NR 443 Week 6 Discussion – Environmental Health

NR 443 Week 6 Discussion – Environmental Health

I chose My Air as my discussion topic since it is a growing challenge with the expansion of the industry affecting air quality and global warming. I did not know that Texas produced 50.9% and 8,695.533 Trillion BTU of natural gas versus the United States’ average production of 639.393 Trillion BTU in 2016 (US EPA, 2016). The process of natural gas production causes harmful gases and toxins, which results in pollution of the air and issues for the ozone for communities and ecosystems, therefore, causing health issues.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) (2016), “Exposure to ozone is linked to a wide range of health effects, including aggravated asthma, increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and premature death.” Air quality levels are monitored by the EPA to determine if the air is safe for the surrounding areas. Recent studies from the World Health Organization (WHO) approximate air contamination is ranked as thirteen in the top causes of death in the world (Nies & McEwen, 2015).

A chemical plant fire that burned for several days caused concerns and potential health issues in Deerpark, Texas, recently, with the EPA recommending that people stay indoors. There was no evacuation of the area, but reports from the local news stated people were suffering from burning eyes and irritation to their throats and sought medical attention. Various toxins, pesticides, and chemicals are thought to increase the risk of cancer in many geographical locations. Recent studies of air quality show unhealthy ozone pollutant levels with moderate particles on the Air Quality Index (AQI) with recommendations of limited exposure to people with pulmonary issues in these Texas counties (Airnow, 2019).

NR 443 Week 6 Discussion – Environmental Health

The community health nurse (CHN) is a role that raises awareness, advocates, and screens for exposed populations to identify needed referrals, resources, and education for those at risk from disasters. Even persistent environmental problems over time can affect health and well-being. Community health nurses watch health trends, identify emergency resources, and establish an evacuation plan in case of a disaster. The CHN meets much resistance from lawmakers to institute policy changes, promote safety standards, and hold corporate businesses accountable. Years of environmental exposure is harmful and contribute to irreversible damage to the human body. According to Chamberlain University (2019), “Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors.” Emergency disasters such as terrorism, fires, chemical spills, or explosions can be detrimental to people’s well-being, but equipping people with information and assistance can decrease the number of fatalities related to their environment.

References:

AIRNow – Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX Air Quality. (2019). Retrieved from https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&mapcenter=0&cityid=236

Basic Information about Oil and Natural Gas Air Pollution Standards | US EPA. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/basic-information-about-oil- and-natural-gas

Chamberlain University, NR 443 (2019) Week 6 Modules.

My Environment | Envirofacts | US EPA. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/myenvironment

Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2015). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.

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NR 443 Week 6 Discussion – Environmental Health

utilize a systems-based and collaborative approach to address factors that influence the health of a community and population health problems.