Environmental Health[WLO: 1] [CLOs: 1, 3, 4]
Read the brief scenario at the beginning of Chapter 14 (p. 407). Then reflect on the items that follow.
Many people like Juan and Maria live where industrial poultry or livestock operations have become established. Suppose the well water is found to contain high levels of nitrates after Juan’s most recent test and Juan and Maria cannot move due to income limitations. A term used to describe situations in which undesirable industries or waste disposal sites are preferentially located in low-income or minority areas is known as environmental injustice. Not only must residents who live in rural communities be aware of water contamination, but they also must be aware of air pollution and soil toxicity.
In your paper,
- List three additional precautions Juan and Maria could have taken to protect their health before purchasing their current home.
- Identify the steps they could take to improve their chances of a successful pregnancy.
- Describe what they might do to restore the safety of their well water.
- Identify the local, state, and federal agencies that might be able to help them.
- Analyze whether Juan and Maria’s situation might suggest that theirs is a case of environmental injustice.
- Describe your state’s regulations regarding the establishment of huge factory farms.
- Identify whether industrial hog farms are problem in the county or state where you live.
- Identify whether industrial cattle feedlots are problem in the county or state where you live.
- Explain how you became aware of environmental health issues.
- For example, prior to reading this scenario, were you aware of the dangers posed to residents living in rural farm areas?
The Environmental Health assignment
- Must be at least two to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft WordLinks to an external site. resource.
- Must include a separate title page with the following:
- Title of paper in bold font
- Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
- Student’s name
- Name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)
- Course name and number
- Instructor’s name
- Due date
- Title of paper in bold font
- Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
- Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
- For assistance on writing Introductions & ConclusionsLinks to an external site. and Writing a Thesis StatementLinks to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
- Must include at least two credible sources to support your statements
- The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
- See the University of Arizona Global Campus Library’s Advanced Internet Search TechniquesLinks to an external site. tip sheet for assistance in finding online government resources.
- See the Writing Center’s Integrating ResearchLinks to an external site. for more information.
- Must contain responses to the bullets that are placed in paragraph form, not simply listed as bullets.
- You need to demonstrate that you can collect, compile, and present a broad array of information in a narrative form.
- Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site. guide.
- Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the APA: Formatting Your References ListLinks to an external site. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.
Carefully review the Grading RubricLinks to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In the given scenario, Juan and Maria live in an area where industrial poultry or livestock operations have been established. Unfortunately, their well water has been found to contain high levels of nitrates, posing health risks. As a medical professor responsible for designing college assignments, evaluating student performance, and providing feedback to medical college students, I will provide answers to the content according to the given questions.
Answer to Content:
1. Additional precautions Juan and Maria could have taken to protect their health before purchasing their current home:
– Research the industrial activities in the area and past environmental issues related to water and air pollution.
– Test the well water for contaminants before purchasing the property.
– Consult with local health authorities or environmental experts about potential risks in the area.
2. Steps Juan and Maria could take to improve their chances of a successful pregnancy:
– Consult with a healthcare professional specializing in reproductive health to assess potential risks and receive appropriate guidance.
– Follow a healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful substances.
– Minimize exposure to environmental pollutants by using filtered water and ensuring good indoor air quality.
3. Actions to restore the safety of their well water:
– Consult with local water authorities or environmental agencies to assess the source and extent of contamination.
– Install appropriate water treatment systems, such as reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters, to remove nitrates and other contaminants.
– Regularly monitor the well water quality to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment systems.
4. Local, state, and federal agencies that might be able to help Juan and Maria:
– Local: County health departments, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional offices, and local water authorities.
– State: State health departments, state environmental agencies, and state water quality control boards.
– Federal: EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Health and Human Services.
5. Analysis of whether Juan and Maria’s situation suggests environmental injustice:
– Juan and Maria’s situation potentially indicates environmental injustice if the placement of industrial operations and waste disposal sites in their low-income or minority area resulted in disproportionate exposure to water contamination and other pollutants.
– Further investigation and analysis of the demographics and distribution of such facilities in the region would be necessary to determine the presence of environmental injustice.
6. State regulations regarding the establishment of huge factory farms and the prevalence of industrial hog farms and cattle feedlots:
– [Provide an analysis of the state’s regulations, specifically related to the establishment and regulation of factory farms, industrial hog farms, and cattle feedlots, as well as the prevalence of these facilities in the county or state where you live.]
7. Awareness of environmental health issues:
– [Share personal experiences and insights on how one became aware of environmental health issues, such as prior knowledge of dangers rural farm areas pose to residents.]
In conclusion, addressing the given questions related to Juan and Maria’s scenario involving environmental health, it is crucial to consider preventive measures, potential actions, and available resources to protect their health, increase the chance of a successful pregnancy, restore well water safety, and seek assistance from local, state, and federal agencies. Additionally, examining the situation for potential environmental injustice, understanding state regulations, and raising awareness of environmental health issues are essential components to consider.
