DESCRIBE STRATEGIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING DISEASE

Cleaning; is an act of removing dirt or something undesirable.

Environmental cleaning; refers to the process of removing dirt, debris, pathogens, and other contaminants from surfaces in various settings such as homes, workplaces, hospitals, and public spaces.

It involve using cleaning agents, disinfectants, and techniques like wiping, scrubbing, and vacuuming to maintain cleanliness and hygiene, ultimately reducing the risk of illness and promoting a healthier environment.

Ventilation: The process of removing polluted, stale, moisture laden, indoor air and replacing it with fresh outdoor (often dryer) air.

Types of ventilation.

Natural ventilation: Natural movement of air entering and leaving openings such as windows, doors, and roof ventilators as well as through cracks and crevices of buildings

Mechanical ventilation: The movement of air by mechanical means

Wall fan and air conditioning units are examples of mechanical ventilation

Types of natural ventilation

Through ventilation: ƒ Windows placed on opposite sides of house ƒ Air enters in one window and leaves through the other window

Cross ventilation; ƒ One window is provided and the other window is provided adjacent, air enters and leaves through the adjacent window

Back to back ventilation; ƒ Window is placed only on one side of the wall ƒ Air enters and leaves in the same window. ƒ This type of ventilation is not recommended in public health

Good ventilation; involves the effective exchange of indoor and outdoor air to maintain optimal air quality within a space.

This process removes pollutants, odors, moisture, and stale air while replenishing it with fresh, clean air.

Factors contributing to good ventilation are

Proper design of ventilation system

Adequate air exchange rates

Efficient filtration

Removal of indoor pollutants such as smoke, allergens, and volatile organic compounds.

Waste reuse and recycling; are strategies aimed at minimizing the amount of waste sent to landfills by giving materials a second life.

Reuse; involve finding new purposes for items instead of discarding them. For example, donating old clothes to charity, using glass jars for storage. By extending the lifespan of products reuse reduces the demand for new resources and decreases waste generation.

Recycling; involve processing materials such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal into new products.

This process usually involves collecting, sorting, and processing materials before they are converted into raw materials for manufacturing. Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes pollution associated with extracting and processing raw materials

Sanitation: Systems that protect people’s health, specifically those that dispose efficiently of waste.

Rubbish: Worthless material that is to be disposed of.

Refuse/Solid waste: Unwanted remains, residue, discarded materials or by-products which are no longer required by the initial user.

Biodegradable refuse: Refuse that comes from natural materials like food waste and leaves which gradually rot or decompose (broken down by bacteria and slowly absorbed into the air or soil and seem to disappear).

Non-biodegradable: Materials which do not break down naturally and remain as they are for a long period of time.

Combustible refuse: Materials which can be burned.

Non-combustible refuse: Materials which cannot be burned.

Three forms of waste

Solid waste

Liquid waste

Gaseous waste

Health Dangers from Poor Refuse Disposal

Indiscriminately dumping of refuse pollutes surface and ground water sources and has the potential to degrade rivers, sea, dam can kill aquatic life

Poor refuse disposal

Emits bad smells when it undergoes decomposition

Results in the spread of communicable disease through mosquito breeding and water contamination

Attracts insects and vermin, particularly flies, rats and cockroaches, which spread disease

Can cause fire outbreaks

Domestic refuse

Refuse coming from the home

Consists of food leftovers, waste paper, plastics bags, worn-out clothing and broken vessels and utensils such as cooking and water pots, bottles, tins, etc

Street refuse

Refuse found on the street, usually in public places

Consists of paper, plastic and food dropped by the public at unauthorized locations

Industrial refuse

Refuse coming from industry and businesses

Varies according to the type of industry

Some of it is dangerous and needs special disposal

Commercial refuse

Refuse from commercial business, including from bookshops, supermarkets, hotels, shops, markets, restaurants, health care facilities, etc. • Garden/ agriculture refuse

Refuse from the garden agricultural activities

Consists of cut grass, maize cobs, leaves, twigs from trimmed flowers, tree limbs, etc.

Dead animals

Refuse generation

Generation of refuse from various activities and sources (market, papers from offices and food remains from hotels, etc)

Refuse temporary storage

A place of where refuse is put temporary before collection

Refuse collection

The process of refuse collection from temporary storage areas to processing units

Refuse transportation

The removal of refuse from collection site to treatment units

Refuse processing/ treatment

Area where refuse is treated to make it less harmful before final disposal

Final disposal

The final destination of refuse depending on method of disposal

On-site Disposal Pit

In rural areas where houses are scattered it is recommended to use on-site disposal pit where the refuse is burned or buried in a pit

The recommended pit size is 1.5 meters x 1.5 meters and at least 2 meters deep depending on the level of ground water

The pit should be at least 10 meters away from any house

The refuse should be covered with a layer of soil at least once a week

Advantages

Cheap

Feasible in rural settings

Disadvantages

Requires adequate space, so not feasible in urban settings

When the refuse is burned, smoke can be heavy and pollute the environment

Controlled Tipping

Controlled tipping involves tipping of refuse in layers, and then compacting each layer with a layer of soil

Used commonly in large towns and urban areas

The purpose is to prevent the breeding of flies, mosquitoes and rodents and to avoid smell, contamination of ground and other water sources, fire hazards and scavenging

Advantage

Controlled tipping can be used to reclaim land in

Low lying areas

Landscaping

Quarries

Gravel pits

Disadvantage

Expensive

A sanitary landfill is a systematic procedure in which refuse is deposited in layers, compacted and covered by soil

Advantage

Can be used to reclaim land

Disadvantage

Expensive

Separation and Incineration

The separation and removal of useful refuse before the remaining wastes are passed into an incinerator for burning

Advantage

An efficient method of killing diseases pathogens in the refuse

Disadvantage

Separation of refuse requires technical skill and equipment

Incinerator, skilled operators and fuel is required

It cause environmental pollution and various health problems due to production of smoke

Direct Incineration

Direct burning of refuse without separation

In rural areas open burning is common used

Burning is done in a refuse pit or area set aside for the purpose

Compost and Compost Heap

An environment in which the natural processes of decomposition of organic matter can take place quickly

All materials of animal and vegetable waste eventually decompose and return to the soil

The resulting material is rich in nutrients and humus (decayed organic matter, important in soil to help in maintain a free-draining structure)

To encourage a strong population of microorganisms there must have favourable conditions (food, warmth, moisture and air)

Compositing

This is cheap and convenient method of refuse disposal which is recommended

Wet and dry refuse is heaped in alternate layers onto a plot about 2.5 meters square, to a depth of about 1.5 meters, and then covered with grass or earth

Fermentation decomposes the refuse, which should be turned after 30 days, and again at 60 days

After 90 days the refuse is ‘ripe’ and may be put on the land as fertilizer

A compost heap must be constructed in a way which allows these requirements:

Materials can mix together well

Available moisture

Aeration (a compost heap should never be higher than 5 feet or 6-7 feet square)

Warmth (60 degrees centigrade at the centre)

Correct balance of carbon and nitrogen (activators)

Ability to turn the compost every 4 to 6 weeks

Advantages o Production of quality fertilizer

Used to feed plants, put around them in spring when plants are beginning to grow

Used as soil conditioner

Disadvantages

Needs adequate space (most of time not feasible in urban settings)

Improper management may lead to spread of disease

Barging into Sea

Refuse is taken to the deep sea and dumped

Refuse is put into polythene bags and then weights are fixed to each bag in order to make the refuse sink to the bottom

Advantage

If done properly done you can ensure the prevention of disease

Disadvantages

Expensive

Can only be applied in areas near the sea

Can lead to sea/ocean pollution

Crude Dumping or Indiscriminate Disposal

Refuse is disposed of without any precautions, in a chosen area or dumped anywhere

Advantage- none

Disadvantages

Causes many nuisances and health hazards

It is unsightly

It attracts insects and vermin (flies, rats and cockroaches)

It results in the spread of communicable disease through mosquito breeding and water contamination

It produces offensive smells

It causes pollution of air, water and food

Due to the above health hazards this method is not encouraged for use

Animal Feeding

Refuse is collected feed to animals such a pigs

This is practiced mainly in urban centres where a lot of garbage is generated

Advantage

It provide food for the animals

Disadvantages

Can lead to the spread of disease in animals and humans who eat them

Can cause death to animals because some of the refuse are poisonous

Domestic activities

Waste water from washings

Bathrooms

Toilets

Animal husbandry

Industrial processes

Manufacturing plants

Processing industries

Water treatment

Sewage works

Commercial undertakings

Hotels

Restaurants

Shops

Guesthouses

Tearooms

Markets

Supermarkets

Other business premises

Health care activities

Hospitals

Health centre

Dispensaries

On-site Disposal System

A system of excreta disposal in which, after deposition, no further handling of the excreta to another station for treatment or final disposal is needed

In practice, on-site treatment and disposal involves treatment in septic tanks and final disposal in the soakage pit

Septic Tank

A chamber which is either cylindrical or rectangular

It is normally constructed in the ground

The sewage enters the septic tanks from the inlet which is baffled

Methods of Excreta Disposal in Urban Settings

The heavy particles are directed to the bottom where they settle

The heavy particles (or sludge) at the bottom are digested anaerobically

Lighter materials, including fat and grease. rise to the top to form scum

The effluent leaves the tank through an outlet and enters a soakage pit

The treatment of sewage in a septic tank starts with sedimentation and fermentation and is then followed by decomposition of both the sludge and the scum

The minimum requirements for a septic tank for single extended family use include:

o 1 meters wide, 3 meters long, and 1.75 meters deep

The length to width ration should be at least 3 to 1

The tank should be watertight and impermeable and should allow anaerobic activities to take place

The tank should be provided with a baffle to prevent scum from passing out through

Soakage Pits

The minimum size should be 4 meters deep and 3.3 meters in diameter

It should be constructed of honeycombed wall structure to allow for seepage

Usually they should be circular

The nature of soil in the adjoining surroundings should be porous to allow for seepage of incoming volume of effluent

When ground water table is high, the soakage pit should not be encouraged for fear of contamination of ground water

Alternatively the effluent should be discharged to the cesspool for storage or directly to sewage system

Soakage pit walls should be made impervious at least 1 meter from ground level

Off-site Disposal System

This is a system which, after deposition of excreta, further handling of excreta to another place for treatment or final disposal is required

Sewage is normally discharged into treatment plants for final disposal

Dilution

This process involves the disposal of crude sewage or badly treated sewage into a large river or sea

This method is limited to urban centres which are near rivers, lakes or oceans

This is a ‘crude way’ of disposing sewage and is not recommended due to the fact that such sewage could cause deleterious effects to humans and aquatic animals

Therefore, the recommended treatment methods are

Sewage lagoons (waste stabilization ponds)

Percolating filters

Contact beds

Carbon emissions; refer to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, primarily through human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices. These emissions contribute to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere and leading to global warming and climate change.

Carbon emissions come from various source

Transportation

Electricity generation

Industrial production and

Residential heating

Efforts to mitigate carbon emissions are

Transitioning to renewable energy sources

Improving energy efficiency

Implementing carbon capture and storage technologies

Adopting sustainable land- use practices and promoting polices

initiatives to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

What is sanitation, rubbish, refuse/solid waste?

What are the health dangers from improper refuse disposal?

What are the types of refuse?

What are the sources of refuse?

What are the methods of refuse disposal?