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Environmental Health Topics: Other Topics

Ozone

Ozone is a gas that occurs in Earth's atmosphere and is created both naturally and from man-made sources. Made up of three oxygen atoms, this highly reactive gas affects human health because of its ability to absorb UV light and its reaction with biological systems when it is inhaled.

Oceans and Human Health

The valuable ocean ecosystem is interconnected with human health in a variety of ways. Marine pollution, water-borne pathogens, flooding, and ever-changing coastal environments are some of the issues that can affect human health. 

Wildfires

Wildfires exposure children to a number of environmental hazards, including fire, smoke, psychological conditions, and the byproducts of combustion of wood, plastics, and other chemicals released from burning structures and furnishings.

  •  Wildfires and Children (pdf): A Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) fact sheet on the threat of wildfires on children's health. Also available en Español.

Flooding and Hurricanes

Following natural disasters and severe weather events it is extremely important to protect the negative human health impacts.  Aftereffects of flooding and hurricanes can include illness from food and water, carbon monoxide poisoning, exposure to hazardous materials, and extreme heat stress.

Noise

Too much noise exposure can cause both temporary discomfort as well as permanent, incurable hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in your ears).  Harmful noise damages the sensitive structures in the inner ear, which once damaged, cannot be repaired.  Noise-induced hearing loss can occur from both a one-time exposure to an intense sound or loud sounds over an extended period of time.

Melamine

Melamine, a synthetic compound, is particularly harmful to infants and can cause urinary tract stones, kidney damage, and kidney failure.

Aflatoxins

Aflatoxins are a naturally occurring toxic substance produced by fungi that contaminate food and animal feed. Acute aflatoxin poisoning can be life-threatening in te short-term and chronic exposure in the long-term can cause children to become stunted, underweight, and become more susceptible to infectious diseases and childhood cancers.

CDC 4th Chemicals Work Group Report

  • The CDC Fourth Chemicals Report (link to CDC website with Full Report and Executive Summary): The report highlights exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals. 75 new chemicals were measured and included in the report along with their adverse effects on human health.