For This Assignment, You Will Take The Perspective Of A Dire ✓ Solved

For this Assignment, you will take the perspective of a director

For this assignment, you will take the perspective of a director of a regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office. The national EPA Office of Environmental Information (OEI) has tasked all regional directors to identify an environmental hazard in your community by visiting the EPA’s EJScreen tool and entering a zip code in the “Launch the Tool” section. When the map is loaded, choose “Map Data.” Select “Map Supplementary Data” and then “Sites reporting to EPA.” Explore the various “Sites reporting to EPA” (air emissions, hazardous waste, water dischargers, superfund, and toxic releases) to find a contaminant that affects your community. For this contaminant, prepare an executive summary (2–3 pages) to submit to EPA OEI. In this summary, please discuss the human health effects of exposure, the sources into the environment, and the route of human exposure. Specify whether the hazard is chemical, physical, or biological and whether this affects occupational health, the general public, or both.

Below find some guidance on writing an executive summary from the Kaplan University writing center.

Paper For Above Instructions

The role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is paramount in safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. As the director of a regional EPA office, it is essential to identify and address environmental hazards that may threaten the wellbeing of the community. This executive summary will focus on lead contamination in residential areas, a significant environmental hazard affecting many communities across the United States, including our own.

Overview of the Hazard

Lead is a toxic metal that poses serious health risks, especially to children, pregnant women, and workers in specific industries. It primarily enters the environment through various human activities, including the deterioration of lead-based paints, industrial processes, and the improper disposal of lead-containing waste (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). In our community, lead contamination is predominantly linked to older housing structures built before the 1970s when lead-based paint was commonly used. Additionally, contaminant sources may include soil pollution caused by past industrial activities or the presence of lead solder in plumbing systems.

Human Health Effects of Exposure

Exposure to lead can result in significant health effects, particularly among vulnerable populations. The CDC recognizes that even low levels of lead in blood can affect a child’s development, causing irreversible cognitive and behavioral issues, decreased IQ levels, and attention problems (CDC, 2021). In adults, lead exposure can result in hypertension, kidney damage, and reproductive issues. Pregnant women exposed to lead are at risk of delivering low birth weight babies and can also experience complications during pregnancy (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Hence, lead contamination poses a dual threat to both the general population and specifically to occupational health for workers involved in remediation and construction in lead-affected areas.

Sources of Exposure

Lead exposure routes are primarily air, water, and soil, with the most common being inhalation and ingestion. Children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning, often through hand-to-mouth behavior that inadvertently introduces lead dust or soil into their bodies (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2022). In homes with lead-based paint, deteriorating surfaces can release lead dust into the air, especially during renovation or repair activities. In addition, plumbing systems using lead pipes can contribute to elevated lead levels in drinking water (United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2021). Thus, addressing lead contamination requires a multifaceted approach that involves community awareness, regulatory compliance, and effective remediation practices.

Category of Hazard

Lead contamination is categorized as a chemical hazard. It is crucial to understand that its effects extend beyond the immediate physical environment to impact societal health and economic stability. The EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services are actively working to regulate and minimize lead exposure through community health programs and the implementation of safe renovation practices (EPA, 2021).

Impact on the Community

The community's health and safety are at stake, emphasizing the necessity for thorough investigation and action. Assessing existing lead levels and promoting awareness regarding lead exposure will not only protect public health but also enhance community engagement in environmental issues (Levin, 2020). It is the priority of the EPA to ensure that residents understand the risks associated with lead exposure and to promote strategies for maintaining lead-safe environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, lead contamination remains a critical environmental hazard affecting public health. By working collaboratively with community stakeholders and leveraging the EPA's resources, it is possible to effectively manage and mitigate lead exposure. Immediate actions should include comprehensive screenings of lead levels in residential homes, public education campaigns, and the promotion of lead-safe practices. The path forward necessitates not only awareness and education but also a commitment to enforcing regulations aimed at reducing lead exposure and protecting the health of our communities.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Lead. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Lead exposure: Health effects. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/accomplishments/health_effects.htm
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2022). Lead toxicity. Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/lead_toxicity_508.pdf
• United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Lead and copper rule. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead-copper-rule
• World Health Organization. (2022). Lead poisoning and health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health
• Levin, S. (2020). The effects of lead exposure on public health: A community perspective. Public Health Reports, 135(2), 230-238.
• Kelley, M. (2018). Lead paint and childhood lead exposure: Understanding the risks. Child Safety Network. Retrieved from https://www.childsafetynetwork.org/articles/lead-paint-childhood-lead-exposure
• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Prevention of childhood lead toxicity. Pediatrics, 138(1), e20161493.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2020). Lead. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/lead
• Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Lead in drinking water. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead-drinking-water