SOC 350 - Midterm Study Guide
Environmental Burden of Disease
•World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that “24% of the global burden of disease and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors.”
•For children 0-14 years of age, environmental factors cause 36% of all deaths.
•In the developing world, 25% of deaths can be attributed to environment, while in the developed world – only 17% of deaths.
What are the Major Environmental Factors?
•Contaminated water – nearly 30% of environmental affects come from water polluted by feces. Diarrhea alone claims the lives of 2.5 million children, annually.
•Poor indoor air – 4 million people annually die from acute respiratory infections (ARI)
•Malaria – 1 to 3 million people die annually, 80% of them are children. Other less lethal diseases (dengue and yellow fever) affect millions.
Early Theories of Disease
•Humoral Theory – oAncient Greek medicine was based on their understanding of the cosmos: everything organized through the elements:
Earth
Air
Fire
Water oHippocrates’ teachings influence Western medicine for decades oImbalances, or “bad humor” caused by lifestyle (i.e. poor diet, poor spirits) o Bloodletting (draining out)
• Miasma Theory – oBased on Greek ideas that places of bad air caused disease oMiasmas are invisible poisonous vapors from decomposing matter found in (contaminated water, swamps, grave sites, etc) oPrevention: sanitation improvements, fragrances
John Snow and Modern Epidemiology
•John Snow: British physician, believes that cholera is spread through contaminated drinking water oChallenges miasma theory paradigm oAt first, theories are ignored
•Maps pattern of disease (epidemiology)
•Removes broad street pump handle (*foundation of public health)
New Ideas: Occupations
•Percival Pott: English Surgeon, studied the dire circumstances of London’s chimney sweep boys oPott links high rates of scrotal cancer (otherwise fairly rare in society) to the occupation of chimney
•World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that “24% of the global burden of disease and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors.”
•For children 0-14 years of age, environmental factors cause 36% of all deaths.
•In the developing world, 25% of deaths can be attributed to environment, while in the developed world – only 17% of deaths.
What are the Major Environmental Factors?
•Contaminated water – nearly 30% of environmental affects come from water polluted by feces. Diarrhea alone claims the lives of 2.5 million children, annually.
•Poor indoor air – 4 million people annually die from acute respiratory infections (ARI)
•Malaria – 1 to 3 million people die annually, 80% of them are children. Other less lethal diseases (dengue and yellow fever) affect millions.
Early Theories of Disease
•Humoral Theory – oAncient Greek medicine was based on their understanding of the cosmos: everything organized through the elements:
Earth
Air
Fire
Water oHippocrates’ teachings influence Western medicine for decades oImbalances, or “bad humor” caused by lifestyle (i.e. poor diet, poor spirits) o Bloodletting (draining out)
• Miasma Theory – oBased on Greek ideas that places of bad air caused disease oMiasmas are invisible poisonous vapors from decomposing matter found in (contaminated water, swamps, grave sites, etc) oPrevention: sanitation improvements, fragrances
John Snow and Modern Epidemiology
•John Snow: British physician, believes that cholera is spread through contaminated drinking water oChallenges miasma theory paradigm oAt first, theories are ignored
•Maps pattern of disease (epidemiology)
•Removes broad street pump handle (*foundation of public health)
New Ideas: Occupations
•Percival Pott: English Surgeon, studied the dire circumstances of London’s chimney sweep boys oPott links high rates of scrotal cancer (otherwise fairly rare in society) to the occupation of chimney