degradation directly influences human health.

degradation directly influences human health.

Pers

To understand environmental health, we must first understand the environment and its many interrelated systems. We do not often think about the Earth beyond what we see around us every day, but the environment spans from the core of the Earth to the outer reaches of the troposphere. The four main divisions of the Earth system are the lithosphere (crust and mantle), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (gases surrounding earth), and biosphere (area supporting life). Life on Earth depends on the biogeochemical cycles that occur within each of these regions. Biogeochemical cycles recycle energy and chemicals through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Within the biosphere there are specific divisions called biomes. Biomes are characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. Because humans dominate most ecosystems on Earth, we have a large impact on the environment. Overpopulation and demands on natural resources can degrade the environment. Since the environment provides us with so many resources such as clean air, clean water, and nutrients, environmental degradation directly influences human health.

Environmental scientists and government officials look for ways to preserve the environment and conserve environmental resources. By monitoring human demand on the environment, laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act have worked to protect the environment for future generations. While technology has created many problems for the environment, it is also being used to benefit the environment and human health. New farming techniques, waste management methods, and pollution control devices all help to keep the environment healthy and protect human health. Environmental health is everyone’s responsibility. Public health officials and governmental leaders are on the front lines, but the decisions made daily by businesses and individuals directly affect our health and the health of the environment.

References
Hilgenkamp, K. (2006). Environmental health: Ecological perspectives. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

World Health Organization. (2011). West nile virus. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/ factsheets/fs354/en/

World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (2014). Environmental health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/environmental_health/en/

Demonstration of Proficiency
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Assess basic environmental health principles, theories, and issues.
Analyze an emerging or reemerging disease.
Describe how an emerging disease is transmitted.
Describe the incubation period of an emerging disease.
Describe how an emerging disease is treated.
Predict prognosis of recovery and residual effects of an emerging disease.
Assess the role of vaccines in disease prevention.
Competency 4: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Preparation
Select one emerging or reemerging disease to research for this report. Note: You may use the WHO Infectious Diseases and CDC websites (both linked in Resources: Diseases and Pathogens), which list a variety of relevant diseases.

Instructions
To begin, select one emerging or reemerging disease to research for this report.

Then, craft a 3–4-page report that analyzes the disease and addresses the following points:

Provide a brief historical account of the disease selected. Consider why this disease is emerging or reemerging.
What areas of the globe are currently affected by this disease?
How is it transmitted?
What is the incubation period?
What is the treatment for this disease?
What is the role of vaccines in combatting this disease? If there is no vaccine, why not?
What is the predicted prognosis of recovery and residual effect?

ons with severe immunodeficiency may be given antibody-containing serums or immunoglobins from a person or animal.