urban development, landuse and transportation, industry, and agriculture
The U.S. Department of Health and Human
(Healthy People 2010, 2003)

What is Environmental Health?

Comprises those aspects of human health,
including quality of life, that are determined by
physical, chemical, biological, social, and
psychosocial factors in the environment and..
Also refers to the theory and practice of assessing,
correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors
in the environment that can potentially affect
adversely the health of present and future
generations
(World Health Organization)

What is Environmental Health?

EH is the professional practice of
improving and preserving residential and
industrial hygienic environments and
housing for individuals and communities,
and improving and preserving public
health and allied matters including the
control and management of the total
environment and ecological balance by
educating processes and enforcement of
statutory provisions by the application of
preventive science and practice
Institute of EH (Australia)

Focus of Environmental Health

Involves the MANAGEMENT & CONTROL of:

Water resources & pollution

Excreta and waste water
Air pollution
Solid waste
Insects and other pests
Food supply and safety
Physical energy

To PREVENT Impairment of Health

To PROMOTE Efficiency and Comfort
To SAFEGUARD Natural Ecosystems
(Peter N. Di Marco, WHO Consultant)

OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

(WHO, 1971)

To prevent and control the infectious agent

transmission
To prevent and control the exposure to toxic
chemicals and physical processes
To prevent and control of exposure to
biological, chemical and physical agents
that can cause anxiety to man
To improve on physical and mental health
To improve on social well-being

Prevent and control the exposure to

toxic chemicals and physical processes
Hazardous chemicals can cause harm when they
enter the body in sufficient amounts via
inhalation, ingestion, injection or skin
absorption.
Therefore, suitable control measures must be
implemented to minimize exposure so as to
safeguard the safety and health of workers.
The nature of the hazardous chemical and the
routes by which it enters the body determine
the type of controls that are needed.
These control measures can take the form of
engineering measures, safe work practices,
administrative measures and personal
protective equipment (PPE).

Occupational Health & Safety

One of the scope of EH, which focus on
the working environment
It is define as a science that identifies,
evaluates and controls biological,
chemical, physical and social factors
from the work environment that can
cause hazards on workers

Proactive Approach in EH
In controlling Environmental Factors, an EH scientist
assumes a proactive and preventive approach.
Requires a strong theoretical understanding of the
fundamentals of basic and applied science which
describe the interrelationships between man and
his environment.
A professional obligation for EH scientist to sound
the alarm before an impending or a highly probable
environmental hazard.

Health and Environment

Perspective of Relations
Environmental health
Public Health
Occupational
Health
Family Health

Personal
Health

What is Public Health ?

No definite definition
Refers to all organized measures to
prevent disease
promote health
prolong life among the population
Focus on entire population, not
individual patients or disease
Its activities aim to provide conditions
in which people can be healthy

What is Public Health?

Public health disciplines include
medicine, social work, environmental
sciences, dentistry, nutrition, and
health promotion.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Definition:
The science and practice of protecting
and improving the health of a
community, by preventive
medicine, health education, control
of communicable diseases,
application of sanitary measures,
Organized efforts of society to protect, promote, and
and
monitoring
restore
people's
health. It is of
the environmental
combination of science,
skills, and beliefs that ishazards.
directed to the maintenance and
improvement of the health of all the people through
collective or social actions.

What is Public Health?

Three main Public Health functions

a) The assessment and monitoring of the
health of communities and populations
at risk to identify health problems and
priority
b) The formulation of public polices to
solve identified problems and priority
c) To assure all population have access to
appropriate and cost-effective care,
health promotion and diseases
prevention services

The Difference Between

Health Care and Public Health
Health Care = Individual Health
Public Health = Population
Health
Mission of PH:
a)

It is focused on country-wide concerns (the public interest)

rather than the health interests of a particular individuals
or group.

b)

It generates organized effort to address public concerns

about health by applying scientific and technological
knowledge community.

c)

These concerns include disease prevention and health

promotion encompassing physical, mental, and
environmental health.

Some of notable @ significant public health

campaigns:
Vaccination and control of infectious diseases
Motor vehicle safety
Safety workplaces
Safe and healthier foods
Adequate and Safe drinking water
Family planning
Breast feeding
Tobacco smoke as health hazards
Source : World Health Organization

EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES

Assure Normal Human Development

X-rays in medical settings

are the right strength.

Staff assess the risk of

childhood lead exposure in
older homes.

Cont

Prevent the Spread of Communicable

Diseases

Proper well-drilling
prevents pollution in
drinking water.

Sanitarians check to assure

that restaurants store and
serve food safely.

Cont
Protect Against Environmental Hazards and Prepare to Respond to
Disasters

Ammonia spill spreads

(Source: Lawrence Livermore Lab)

Volunteers serve safe

food to affected people.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH ISSUE
Global warming melting ice in the Arctic
and increase of forest fires.
Air pollution : Haze, Environmental
tobacco smoke.
Water pollution: industrial discharge
Land pollution:
Chronic and communicable diseases
Natural disasters

Changes advanced by the

attitudes of the
environmental health
Renew sense professionals
of mission that is open to
change and welcomes it.
Look beyond todays work to invest part of
our energies in building for the future.
Understand environmental health as a large
system.
See health as a function of society.
Function more cooperatively to encourage
the cooperation of others, and to support
such cooperation.

Cont

Learn from errors and communicate our

experiences.
Upgrade our insights and skills in planning,
developing our capabilities to program for
environmental health.
Recognize how little we can do by
ourselves to make alliances, and to
improve communications outside our
formal organizations.
Be patient because changes we seek will
not come quickly.

Summary
Environmental health is the broadest
scope of health problem definition
Environmental health studies the impact
of the environment on populations
It is a population based science that can
be scaled to study individual within
populations
Problem definition and potential
resolution is possible through the
implementation of a systematic
approach

 Make a summary of any article about

Environmental Health
issues from :
o magazine
o newspaper,
o journal ..etc. in malaysia perspective
or Global
Related of people to their environment and
health, how it
affects their physical well-being and what
they can do to
influence the quality of the environment .
Guideline:
Font 11 (arial)
Spacing double
Article shoulh be in english

FORMAT OF ASSIGNMENT

The report must be type written in ENGLISH on one side of the

page and should be in justify paragraphs form.
Line spacing is 1.5, while between paragraphs are double
spaced.
Left and Right margins must be 2.0cm, while the top and
bottom margin must be 3.5 cm respectively on an A4 size
paper.
must have cover and must be bound.
Front cover appropriately written.
Title appropriate to assignment topic.
Contents page appropriately organized.
Tables OR Graphs neatly drawn and labeled
Pictures and appendices labeled appropriately
Report submitted before due date 8 Julai 2013

Contents of Assignment
Introduction
Introduction on the assignment topic well defined, original, and usage of
good and proper English in writing
Discussion
Discuss of the assignment and their relative cause and effect on any
environmental health issues or lessons learned.
Recommendations
Write recommendations that you will make to rectify, mitigate, improve,
replace or change on the overall findings or outcomes in the assignment.

Conclusions
Write up of the conclusion on the overall findings in the assignment.
Students should be able to visualize the general outlook of the situation
or findings or inferences attained in the assignment.
Preferably 1-2 paragraphs .
References
Should have at least 5 references that helped you in writing of the
Report.
- Text Book
- Journal
- Article and ect..
Appendices
Should include pictures, drawings, diagrams and flow chart to support
your write up.

Date
Received:
Marks:

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUBJECT:
COURSE CODE:
TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT:

NAME
ID NUMBER
PROGRAMME
PART/SEM
LECTURER
DATE OF
SUBMISSION

DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

References:
1. Bassett, W.H. & Davies, F.G. (1981). Clay's
Handbook of Environmental
Health (15th
ed.). H.K. Lewis Publication. London.
2. Noor Hashim Ismail. (1993).
Persekitaran. Dewan Bahasa dan
Kuala Lumpur.

Kesihatan
Pustaka.

3. Salvato, J.A. (1992). Environmental Engineering

and Sanitation. (4th ed). A Wiley Interscience
Publication John Wiley & Sons. New York.
4. Sartwell, P.E. (1973). Preventive medicine and
public health. (10th ed).
Appleton-CenturyCrofts. New York.

END SLIDE!!!!!!
THANK YOU
Environment and pollution
Pollution (Land, Air and Water
Pollution)
Top 10 most POLLUTED
countries in the world
WORLD's 10 MOST CLEANEST
COUNTRIES by Zuhaib Iqbal

52