For the purposes of environmental health, however, a more practical definition of the environment is needed, because environment health action generally tries to change only the natural and physical environment and related behaviours (e.g hand washing). Such interventions can rarely modify the social and cultural aspects of a community, which are usually independent of the environment (e.g cultural pressures on lifestyle, unemployment). As a result, a more practical definition of the environm...
Air pollution can be high in parts of North America and Europe, but it has improved slightly over the past decade with new environmental regulations and progress in technology. Meanwhile, China and India have been frequently cited as areas where air pollution is at its worst. In some cities in Asia, it has exceeded 20 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Nevertheless, there is considerable variation within those countries both regionally and locally, especially in recent year...
Environmental geosciences studies the changes in the earth around us. These include the atmosphere, ocean and the solid earth (lithos or geos) and the interactions between them. These interactions are continuous and symbiotic and they determine the habitability of the planet. Environmental geoscience is both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. It covers the field of physical, biological and information sciences (including ecology, physics, zoology, mineralogy, geology, plant science etc....
According to the United Nation, the world population is estimated to reach 8 billion in 2023, and projected to hit 10 billion in 2057. The present population has already passed what is termed as the “comfortable” carrying capacity of the planet. It's a common sense that as the world population continues to grow, the limits of essential global resources such as potable water, fertile land, forests and fisheries will become more stressed. This unit will discuss the relationship between popu...
The word hypothesis consists of two words: Hypo + thesis = Hypothesis (Kabir, 2016) ‗Hypo‘ means tentative or subject to verification and ‗Thesis‘ means statement about the solution of a problem. The meaning of the term hypothesis is a tentative statement about the solution of a problem. Hypothesis offers a solution to the problem that is to be verified empirically and based on some rationale. Another meaning of the word hypothesis, which is composed of two words, – ‗Hypo‘ means...
The problem of deforestation is as old as human quest for settlement and improved quality of life. The current status of the worlds deforested forest is quite alarming. This problem is more pronounced among less developed economic societies. Ironically most of these forest products are not consumed by the less developed society s world over. The values of deforestation are highlighted below as articulated by Jones et al (1990), Cunningham & Cunning ham (2002) and Cunningham, Cunning ham & Sai...
It is pertinent to understand and be cautious about the environment in which life exists. This is because the environment is be deviled with several macro-organisms and micro-organisms, some of which are deleterious to human existence while others are beneficial to life. This unit will therefore examine and define the different types of environment in which life exists and catalogue the different microorganisms encountered and the role they play in the survival of life that exist in them. At ...
Instrumentation is used in almost every activity and generating system, where consistent and reliable operations are required. Instrumentation provides the means of monitoring, recording and controlling a process to maintain it at a desired state. A typical environmental activity yields many process variables that have to be measured and manipulated. Variables such as boiler level, temperature and pressure, turbine speed, generator output and many others have to be controlled prudently to ens...
Introduction Nature of natural resources when learnt in this unit will expose what natural resources are and specifically give their types, classification and numerous examples of natural resources. The numerous types of natural resources are grouped under four headings which are water resources, sun energy resources, land resources, rock and mineral resources, and the atmospheric resources. This unit therefore, defines, explains and considers the dimension of all these natural resources. 2.0...
A law is generally defined as a way of regulating human behaviour. For the purpose of law, the environment is defined along the terms of its physical components including air, water, space, land, plants and wildlife. Environmental law/legislation is that law or legislation which relates primarily to the protection of the whole or part of the physical components of the environment (Bell. 1997). However, laws which relate primarily to the public health or particular groups of individuals such a...
The term “environment” according to Alan Gilpin (1976) in his book entitled “Dictionary of Environmental Terms” is the region, surroundings or circumstances in which anything exists; everything external to the organisms. The environment or an organism according to him includes: i. The purely physical or abiotic milieu in which it exists, e.g. geographical location, climatic conditions, and terrain. ii. The organic or biotic milieu including non-living organic matter and all other orga...
Science and technology have always played an important part in man's existence from time immemorial. Even though our ancestors may not had called their knowledge and skill by these names, when they made such decisions as choosing the best seasons to plant their yams, cassava and potatoes, they took into account the seasons, the weathers, the amount of water available, the fertility of the soil, and other factors. This was simple science. When they dug the soil with a pointed stick or built pa...
Ecology is the science that attempts to answer such questions about how nature works. The term ecology was coined from two Greek words: Oikos meaning "house" or "place to live" and Logos, meaning, "study of'. The coining of the term was done in 1869 by a German biologist Ernst Haeckel. Ecology is the study of living things in their home or environment: all the external conditions and factors, living and nonliving that affect an organism (Figure 1.1). In the words of Miller (1991) ecology is t...
Environment is the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded Or the complex of climatic, edaphic (soil-based), and biotic factors that act upon an organism or an ecologic community. Human environment includes what man occupies now including land and water forms. It is broken into six systems- climate, hydrological, edaphic, plant, animal and saprophyte. Man is included in animal system Public Health Definition of the Environment - all that which is external to the indiv...
Health assessment is an essential nursing function which provides foundation for quality nursing care and intervention. It helps to identify the strengths of the clients in promoting health. Health assessment also helps to identify client’s needs, clinical problems or nursing diagnoses and to evaluate responses of the person to health problems and intervention. An accurate and thorough health assessment reflects the knowledge and skills of a professional nurse. The focus of nursing care is ...