Экологическая медицина = Ecological medicine. Учебное пособие

In our case, the index of general sickness rate (1,050 per 1,000 inhabitants) according to the data of the Table 1 (“Indicative qualitative assessments of the level of health indices”) corresponds to 3 points, the index of general sickness rate (10.5 per 1 000 inhabitants) – to 3 points, infant mortality rate (21.3 per 1,000 children born) – to 3 points, disability rate (8.1 per 1,000 inhabitants) – to 4 points, fertility rate (21.3 per 1,000 inhabitants) – to 3 points. The sum of points was 16, the level of medical and sanitary well-being of the population is average.

Problem:

Provide a comparative analysis of the health status of the population in R. district, using medical and demographic indices for 2011–2012 (per 1,000 people).

Task 2. Solution of case problems on “Monitoring of the environment and public health”.

Example of solving routine problems

Problem:

Study the connection between pollutant concentrations in the air and morbidity in the city of M. for 2008–2010 using correlation analysis on the following data:

Stages of solutions:

1.  Calculate the correlation coefficient using the available data (pollutant concentration in the air and population morbidity).

2.  Evaluate the results obtained.

3.  Propose measures to improve the population health status. The formula for calculating the correlation coefficient (r):

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∑dxdv

r = ∑dx2 ×∑dy2 ,

where, х – pollutant concentration; у – population morbidity; Σ – summation sign; dx – deviation from the mean value (Mx) of the pollutant concentration, dx = x – Мх; dy – deviation from the mean value (Му) of the population morbidity, dy = y – Му.

Next, a table is made up:

By substituting the values into the formula, we obtain:

46.67

r = 4.67×466.67 =+1 .

Evaluation of the results: Connection type:

1.  when rxy is positive, the correlation is direct (positive);

2.  when rxy is negative, the correlation relationship is inverse (negative). Connection strength:

When a correlation coefficient is 0–0.3, the connection between the phenomena is weak (virtually absent);

When a correlation coefficient is 0.31–0.7, the connection is medium (moderate connection);

When a correlation coefficient is 0.71–1.0, the connection is strong (strongly pronounced).

In our case, the correlation coefficient was +1. Consequently, the population morbidity level is closely related to the pollutant concentration in the air.

Case Problems

1.  Study the connection between air pollution with sulphur dioxide SO2 and respiratory diseases (RD) in Rechitsa district over 2004–2010 using a correlation analysis on the following data:

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2.  Study the connection between the nitrogen oxide (NO) concentration and respiratory diseases in Gomel over 2004–2010 using a correlation analysis on the following data:

3.  Study the connection between air pollution with sulphur dioxide (SO2) and respiratory diseases in Mozyr district over 2004–2010 using a correlation analysis on the following data:

4.  Study the connection between the increased dust content in the atmospheric air in Mozyr and respiratory diseases over 2005–2010 using a correlation analysis on the following data:

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SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST

1.  Biosphere is:

a)the sphere of activity of living organisms;

b)the lower part of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the lithosphere;

c)the shell of the Earth, which includes the area of distribution of living matter and matter itself;

d)the sphere of human activity;

e)the sphere of coexistence of all living organisms among themselves and with the environment.

2.  Anthropogenic impact is (choose the most complete definitions):

a)direct impact of mankind on the environment;

b)technogenic impact;

c)influence of human activity on the natural environment, directly or indirectly causing its change;

d)pollution of the atmosphere by emissions from heating plants;

e)biosphere contamination by domestic and economic human acti­

vity.

3.  Liebig’s law of the minimum: growth, development, health, and yield depend on the nutrient that is present in the soil…

a)in minimum quantity;

b)in maximum quantity;

c)in excess;

d)in various quantitative proportions;

e)in minimum quantity indicated by the threshold dose.

4.  Shelford’s law of tolerance: the limiting factor for an organism (species) to thrive can be…

a)a minimum of ecological impact;

b)both minimum and maximum of ecological impact;

c)a maximum of ecological impact;

d)a limiting physical factor;

e)a limiting chemical factor.

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5.  The limiting ecological factor…

a)limits the manifestation of vital activity of organisms;

b)promotes the manifestation of vital activity of organisms;

c)promotes the growth and development of organisms;

d)promotes the growth of the population;

e)limits the growth, development, and population size.

6.  Monitoring is:

a)a system for observing the environmental conditions;

b)a system for preventing critical situations in the biosphere;

c)the state (government) systematic observation of the conditions of all environmental factors;

d)an automated computer system-software with input-gate and output of the “environment-health” connection;

e)system of control over the ozone layer condition.

7.  The habitat of a population or species is:

a)a set of biotic factors;

b)a set of biotic and abiotic conditions;

c)abiotic factors;

d)climatic, weather conditions;

e)parts of nature that have a direct or indirect impact on the species.

8.  Ecology is an integrative science that studies:

a)interaction of living organisms with each other;

b)interaction of living organisms with the environment;

c)interaction of living organisms and their communities among themselves and with the environment;

d)interaction of abiotic and biotic factors;

e)priority of human population development.

9.  Ecosystem is:

a)a set of different species of organisms living together;

b)a biological system consisting of a community of living beings and their habitat, a single functional unit;

c)a set of organisms in their environment;

d)combination of natural and anthropogenic physical factors;

e)control over global changes in the biosphere associated with human activity.

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10.  Biosphere monitoring is:

a)a control over the cycle of substances;

b)a control over all phenomena in atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere;

c)a control over vegetation and soil cover;

d)a system of control over biological factors;

e)a state system of control over safety of biosphere, ozone layer condition, and climate.

11.  International monitoring is:

a)a monitoring of planet-wide processes and phenomena;

b)a monitoring of the effects of anthropogenic changes;

c)an overall control of climate change;

d)a control over CO2 emissions and greenhouse effect;

e)a control over the level of natural and anthropogenic pollution of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and their consequences.

12.  Regional monitoring is:

a)a monitoring of biological processes within a region;

b)a monitoring of processes and phenomena within a region;

c)a control over phenomena in the atmosphere in a region;

d)a control over chemical processes in a region;

e)a control over biosphere pollution sources, types of contamination within a region.

13.  National monitoring is:

a)the state control system of the environmental condition within the territory of the nation-state;

b)the state control system of the biosphere condition within a certain territory;

c)the state control system of environmental condition within a certain territory;

d)a system of control over condition of chemical factors in nature reserves;

e)a control over the quality of flora and fauna in a region.

14.  Local monitoring is:

a)a control over pollution not spreading over significant distances;

b)a control over pollution within a state;

c)a control over pollution within a region;

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d)a control over weather conditions within a region;

e)a control over ozone layer condition.

15.  Social and hygienic monitoring is:

a)a system of observation, assessment and prediction of the public health depending on the environmental conditions;

b)a system of observation over environmental factors;

c)a system of observations on the health of the population;

d)a system of observation over demographic indicators;

e)a system of observation over epidemic processes.

16.  Medical and environmental information system is:

a)information collection from sanitary and epidemiological surveillance bodies and institutions;

b)centralised information collection from bodies and institutions of health care organisations;

c)information storage in the information system;

d)computer-integrated system-software for collecting and processing information on ecology condition with “environment-health” data output;

e)information collection on atmospheric contamination and morbidity of the population.

17.  Habitat factor is:

a)any component of the natural environment capable of influencing the human body;

b)an environmental component of natural or anthropogenic origin, capable of affecting the human body;

c)chemical, physical components of the environment, capable of affecting the human body;

d)physical and chemical risk factors for health disorders;

e)a risk factor with expected frequency of undesirable effects on health.

18.  The main tasks of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection are:

a)the state control in the field of environmental protection;

b)the state control over compliance with environmental safety norms;

c)the state control over the observance of environmental safety standards, the atmospheric air and the ozone layer, the condition and change of the climate;

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d)the state control over the condition of atmospheric air and sources of pollution;

e)the state control and organisation of the monitoring system.

19.  Which gases in the atmosphere are least sensitive to anthropogenic activity?

a)carbon dioxide;

b)nitrogen;

c)oxygen;

d)carbon oxides;

e)inert gases.

20.  What refers to anthropogenic sources of atmospheric pollution?

a)fuel combustion;

b)dust storms;

c)volcanic activity;

d)burning of household garbage;

e)earthquakes.

21.  The ozone layer in the stratosphere is:

a)the upper boundary of the biosphere;

b)a source of acid precipitation formation;

c)a protective shield from adverse effects of UV radiation;

d)an atmospheric boundary;

e)a layer preventing penetration of UV radiation of C region / area.

22.  Which compounds are involved in the destruction of the ozone ­layer?

a)carbon monoxide;

b)ammonia;

c)chlorofluorocarbons;

d)nitrogen compounds;

e)hydrogen compounds.

23.  What refers to natural sources of atmospheric pollution?

a)combustion of fuels;

b)nuclear weapons testing;

c)dust storms;

d)volcanic eruptions;

e)space dust.

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24.  Which layers of the atmosphere are most affected by anthropogenic influence?

a)stratosphere;

b)troposphere;

c)ionosphere;

d)atmospheric surface layer;

e)ozone layer.

25.  Abiotic factors of the hydrosphere are:

a)microorganisms;

b)phytoplankton;

c)light regime;

d)hydrocarbonates;

e)shell limestone.

26.  Biotic factors of the hydrosphere are:

a)geomagnetic field;

b)moisture;

c)animals;

d)microorganisms;

e)temperature.

27.  Modern problems of the hydrosphere are:

a)deficiency in freshwater supplies;

b)salt water shortage;

c)increase in flow of rivers;

d)anthropogenic pollution;

e)regulation of river flow.

28.  Organoleptic indicators of the hydrosphere are:

a)colour;

b)coli index;

c)pH;

d)odour;

e)taste.

29.  Indicator microorganisms found in water are:

a)haemolytic streptococci;

b)Pseudomonas bacilli;

c)Escherichia coli;

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