Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
individuals per year). 6 Although this chapter has the focus of water involvement
within the scope of illness transmission in the environment, it is well to adopt
an interconnective attitude toward the control of environmental disease transmis-
sion in general. It is necessary to continually ask the question, β€œCan a known
pathogen or toxic substance be exposed to a susceptible population by more
than one route?” Again, leptospirosis may be used to address the question. Lep-
tospires may be found in the urine of those suffering from leptospirosis. Vehicles
of transmission for this disease are urine-contaminated water, food, and direct
bodily contact with contaminated materials, such as through cuts and abrasions of
the skin and mucous membranes. In addition, many animals, especially rodents,
are reservoirs of the leptospires. It can be appreciated, therefore, that spread of
the pathogens is open to many routes of transmission.
Prevention of disease requires the continual application of control procedures
such as the following 10 measures and elimination of the human element to the
extent feasible:
1. Prevent the travel of disease vectors and control disease carriers.
2. Assure that all drinking water is at all times safe to drink and adequate for
drinking, culinary, laundry, and bathing purposes.
3. Provide adequate spatial separation between sources of disease (and pollu-
tion) and receptors.
4. Assure that food processing, distribution, preparation, and service do not
cause disease.
5. Control air, land, and water pollution, hazardous wastes, accidents, car-
cinogens, and toxics.
6. Prevent access to disease sources β€” polluted bathing waters and disease
vector - infested areas.
7. Adopt and enforce environmental standards β€” air, water, land, noise, land
use, housing.
8. Educate polluters, legislators, media, and the public to the need for regu-
lation and funding where indicated.
9. Support comprehensive environmental health, engineering, and sanitation
planning, protection, surveillance, and regulation programs at the state and
local levels.
10. Adjust personal behavior to counteract cigarette smoking, poor nutrition,
stress, overeating, and lack of exercise. Promote personal hygiene and hand-
washing to prevent person-to-person transmission of pathogenic or toxic
agents.
Control of Susceptibles (Host Factors)
Host factors are personal characteristics and behaviors, genetic predispositions,
and immunologic and other susceptibility-related factors that increase or decrease
the likelihood of disease and may be as sufficient factors. 4
A sufficient factor is
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