Healthcare and Public Health Sector

Welcome to another insightful week of Chem-Sect. This week, I will be discussing the Healthcare and Public Health Sector, its impact, the hazard types, and how it affects our environment.

Overview of this Sector
Did you know that this sector operates in all U.S. states, territories, and tribal areas? Yes. The Healthcare and Public Health Sector plays a significant role in response and recovery across all other sectors in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. It protects all sectors of the economy from hazards such as terrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.

Fig. 1.

This Healthcare and Public Health Sector is highly interconnected with industrial activities that emit much of the nation’s pollution to air, water, and soils. Estimated emissions are directly and indirectly attributable to the health care sector and to the potential harmful effects on public health. Negative environmental and public health outcomes were estimated through economic input-output life cycle assessment (EIOLCA) modeling using National Health Expenditures (NHE) for the decade 2003–2013 and compared to national totals.

In 2013, the health care sector was also responsible for significant fractions of national air pollution emissions and impacts, including acid rain (12%), greenhouse gas emissions (10%), smog formation (10%), criteria air pollutants (9%), stratospheric ozone depletion (1%), and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic air toxics (1–2%). See Figure 1.

Environmental and Health Impacts
If the U.S. healthcare system was a country, it would be rank 13th in the world for greenhouse gas emissions according to Dr. Jodi Sherman of Yale University School of Medicine and Dr. Matthew Eckelman of Northeastern University. The U.S. healthcare system, the most expensive in the world, uses vast amounts of energy in the form of heating, electricity, and energy-intensive goods and services. It has been estimated that the healthcare sector contributes 8% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Yet emissions of other pollutants from the healthcare sector, and their impact on the public health, have not been reported.

T

Courtesy of Northeastern University

hese results sounded an alarm. Over the past 10 years, the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions grew by more than 30%, accounting for nearly 10% of the national total in 2013. Damages to health that year from the pollutants rang in at 405,000 “disability adjusted life years (DALYs),” a measure of years lost due to ill health, disability, or early death.

Environmental Hazard Types

As humans, we stumble across numerous environmental hazards every single day. To better understand environmental health, let’s classify environmental hazards into four categories:

1. Biological Hazards
Biological hazards emanate from environmental relations between organisms. Some examples of biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, pathogenic micro-organisms, tuberculosis, malaria and so on. When these diseases and pathogens are transmitted between two or more organisms, we call it infectious disease. The real reason humans suffer from these pathogens and diseases is that they are being infested by other organisms, which is a natural process, but at the same time hazardous.

2. Physical Hazards
These are physical processes which happen naturally in the environment, for example, natural disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes, droughts, landslides, blizzards, and tornadoes. Physical hazards are considered secret events, but not all are, for instance, a few like UV radiations are openly happening each day. Ultraviolet radiation is categorized as hazardous since too much exposure to it destroys the DNA and triggers health complications in humans such as cataracts and skin cancer.

3. Chemical Hazards


Courtesy of Huff Insurance

They occur in ecological systems in two ways; human-made or natural.  Examples of naturally occurring chemical hazards include mercury and lead, which are considered heavy metals. Human-made chemical hazards encompass lots of synthetic chemicals human produce such as pesticides, plastics, and disinfectants. A few organisms even generate natural chemicals, which are hazardous to the environment, for instance, elements contained in peanuts and dairy that trigger allergic reactions to humans.

4. Cultural Hazards
They are sometimes referred to as social hazards. They originate from your locality, behavioral choices, occupation, and social-economic status. Examples of cultural hazards include cigarette smoking, which is detrimental to human health. Cigarette smoking is considered a behavior choice. If you reside in a neighborhood full of criminal activities, it is classified as a hazard based on your locality. In equal measure, your diet choice, workout habits, and main means of transportation all impact your overall health and the health of the ecological system around you.
 
Here’s an interesting video on Health Sector Resilience posted by the CDC:

Do you have any questions or comments you would like to add? Feel free to respond below. Thank you for visiting!!!

References:

1. CDC. (2016). Health Sector Resilience. Retrieved from YouTube: https://youtu.be/zW5xCzs0spA
2. DHS. (2010). Healthcare and Public Health Sector-Specific Plan. Washington, D.C.: Department of Health & Human Services.
3. DHS. (2017). Healthcare and Public Health Sector. Retrieved from Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/healthcare-public-health-sector
4. Kashef, Z. (2016). Environmental and Health Impacts of U.S. Healthcare System. Retrieved from Yale News: https://news.yale.edu/2016/06/09/environmental-and-health-impacts-us-healthcare-system
5. Kukreja, R. (2017). What is Environmental Health and Critical Issues Related to it? Retrieved from Conserve Energy Future: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/environmental-health-and-its-issues.php
6. Sherman, J. (2016). Environmental Impacts of the U.S. Health Care System and Effects on Public Health. Retrieved from PLOS One: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0157014#pone-0157014-g001
7. Singer, T. (2016). Researchers Reveal the Hidden Environmental and Public Health Impacts of the US Healthcare Sector. Retrieved from News at Northeastern: http://news.northeastern.edu/2016/06/researchers-reveal-the-hidden-environmental-and-public-health-impacts-of-the-u-s-health-care-sector/

Water and Wastewater Systems Sector

Welcome to another insightful week of Chem-Sect. This week, I will be discussing the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector and and how it is associated with it and how it is an integral part of our environment.

Overview of this Sector

Did you know that there are approximately 153,000 public drinking water systems and more than 16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment systems in the United States? If you said, “yes,” then you are correct. Fact. More than 80% of the U.S. population receives their drinkable water from these water systems. Additionally, approximately 75% of the U.S. population has its sanitary sewerage treated by these wastewater systems.

 

Consuming safe drinking water is paramount to everyone. Fresh, clean, and healthy water is a prerequisite for protecting public health and the well-being of a community. It is also important that properly treated wastewater is vital in preventing diseases as well as protecting the environment. In doing so, it ensures that the supply of drinking water and wastewater treatment services remain essential to everyday life and to our Nation’s economy.

 

Water Facts

Courtesy of Tech Hive

· It takes approximately 33 ounces of water to create a single sheet of paper.

· It takes about the same amount of water to irrigate one calorie worth of food

· While 71% of our earth is blanketed with water, approximately 3.5% is fresh water

· Of that fresh water, only about 25% is accessible – simply put, only 0.75% of the world’s water is fresh and accessible for use.

 

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) The SDWA requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and enforce standards that public drinking water systems must follow. The EPA delegates primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for public water systems to states and Indian Tribes if they meet certain requirements. Primary standards and treatment techniques by the EPA protect public health by regulating the levels of contaminants in drinking water through drinking water regulations. To view a list of these regulations, click on the .pdf link below:

 

 https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/npwdr_complete_table.pdf

 

Water in the Environment

 

Courtesy of Horizon Water and Environment

The importance of water to ecosystems, living resources, and human welfare is widely appreciated. However, much is yet to be understood about the impacts of human activities on water quality and its global distribution. There is a continuous need to develop appropriate, efficient, and sustainable approaches like technology to maintain water quantity and quality for the environment.

At the same time, water ecosystems must also meet the needs for food security and sanitation as population grows. Another important factor is to understand the relationship between energy consumption and food production as it relates to environmental water quantity and quality.

 

Water Consumption

This following chart provides an idea how much water a typical household consumes: 

Common Questions
Here are just a few of the most commonly asked questions about your drinking water…

Q. Is bottled water safer than tap water?

A. It depends. According to the EPA, bottled water is not necessarily safer than your tap water. However, some bottled water is treated more than tap water while some is treated less or not treated at all. Bottled water costs much more than tap water based on a per-gallon ratio. The EPA sets the standards for drinking water provided by public water systems. Bottled water and tap water are both safe to drink if they meet these EPA standards.

Q. How long can bottled water be stored?

A. Currently, the FDA has not established a shelf life for bottled water. However, it can be stored indefinitely if it is kept in the proper environment – in a dry place out of direct sunlight, stored at room temperature or cooler, and kept away from toxic chemicals such as cleaning agents, solvents, and gasoline.

 

Q. How much does it cost to treat and deliver drinking water?

A. It costs less for our drinking water than it does for most other goods and services such as cable television, telephone service, and electricity.  On average, tap water costs are slightly more than $2 per 1,000 gallons although the costs tend to be lower for large water systems.

 

Q. Can I tell if my drinking water is okay by just looking at it, tasting it, or smelling it?

A. No. None of the chemicals or microbes that could make you sick can be seen, tasted, or smelled.

 

Want to learn more Water Facts? Click on this video:

 

Do you have any additional questions or comments you would like to add? Feel free to respond below. Thank you for visiting!!!

References:

1. DHS. (2017). Water and Wastewater Systems Sector. Retrieved from Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/water-and-wastewater-systems-sector
2.  EPA. (2017). Basic Information about Your Drinking Water. Retrieved from US Enviromental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-your-drinking-water
3. EPA. (2017). Frequent Questions. Retrieved from US Enviromental Protection Agency: https://safewater.zendesk.com/hc/en-us?faq=true
4. EPA. (2017). National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Table. Retrieved from US Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulation-table
5. GeoPlatform. (2017). Water and Waste Water Systems Sector. Retrieved from Geospatial Platform: https://cms.geoplatform.gov/geoconops/water-and-waste-water-systems-sector
6. JHU. (2014). Water In The Environment. Retrieved from John Hopkins University Water Institute: http://water.jhu.edu/index.php/about/water-in-the-environment/
7. Philips, O. (2015). World Water Day and the Issue of Water Shortage. Retrieved from Save the Water: http://savethewater.org/2015/03/07/world-water-day-issue-water-shortage/
8. The Infographics Show. (2011, March 27). Water Facts! Learn fun facts about the thing you drink every day! Retrieved from YouTube: https://youtu.be/PjSUg6JsLYw

 

 

 

Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector

Welcome to another week of Chem-Sect. This week, I will be covering nuclear reactors and everything associated with it and how it is an integral part of our environment.

Overview of this Sector

Courtesy of OpenClipArt

From the power reactors that provide electricity to millions of Americans, to the medical isotopes used to treat cancer patients, the Nuclear Sector covers most aspects of America’s civilian nuclear infrastructure. The Nuclear Sector-Specific Agency within the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for coordinating the security and resilience of the Nuclear Sector.

Nuclear Energy

Did you know that nuclear energy is by far America’s largest source of clean, emission-free electricity? Yes. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), nuclear energy produces no greenhouse gases or air pollutants. In fact, the nuclear industry has a commitment to the environment which extends to protecting natural wildlife as well as their habitats.

Nuclear reactor and power plants is an industry which aid compliance to the Clean Air Act of 1970. It sets the standards to improve the nation's air quality. Using more nuclear energy gives states additional flexibility in complying with clean-air requirements. However, the potential vulnerability of some nuclear power plants and reactors to premature retirement creates a major threat to the attainment of CO2 reduction goals.

Nuclear Reactor Plants

Courtesy of Tennessee Valley Authority

What exactly is a nuclear reactor? Well, it can be defined as a system which contains and controls continual nuclear chain reactions. These reactors are used for generating electricity, moving extremely enormous, heavy, and dense equipment such as aircraft carriers and submarines. These reactors also produce medical isotopes for the purpose of imaging and to treat cancer as well as a foundation for scientists to conduct research.

The process of creating nuclear energy is quite interesting. First, the fuel to generate nuclear power is made up of heavy atoms which split when they absorb neutrons. Next, these neutrons are then placed into a large reactor tank along with a small neutron source. Once inside, the neutrons begin a chain reaction where each atom that splits, releases more neutrons which cause additional atoms to split. And each time an atom splits, it releases large amounts of energy in the form of heat. This heat is then transported out of the reactor by a liquid coolant (i.e. water). Finally, the coolant heats up to a high degree and then transfers into a turbine to spin the reactor’s generator or drive shaft. All in all, nuclear reactors are just a fancy term for heat sources.

The Five Major Components of a Nuclear Reactor

1. The Reactor Core

The reactor core consists all of the all of the nuclear fuel and generates all of the heat. It comprises a low-enriched uranium of approximately five percent of Uranium-235 (U-235). The core is also comprised of control systems and structural materials containing hundreds of thousands of individual fuel pins. See illustration to the left.

2. The Coolant
The coolant is the material that passes through the core. It transfers heat from the fuel into a turbine which may be water (most common), liquid sodium, helium, or some other type of element.

3. The Turbine Engine
The turbine transfers heat from the coolant forming electricity which is very similar to fossil-fuel plant.

4. The Containment Shell

Courtesy of davidjohnstewart.com

The containment is the structure that separates the reactor from the environment. These are usually dome-shaped structures that are made of high-density, steel-reinforced concrete. See figure to the right.

5. The Cooling Towers
The cooling towers are a necessity required by nuclear plants to dump excess heat that otherwise cannot be converted into energy due to laws of thermodynamics (the relationship between heat and energy). These are the hyperbolic icons of nuclear energy and emit only clean water vapor.


Reactor System Illustration


Courtesy of the NRC

The image on the left shows a nuclear reactor heating up water and spinning a generator to produce electricity. It captures the essence of the system well. The water coming into the condenser and then going right back out would be water from a river, lake, or ocean. It goes out the cooling towers. As you can see, this water does not go near the radioactivity, which is in the reactor vessel.


Common Questions

Here are just a few of the most commonly asked questions about nuclear energy…

Q. How does nuclear energy compare to other power sources?
A. A single uranium fuel pellet the size of a pencil eraser contains the same amount of energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal or 149 gallons of oil.

Q. Does nuclear energy produce greenhouse gases?
A. There are no emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide during the production of electricity at nuclear energy facilities. Nuclear energy is the only clean-air source of energy that produces electricity 24 hours a day, every day.

Q. Is nuclear energy considered a renewable energy source?
A. A renewable energy source uses an essentially limitless supply of fuel, whether wind, the sun or water. Nuclear energy is often called a sustainable energy source, because there is enough uranium in the world to fuel reactors for 100 years or more.

 

Are you interested in more? Then check out this clip:
 

Do you have any additional questions or comments you would like to add? Then feel free to write post below. Thank you for visiting!!!

References:

DHS. (2017, July 11). Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector Resources. Retrieved from

        Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/nuclear-sector-resources

Duke Energy. (2016). Nuclear Energy in 60 Seconds: Environmental Benefits. Retrieved from

        YouTube: https://youtu.be/6PO7uHCahFY

NEI. (2017). FAQ About Nuclear Energy. Retrieved from Nuclear Energy Institute:

         https://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/FAQ-About-Nuclear-Energy

Touran, N. (2016). What is a Nuclear Reactor? Retrieved from What Is Nuclear:

         https://whatisnuclear.com/articles/nucreactor.html