Unit - 5

Current Environmental and Health Concerns:

 Introduction To Environmental Health

• Environmental Studies deals with every issues that affects

living beings on earth. It is the study of inter-relationships
between living creatures and all aspects of their environment.
• Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned
with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting
human health.
• The branch of Environmental health focuses on the
relationships between people and their environment; promotes
human health and well-being; and fosters healthy and safe
communities.
 Water Health

Preserved
Adequate

Nature
Environmental

Protection
from radiation
Health
Stable
supportive
Climate
cities
Prerequisites for

Safe Use OF
chemicals
Clean Air Healthy and
safe
workplaces
Hygiene
Sanitation and
 Environmental factors Impact Mental Health
1. Physical Environmental Factors

2. Social Environmental Factors

3. Pollution
 Physical Environmental Factors
• Sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation or an unhealthy sleep
cycle is known to be bad for your mental health. There are
plenty of environmental factors which could affect sleep
cycles – not all of which are within our control. Noisy
neighbors, a loud road nearby, nights which are too hot or too
cold, creaky architecture…all of these and more could
contribute to poor sleep, and therefore a downturn in mental
health.
• Environmental pollution. Growing up around ‘dirty air’
quadruples a child’s chance of developing depression later in
life. This may be related to other environmental factors
(polluted areas typically combine more of the factors on this
list than just air pollution), but the risk is still worth noted.
• Hazardous working conditions: ‘Hazardous’ can refer not
just to physical danger where work is concerned. It refers to
any working condition which can put significant strain on
body and/or mind. If your work environment is stressful, your
mental health can suffer.
• Extreme weather conditions: Bad or extreme weather is
stressful and it can wear your down. If you’re perpetually cold,
sweltering, battling against snow, struggling over ice, or
drenched to the skin every time you step outside, your mental
health will experience a toll. This is particularly the case if
extreme weather endangers your life, your family, your loved
ones, or your property.
• Smoking: Both passive and active smoking are very bad for
your mental health.
 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Social factors are issues in the immediate family or wider

community which can have an impact upon mental health.
• Stigma: Experiencing stigma such as racism, sexism,
homophobia, or other, perhaps more insidious forms of
prejudice is known to majorly increase a person’s risk of
mental illness.
• Discord. Strife and violence in the home or the community is a
big cause of anxiety, stress, depression.
• Abuse. Abuse - physical, sexual, or emotional – can
encompass anything from domestic violence to bullying
within the community to catcalling. Experiencing it regularly
within your environment can be very bad for you.
• Poverty: Poverty attacks mental health from a great many
angles. It can restrict access to the kind of nutritious diet
which benefits mental health. It can make it harder to get good
jobs or other opportunities, which results in frustration, stress,
and a lack of self-worth. It brings the constant stress of
worrying about where the next rent payment will come from.
And it often forces people into unhealthy environments
• Lack of social support: Humans are social animals, designed
to rely on one another. Feeling ostracised, or alone, or
otherwise unsupported within your community has a major
impact upon mental health.
• Toxic relationships: Toxic relationships can lower self-
esteem, increase irritability, cause anxiety, contribute to
depression, and even foster conditions like PTSD.
• Lack of safety. Feeling unsafe in your environment will bring
with it a great deal of stress and anxiety.
 FACTORS OF POLLUTION

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 9 of

every 10 people worldwide inhale polluted air, and exposure to
polluted air is accountable for 7 million deaths annually.
• Studies have associated the adverse effects of air pollution
with respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurovascular diseases.
• Air pollutants can also cause serious neurocognitive effects—
ranging from behavioral variations to neurodegenerative
disorders—that ultimately can have devastating effects on
mental health.
• Since children’s brains and behavior are still developing up to their
late teens and early adulthood, air pollution especially P.M 2.5 (are
tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air
to appear hazy when levels are elevated.) may have an outsized
impact on their mental and emotional development, with effects on
cognitive and behavioral outcomes as well.

• A 2019 study in Environmental Health Perspectives studied

short-term exposure to PM2.5 in over 6,800 children up to 18
years old sent to an emergency department at the Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio for
symptoms considered psychiatric emergencies, including: suicidal
thoughts or behavior
 Global impact of climate change on Human beings and Species

• Climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of

health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure
shelter.
• Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause
approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from
malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.
• Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing
countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to
prepare and respond.
• Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport,
food and energy-use choices can result in improved health,
particularly through reduced air pollution.
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing
humanity, and health professionals worldwide are already
responding to the health harms caused by this
• Climate change is already impacting health in a myriad of ways,
including by leading to death and illness from increasingly frequent
extreme weather events, such as :
1. Heatwaves
2. Storms and floods
3. The disruption of food systems
4. Increases in zoonoses and food-, water- and vector-borne
diseases, and mental health issues.
• Furthermore, climate change is undermining many of the social
determinants for good health, such as livelihoods, equality and
access to health care and social support structures. These
climate-sensitive health risks are disproportionately felt by the most
vulnerable and disadvantaged, including women, children, ethnic
minorities, poor communities, migrants or displaced persons, older
populations, and those with underlying health conditions.
There are five key signs of climate change as suggested by data from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
USA.
1. Increase in Global Concentration of carbon-dioxide: Carbon
dioxide (CO2) is an important heat trapping (green house) gas
released through human activities such as deforestation and
burning of fossil fuels, as well as natural processes such as
respiration and volcanic eruptions.
2. Increase in global surface temperature: NASA suggest that there
has been rapid warming in last few decades and the last decade had
the highest. In India the highest temperature in the month of April
has reached to 40-42◦ C.
3. Decline of the Artic Sea ice: The Artic sea ice is now declining at
the rate of 11.5% per decade. This has increased the sea level by
3mm which is a very significant rise.
4. Decrease in Land ice: NASA’s satellites record shows that the
land ice sheets in both Antarctica and Greenland are losing mass.
The continent of Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic
kilometers of ice per year since 2002.
• Sea Level Rise: Sea level rise is caused by the expansion of Sea
water as it warms in response to climate change. And the wide
spread melting of land ice.

IMPACT ON HUMAN SOCITIES AND SPECIES:

• Human societies will be seriously affected by extremes in climate
and rainfall leading to droughts, and floods.
• This is also a fundamental concern for human health and well being.
To a large extent, public health depends on safe drinking water,
sufficient food, secure shelter and social equality.
• All these factors are affected by climate change.
• Climate change affect the distribution of vector species (such as
mosquitoes) which in turn, will increase the spread of environment
related diseases, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and many
more.
 OCEAN ACIDIFICATION:
The ocean's role in the global carbon cycle:
• The ocean plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle as it is a vast
reservoir of carbon, naturally exchanges carbon with the atmosphere, and
consequently takes up a substantial portion of human-released
(anthropogenic) carbon from the atmosphere. This accumulation of carbon
in the ocean may also be impacting marine life through a process known as
ocean acidification
 What Is Oceanic Acidification?

• The massive amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed by the ocean

dissolves in seawater as carbonic acid. This process is known as ocean
acidification, and it's literally causing a sea change that is threatening
the fundamental chemical balance of ocean and coastal waters from
pole to pole.
• Laboratory studies suggest changing ocean chemistry will
1) harm life forms that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons,
2) harm organisms sensitive to acidity
3) harm organisms higher up the food chain that feed on these
sensitive organisms.
However, we do not yet know exactly how ecosystems will be
impacted.
HOW CAN WE CONTROL OCEANIC ACIDIFICATION: The most
effective way to limit ocean acidification is to act on climate change,
implementing solutions to dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels. If we
dramatically cut our global warming emissions, and we limit future
warming, we can significantly reduce the harm to marine ecosystems.
 Deforestation and its impact

• Deforestation can be defined as the large-scale removal of trees from

forests (or other lands) for the facilitation of human activities
• It is a serious environmental concern since it can result in the loss
of biodiversity, damage to natural habitats, disturbances in the water
cycle, and soil erosion.
• Deforestation is also a contributor to climate change and global
warming.
• The primary anthropogenic activities (human activities) that
contribute to deforestation include:
• Agriculture – small-scale and large-scale farming
• Logging – cutting of trees for use as raw material
• Mining and urban expansion – clearing of forest area for the
construction of infrastructure.
Increased Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere
• Forests serve as a carbon sink by absorbing atmospheric carbon
dioxide during photosynthesis. Since carbon dioxide is a greenhouse
gas, deforestation is a direct contributor to the greenhouse effect and
(consequently) global warming.
• Deforestation and the Water Cycle
• Since trees play a vital role in the water cycle, deforestation can
contribute to significant disturbances in it.
• Trees and plants regulate the moisture content in the atmosphere via
the process of transpiration (they absorb groundwater through their
roots and release it into the atmosphere from their leaves and
flowers).
• Also, their roots burrow into the soil and create macro pores in it.
These macro pores allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil,
thereby increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil.
• Dead plant material (such as leaves and twigs) that fall to the surface
of the ground impart several properties to the soil, such as increased
water-holding capacity.
Effects of Deforestation on Biodiversity
• Forests play host to a wide spectrum of wildlife.
• In fact, tropical rainforests are believed to be the most
diverse ecosystems on the planet.
• Deforestation poses a grave threat to this biodiversity.
• On a local scale, the clearing of forest land can cause a decline in the
population of certain species.
• On a global scale, however, deforestation can result in the extinction
of several desirable species.
Deforestation and Human Health
• Deforestation can, directly or indirectly, provide a channel for the
propagation of many infectious diseases.
• Since deforestation is often accompanied by the loss of indigenous
species, it is not uncommon for new species to flourish in deforested
lands.
• Increased soil erosion (due to deforestation) can result in the formation of
pools of stagnant water.
• These pools serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which are vectors
of several deadly diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Some theories
also suggest that deforestation has contributed to the propagation of
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
 Cancer And Its Awareness
• Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ
or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go
beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body
and/or spread to other organs.
• The latter process is called metastasizing and is a major cause of
death from cancer.
• A neoplasm and malignant tumour are other common names for
cancer.
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for
an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018.
• Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most
common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung,
cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.
 Cancer Awareness and Prevention
• Cancer prevention is the practice of taking active measures to lower the
chance of getting cancer. According to a report by the World Health
Organization, between 30-50% of all cancer cases are preventable.
• Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells. It
is also equally important to know what causes these mutations
1. Tobacco – According to a report by the World Health Organisation,
tobacco use is the single most reason for cancer mortality and kills
approximately 6 million people each year, from cancer and other
diseases.
• Tobacco smoking causes cancers of the lung, esophagus,
larynx (voice box), mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach
and cervix.
• Second-hand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco
smoke): causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults.
• Smokeless tobacco (also called oral tobacco, chewing tobacco or
snuff): causes oral, esophageal and pancreatic cancer
• Physical inactivity, dietary factors, being overweight, and
obesity:- Numerous studies and researches have shown that what we
eat can have a crucial impact on our risk of developing cancer.
• One of the biggest risk factors for cancer is being overweight and
eating processed foods that are high in fat and sugar can lead to
being overweight.
• According to ‘BreastCancer.Org’, overweight women are thought to
be at higher risk for breast cancer because the extra fat cells make
estrogen, which can cause extra breast cell growth.
• This extra growth increases the risk of breast cancer.
 Corona Virus : And Related Issues
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by
the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to
moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special
treatment.
• However, some will become seriously ill and require medical
attention.
• Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or
cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
• Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die
at any age.
 Preventing Measures:
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be
well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads.
• Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1
metre apart from others
• Wearing a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using
an alcohol-based rub frequently.
• Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and follow local guidance.
• The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in
small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or
breathe.
• These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller
aerosols.
• It is important to practice respiratory etiquette, for example by
coughing into a flexed elbow, and to stay home and self-isolate
until you recover if you feel unwell.
 Infectious Diseases
• Coronavirus
• Influenza
• Tuberculosis
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis
• Tetanus
• Poliomyelitis
• Rubeola
• Hepatitis
• Malaria
• Dengue
• Chikungunya
• Filariasis
 Coronavirus (Covid – 19)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the
SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate
respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.
However, some become seriously ill and require medical attention.
• Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or
cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick
with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
• The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in
small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or
breathe.
• One can protect oneself and others from infection by staying at least
1 metre apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, and
washing hands or using an alcohol-based sanitiser frequently. Getting
vaccinated and following local guidance are also essential.
 Influenza
• Flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat and
lungs, which are part of the respiratory system.
• Most people with the flu get better on their own. But
sometimes, influenza and its complications can be
deadly.
• Flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose,
sneezing and sore throat.
• Most people who get the flu can treat themselves at
home and often don't need to see a health care
provider.
• Taking antiviral medication may shorten the length of
the illness and help prevent more-serious problems.
 Tuberculosis
• Tuberculosis is a communicable disease caused by a
bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
• Pulmonary tuberculosis is an air borne infection.
• Its symptoms include cough and fever for 3–4 weeks
or more, chest pain and hemoptysis.
• Among all forms of tuberculosis, Tubercular
Meningitis (TBM), Miliary Tuberculosis and
Disseminated Tuberculosis are the most dangerous
forms.
• The best protection available for children against
spread of tuberculosis infection is immunisation with
Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) vaccine.
 Diphtheria
• Diphtheria is a communicable disease caused by a bacterium
known as Corynebacterium diphtheria.
• The disease spreads by droplet infection and direct contact as
well as by fomites.
• Its symptoms are sore throat, loss of appetite, slight fever and
cervical lymphadenitis when diphtheria affects the throat and
tonsils.
• Within two to three days, a bluish-white or gray membrane forms
in the throat and tonsils. If there is bleeding the membrane may
become grayish-green or black.
• Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antibiotic and Anti-
diphtheria serum (ADS) may save the life and halt the spread of
the disease. The most effective way of preventing diphtheria in
children is to actively immunise them with the DPT containing
“Pentavalent” Vaccine.
 Pertussis / Whooping Cough
• A highly communicable disease caused by a
bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis and
occasionally by Bordetella parapertussis.
• The children suffering from pertussis have bouts of
coughing spells, characterised by a typical whoop
sound for which the disease is also called Whooping
Cough.
• It spreads very easily from person to person in
droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.
• Whooping Cough or Pertussis is prevented by
immunisation by killed bacterial vaccine, which is
combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoid.
 Tetanus / Lockjaw
• It is a communicable disease caused by an anaerobic
organism, Clostridium tetani.
• The organism is present in soil, dust and alimentary tract of
various animals. Tetanus is not transmitted from person to
person. A person may become infected if soil or dirt enters a
wound.
• Its symptoms are painful muscle spasms, stiff muscles in your
jaw, tension of muscles around your lips, sometimes
producing a persistent grin, painful spasms and rigidity in your
neck muscles, difficulty swallowing, rigid abdominal muscles.
• Immunisation is the only effective prevention of
tetanus. Tetanus toxoid is an effective, safe, stable and
inexpensive vaccine that can be given to all ages, as well as
pregnant women.
 Poliomyelitis
• Poliomyelitis is a communicable disease due to an acute viral
infection caused by an RNA virus, known as Poliovirus.
• The poliomyelitis is a crippling disease, which can affect any age
but was more common in children below 15 years of age.
• Poliovirus is excreted in stool of patients for 6–8 weeks after
illness and enters the body through the mouth with contaminated
food, water and drinks as a result of poor personal hygiene, flies
or filth.
• Some people infected with the virus may not show any sign or
symptom while others may have influenze–like symptoms such as
fever, loose stools, sore throat, stomach upset, or headache.
Sometimes, there may be pain or stiffness in the neck, back and
legs.
• Polio prevention involves immunisation with Oral Polio Vaccine
(OPV). Two drops are delivered directly into the mouth from the
multi-dose vial by dropper or dispenser.
 Rubeola / Measels
• The word Rubeola means red spots. Measles is an acute
infectious disease of childhood caused by a virus known
as the Measles virus.
• It is characterised clinically by fever, cough, coryza,
conjunctivitis and Koplik’s spots followed by generalised
skin rashes, which appear on the 4th day of the illness.
• Measles is an airborne disease transmitted by droplet
infection.
• After an attack of Measles, malnutrition of the child
occurs and if Measles occurs in malnourished child, it
will be very dangerous.
• The prevention of measles involves immunisation with
measles vaccine.
 Hepatitis
• Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It can damage your
liver. Hepatitis can be an acute (short-term) infection or a
chronic (long-term) infection.
• Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain
medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is
often caused by a virus.
• There are different types of Hepatitis virus, namely, A, B, C,
E & delta Hepatitis etc. These antigenically different viruses
have different modes of transmission.
• The extent of complications and fatality are also different.
• It can be prevented by Vaccination (for viral hepatitis), and
by avoiding excessive alcohol.
• Treatment includes medication, and liver transplant in
severe cases.
 Malaria
• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium
parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of
infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• In rare cases, people who are pregnant and who have malaria
can transfer the disease to their children before or during birth.
• The first symptoms – fever, headache and chills – usually appear
10–15 days after the infective mosquito bite.
• Protection against mosquito bites include the use of mosquito
bed nets (preferably insecticide-treated nets), the wearing of
clothes that cover most of the body, and use of insect repellent
on exposed skin.
• It is important to start treating malaria as soon as possible. Your
provider will prescribe medications such as quinine to kill the
malaria parasite.
 Dengue
• Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an
infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus)
mosquito.
• Those who become infected with the virus a second time
are at a significantly greater risk of developing severe
disease.
• Its symptoms include high fever, headache, rash and
muscle and joint pain.
• Treatment for dengue includes fluids and pain relievers.
Severe cases require hospital care.
• Researchers are working on dengue fever vaccines. For
now, in areas where dengue fever is common, the best way
to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes
and to take steps to reduce the mosquito population.
 Chikungunya
• Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the
chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which is transmitted by mosquitoes,
most commonly Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes
(Stegomyia) albopictus, which can also transmit dengue and Zika
viruses.
• Dengue and Zika have similar symptoms to Chikungunya, making
chikungunya easy to misdiagnose.
• Chikungunya causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often
weakening the body, and varies in duration. Other symptoms
include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue
and rash.
• There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for
chikungunya virus infections.
• Treatment includes drinking plenty of fluids and general rest.
• Paracetamol or acetaminophen are recommended for pain relief
and reducing fever.
 Filariasis
• Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by an infection
with roundworms of the Filarioidea type.
• The infection spreads when a mosquito bites an already
infected individual and then, goes on to bite a healthy person.
• The general filariasis symptoms during its early stages include
fever, chills, headache, and skin lesions observed in the
beginning stage i.e., between three months to nine months
after the insect bite.
• There's no vaccine or cure for filariasis. Medication can kill
many of the worms and keep the person from spreading the
infection to someone else. Treatment can also reduce filariasis
symptoms.
• If the filariasis symptoms are neglected, this disease can result
in gross enlargement of the limbs and genitalia in a condition
called elephantiasis.
 Water Related Diseases
• Cholera
• Typhoid Fever
• Jaundice
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
 Cholera
• Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by
ingestion of food or water contaminated with the
bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate
treatment of sewage and drinking water.
• Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause
severe acute watery diarrhoea.
• It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show
symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water.
• To prevent cholera, one should wash hands often and take
steps to ensure that food and water are safe for use.
• Tetracycline drug has been shown to be an effective
treatment for cholera.
 Typhoid Fever
• Typhoid fever is the result of systemic infection mainly by
the bacteria Salmonella typhi.
• The primary sources of infection are faeces and urine of
cases or carriers; the secondary sources are contaminated
water, food, fingers and flies.
• Its symptoms include a persistent high temperature that
gradually increases each day, headache, general aches and
pains, extreme tiredness (fatigue), cough, diarrhoea,
vomitting, constipation.
• The fluoroquinolones are widely regarded as the drug of
choice for the treatment of typhoid fever.
• A complementary approach to prevention of typhoid is
immunisation, which is the only specific preventive measure
 Jaundice
• Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes
and mucous membranes turn yellow because of a high level
of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment.
• Jaundice may occur if the liver cannot efficiently process red
blood cells as they break down.
• Doctors diagnose jaundice by checking for signs of liver
disease such as Bruising of the skin, spider angiomas
(abnormal collection of blood vessels near the surface of the
skin), palmar erythema (red colouration of the palms and
fingertips).
• Urine testing that's positive for bilirubin shows that the
patient has conjugated jaundice.
• In adults, jaundice itself usually isn't treated. But the doctor
will treat the condition that's causing it.
 Diarrhea
• Diarrhea is usually caused by the virus “viral gastroenteritis”, or
sometimes, contaminated food. It can be a sign of another
disorder, such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel
syndrome.
• Its symptoms include frequent, loose, watery stools and stomach
pain.
• Diarrhea can cause dehydration (when your body loses large
amounts of water), electrolyte imbalance (loss of sodium,
potassium and magnesium that play a key role in vital bodily
functions) and kidney failure (not enough blood/fluid is supplied
to the kidneys) if left untreated.
• Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days without
treatment. Doctors may suggest the use of an oral rehydration
solution (ORS) if the patient is at risk of dehydration. Medications
to reduce diarrhea, such as loperamide, are also available.
 Dysentery
• Dysentery is an infection of the intestines that causes
diarrhoea containing blood or mucus. It can be caused by a
parasite or bacteria.
• Other symptoms of dysentery can include painful stomach
cramps, feeling sick or being sick (vomiting) a high
temperature.
• As dysentery usually gets better on its own after 3 to 7
days, treatment is not usually needed. However, it is
important to drink plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration
solutions if necessary to avoid dehydration. Painkillers, such
as paracetamol, can help relieve pain and a fever.
• Anti-diarrhoea medicines, such as loperamide, should be
avoided, because they can make things worse.
• Handwashing is the most important way to stop the spread
of infection.
 Genetic Modification of Crops
• Genetic Modification (GM) is a technology that involves
inserting DNA into the genome of an organism. To
produce a GM plant, new DNA is transferred into plant
cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in tissue culture
where they develop into plants. The seeds produced by
these plants will inherit the new DNA.
• Genetic modification of plants involves adding a specific
stretch of DNA into the plant’s genome, giving it new or
different characteristics. This could include changing
the way the plant grows, or making it resistant to a
particular disease. The new DNA becomes part of the
GM plant’s genome which the seeds produced by these
plants will contain.
 Genetic Modification of Crops
• Traditional methods of modifying plants, like selective
breeding and crossbreeding, have been around for nearly
10,000 years. Most of the foods we eat today were originally
created using a combination of traditional methods.
• Genetic engineering is a method that, among other things,
enables scientists to copy a gene with a desired trait in one
organism and put it into another. Genetic engineering has
been used since the 1970s and builds on the scientific
advances we have made in the study of DNA.
• Genome editing is a new method that gives scientists more
precise and targeted ways to develop new crop varieties.
Genome editing tools can make it easier and quicker to
make changes that were previously done through traditional
breeding.
Unhealthy Food and Risk due to Chemical in
Food
• The most common unhealthy foods include highly-
processed items such as fast foods and snack foods.
• Highly-processed foods tend to be low in nutrients
(vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) and high on
empty calories due to the content of refined
flours, sodium and sugar.
• The safety of our food is determined in part by the
presence of chemicals, some of which may not be
permitted in foods.
• Chemicals in food can be either contaminants,
additives, or preservatives.
Unhealthy Food and Risk due to Chemical in
Food
• When undesirable chemicals end up in food, they could
cause health effects, such as allergic reactions and/or
adverse effects on organs or physiology (toxic effects).
• That is why laws and regulations prescribe that the label
should indicate which potential allergens are present in a
food product.
• Examples of toxic effects include gastrointestinal
symptoms, kidney damage, liver disease, impairment of
the nervous system, or DNA damage, which could cause
cancer.
• Some toxic effects are transient, but the effect may
sometimes be permanent.
 Organic Food and its need today
• Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients,
such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-
grown counterparts and people with allergies to
foods, chemicals, or preservatives may find their
symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only
organic foods.
• Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Organic
food is often fresher because it doesn't contain
preservatives that make it last longer.
• Organic farming practices may reduce pollution,
conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil
fertility, and use less energy.
 Organic Food and its need today
• No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives are
allowed in organic food. Cleaner food means cleaner
diets which leads to better health.
• Organic food contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes
and micronutrients than conventionally raised food.
• Organic products are managed according to defined
processes for planting, growing, raising and handling.
• Organic farms and crops are pollinator-friendly and
protect bees, pollinators and wildlife from toxic
chemicals.
• Organic farming does not expose neighbouring
communities and farmworkers to dangerous persistent
pesticides.
 Food Waste
• Food waste is one of the most prevalent global
challenges.
• Population growth, the rapid increase in
urbanization coupled with industrial development,
and changes in lifestyles and economic status have
resulted in enormous levels of food waste.
• Food waste occurs along the entire spectrum of
production, from the farm to distribution to
retailers to the consumer.
• Reasons for food waste include losses from mould,
pests, or inadequate climate control, losses during
transportation, losses from cooking, and intentional
food waste.
 Food Waste
• UN Agencies distinguish loss and waste at two different stages:
– Food “loss” occurs before the food reaches the consumer as a result
of issues in the production, storage, processing, and distribution
phases.
– Food “waste” refers to food that is fit for consumption but
consciously discarded at the retail or consumption phases.

• Causes of Food Waste include:

– Lack of appropriate planning
– Purchase and preparation of too much food
– Errors in industrial processing and keeping up with food safety
policies
– Managerial, financial and technical constraints
– Over-preparation of food in restaurants, hotels and the foodservice
industry
– Over-merchandizing and over-ordering in food stores and
 Food Waste
• Food waste when disposed of in landfills produces harmful
greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide,
contributing to global warming and climate change.
• Natural resources such as land, freshwater, fossil fuels, and
human resources are also wasted.
• The best approach to reducing food loss and waste is not to
create it in the first place. Waste can be avoided by
improving product development, storage,
shopping/ordering, marketing, labeling, and cooking
methods.
• If excess food is unavoidable, recover it to donate to hunger-
relief organizations so that they can feed people in need.
Inedible food can be recycled into other products such as
animal feed, compost and worm castings, bioenergy,
bioplastics and clothing.
Thank-you