Environmental medicine

Environmental medicine is a multidisciplinary field involving medicine, environmental science, chemistry and others. The scope of this field involves studying the interactions between environment and human health, and the role of the environment in causing or mediating disease. As a specialist field of study it is looked upon with mixed feelings by physicians and politicians alike, for the basic assumption is that health is more widely and dramatically affected by environmental toxins than previously recognized.

Environmental factors in the causation of environmental diseases can be classified into:

• Physical
• Chemical
• Biological
• Social
• Any combination of the above

Current focuses of environmental medicine

While environmental medicine is a broad field, some of the currently prominent issues include:

The effects of ozone depletion and the resulting increase in UV radiation on humans with regards to skin cancer. The effects of nuclear accidents or the effects of a terrorist dirty bomb attack and the resulting effects of radioactive material and radiation on humans. The effects of chemicals on humans, such as dioxin, especially with regards to cancer. Radon gas exposure in individuals' homes. Air and water pollution on the health of individuals. Mercury poisoning and exposure to humans though including fish and sea life in their diet. Lead poisoning from leaded gasoline, paint, and plumbing.

The National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (National Exposure Report) is a series of ongoing assessments of the U.S. population's exposure to environmental chemicals by measuring chemicals in people's blood and urine, also called biomonitoring. The Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report) presents exposure data for 212 environmental chemicals in the U.S. population. The Fourth Report reflect data on 75 chemicals, including: • acrylamide – a first time assessment -- is formed when foods containing carbohydrates are cooked at high temperatures (e.g., French fries) and as a byproduct of tobacco smoke. The data show that exposure is extremely common. • environmental phenols, including bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan. BPA, a component of epoxy resins and polycarbonates, may have potential reproductive toxicity. Bisphenol A was found in more than 90% of the urine samples. • Perchlorate is both naturally occurring and manmade and is used to manufacture fireworks, explosives, flares, and rocket propellant. There is a known association between perchlorate and thyroid function., which raises concerns since a significant number of participants had a detectable level of perchlorate in their urine

It's important to learn about the potential consequences of these environmental toxins and advise your patients on preventive strategies.

To view the full report, CDC - NER - Executive Summary, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/executive_summary.html

Beyond the scope of environmental medicine

The fields of virology, which studies viruses, and epidemiology, which studies patterns of disease and injury, while environmental in nature, often are not within the scope of environmental science. In addition, any disease with a large genetic component usually falls outside the scope of environmental medicine.

Related Video

In this video from BigThink, Majora Carter discusses how environmental degradation has led to high rates of asthma, diabetes and learning disabilities in the South Bronx: