Environmental Health Human Health Health & Environmental Solutions Network Christopher Vakas – 17 October 2017 Environmental Health Risk Management (EHRM) Health & Environmental Solutions Network Recycled drinking water Health & Environmental Solutions Network Health & Environmental Solutions Network Intrusive noise – how much is to much • Traffic • Rail • Aircraft • Air conditioners • Pool pumps • Compressors • Loud music • Power tools • Concerts Health & Environmental Solutions Network Clandestine drug labs • The drug “cooks” don’t care • Chemicals destroy property • Drugs destroy lives • Are dangerous • Volatile organic compounds • Weapons • Aggressive people Health & Environmental Solutions Network To produce 1 kg of methamphetamine in excess of 30 kg of toxic waste is produced Health & Environmental Solutions Network Food safety – Heat Stable Toxins • Seafood toxins – Saxitoxin and its derivatives • Green Potatoes – Solanine • Staphylococcal & Streptococcal – Enterotoxin • Clostridium Botulinum - Botulinum • FSS 3.2.2 Clause 7 Food Processing • How long is too long for foods that are yet to undergo a pathogen control step? • (2) A food business must, when processing potentially hazardous food that is not undergoing a pathogen control step, ensure that the time the food remains at temperatures that permit the growth of infectious or toxigenic micro-organisms in the food is minimised. Health & Environmental Solutions Network Seafood Toxins • collectively referred to as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), • paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), • amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), • diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP), • ciguatera shellfish poisoning (CFP), • azaspiracid shellfish poisoning (AZP) • Responsible for 750 to 7500 death annually, from up to 0.5 M cased reported • Saxitoxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins • Ciguatoxin CTXs are tasteless, colourless, odourless, heat and acid stable, and stable for at least six months at commercial freezing temperatures. • PCBs, DDT, dioxin and mercury, are also bioaccumulative and persistent Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL 33140, USA Health & Environmental Solutions Network Solanine Toxin Health & Environmental Solutions Network Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0655, USA; Health & Environmental Solutions Network Botulinum Toxin • 7 distinct forms, types A–G. Four of these (types A, B, E and rarely F) cause human botulism. • Only destroyed above 85 deg C for at least 5 minutes. • One of the most lethal substances known. • Block nerve functions and can lead to respiratory and muscular paralysis. • Foodborne botulism, infant botulism, wound botulism, and inhalation botulism or other types of intoxication. • Foodborne - caused by consumption of improperly processed food. • Homemade canned, preserved or fermented foodstuffs. Health & Environmental Solutions Network WHO 2017 Poor Air Quality Dis-ease Sick Building Health & Environmental Solutions Network Airborne Diseases •Meningococcal Meningitis •Mumps •Measles •Rubella (German Measles) •Pertussis (Whooping Cough) •Yersinia pestis (Pneumonic Plague) •Acute Febrile Respiratory Syndrome • Common Cold •Varicella (chickenpox) •Influenza •Tuberculosis 1 m 1.5 m 1.5 m to 50 m+ Health & Environmental Solutions Network EME and EMF • Electromagnetic Energy (EME) • Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) • Safe levels – 0.5 up to 2.5 mG (milligauss) • Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit 1.6W/Kg (US EPA 2000) Health & Environmental Solutions Network EME – Mobile Phone and WiFi • Exposure limit (power flux density) • 2W/m2 or 200μW/cm2 • Heating effect starts • at 400 μW/cm2 Consider an ear weight 100g Would you would be exceeding the SAR limit of 160mW/100g, http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid • Apple iPhone 7 plus Electromagnetic Radiation (US FCC if you held the Human Exposure) Standard 1996 • 1.19W/Kg ARPANSA Technical Report Jan 2000 Health & Environmental Solutions Network • Well below SAR standard. phone to your ear? Health & Environmental Solutions Network Elsaesser, A. 2011, Nano Systems Biology Group, Centre for Molecular Biosciences, University of Ulster, United Kingdom Built Environment v Natural Environment • Wholesome safe foods • Clean air Do we spend more time indoors and online • Nature - is that good for us? • Sunshine Can nature help our minds and bodies to stay healthy? • Comforts • Pure water • Recreation Christopher Vakas Health & Environmental Solutions Network E: [email protected] M: 0415 248 788.