Environmental Health Students Will Consider How Healthy Peop ✓ Solved

Environmental Health Students Will Consider How HealthyPeople 20

Students will consider how HealthyPeople 2020 environmental health themes impact their community, and apply concepts such as “social justice” and “the greater good” in evaluating public health initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the impact of various environmental public health hazards.
2. Investigate strategies that address solutions to environmental public health hazards.
3. Explore policy and legislation related to environmental health issues in the community.

Background:

Students should familiarize themselves with HealthyPeople 2020’s Environmental Health objectives, which focus on 6 themes: 1) outdoor air quality; 2) surface and ground water quality; 3) toxic substances and hazardous wastes; 4) homes and communities; 5) infrastructure and surveillance; and 6) global environmental health.

Instructions for Individual Activity:

Choose one of the HealthyPeople 2020’s Environmental Health themes to investigate and explore how the Norwood Park community is affected and impacted by this theme, as well as what is being done to address this environmental health theme to safeguard or improve societal and environmental health.

Students should search relevant public/governmental agency websites and media/newspaper publications to help understand the situation from historical, present, and future-oriented perspectives. Students will then create a 2-page paper (approximately 500 words) that addresses the following:

• Briefly describe the selected environmental health theme.
• Discuss how the community is affected/impacted by this environmental health theme.
• Explore the selected environmental health situation from historical, present, and future-oriented perspectives.
• Discuss any strategies that are planned or have been implemented to address this environmental health theme to safeguard or improve societal and environmental health.
• Consider the barriers and facilitators for success of these strategies. Propose strategies if none are found.
• Within the paper, consider and address population health concepts such as “social justice” and “the greater good.”
• Utilize and appropriately cite relevant public/governmental agency websites and media/newspaper publications to substantiate writing.

Students should submit their APA formatted paper.

Paper For Above Instructions

In recent years, environmental health has taken center stage in public health discourse, particularly through frameworks like HealthyPeople 2020. This initiative focusses on various themes critical to understanding and improving public health outcomes. One such theme is outdoor air quality, which significantly influences the overall well-being of communities, including Norwood Park. This paper aims to describe outdoor air quality issues affecting Norwood Park and to explore strategic initiatives aimed at improving air quality to foster better health outcomes in the community.

Outdoor air quality encompasses the cleanliness and safety of the air we breathe in public spaces. It is integral to community health as poor air quality is linked to severe health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and overall decreased life expectancy (World Health Organization, 2018). In Norwood Park, factors contributing to air quality issues include vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and seasonal fluctuations in pollen and smog levels (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2021). Such pollutants increase the prevalence of asthma and other chronic health conditions, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

The historical perspective of outdoor air quality in Norwood Park reflects changes driven by industrialization and urbanization. In the past, rapid growth in population and vehicle usage escalated emissions, which polluted the air significantly more than today. Consequently, initiatives like the Clean Air Act, established in the 1970s, enforced stricter regulations on air pollution, resulting in improved air quality over the decades (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2021). However, challenges remain, and continuous monitoring and policy adjustments are vital to ensuring further improvements in air quality.

Currently, several strategies have been introduced to tackle outdoor air quality issues in Norwood Park. The community has adopted policies focused on reducing vehicular emissions by promoting public transportation and alternative energy sources. Additionally, local government initiatives encourage tree planting and the establishment of green spaces, which can naturally filter pollutants and enhance air quality (American Lung Association, 2020). However, the effectiveness of these strategies is often hampered by budget constraints and public apathy, posing barriers to successful implementation.

From a future-oriented perspective, the significance of implementing comprehensive strategies to address outdoor air quality in Norwood Park will become more crucial, especially in light of climate change implications. Anticipated increases in extreme weather events and pollution levels necessitate a proactive approach. Suggested future strategies include leveraging technology such as air quality monitoring systems that involve community participation. This allows residents to report and track pollution levels, fostering a culture of collective responsibility and awareness (Environmental Defense Fund, 2020).

In evaluating these environmental health issues, it is vital to integrate concepts of social justice and the greater good. Disparities in environmental health protection often persist along socioeconomic lines, where marginalized communities may suffer disproportionate exposure to air pollution (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2019). Addressing these disparities through targeted policy initiatives can greatly enhance the overall health outcomes for all community members. Programs tailored for vulnerable populations may include providing free air purifiers or initiating public health campaigns to raise awareness of air quality issues and solutions.

In conclusion, understanding the environmental health theme of outdoor air quality is crucial for the well-being of Norwood Park residents. By implementing effective strategies that consider historical, current, and future implications, the community can significantly improve air quality and, by extension, public health outcomes.

Incorporating concepts like social justice will ensure that all demographics within Norwood Park benefit from these initiatives. Moving forward, persistent engagement and adaptation of strategies must remain a priority to ensure that the goals set by HealthyPeople 2020 are met effectively, thereby safeguarding the environment and health of current and future inhabitants.

References

• American Lung Association. (2020). State of the Air. Retrieved from [www.lung.org](https://www.lung.org)
• Environmental Defense Fund. (2020). Air Quality. Retrieved from [www.edf.org](https://www.edf.org)
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2019). Environmental Justice. Retrieved from [www.niehs.nih.gov](https://www.niehs.nih.gov)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Air Quality. Retrieved from [www.epa.gov](https://www.epa.gov)
• World Health Organization. (2018). Air Quality and Health. Retrieved from [www.who.int](https://www.who.int)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Clean Air Act Overview. Retrieved from [www.epa.gov](https://www.epa.gov)
• Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). The EPA’s My Environment. Retrieved from [www.epa.gov/myenvironment](https://www.epa.gov/myenvironment)
• American Public Health Association. (2020). Environmental Health. Retrieved from [www.apha.org](https://www.apha.org)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Air Quality and Health. Retrieved from [www.cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov)
• National Research Council. (2001). Air quality management in the United States. National Academies Press.