Pollution and Human Health
Grace Taylor
7 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers infectious diseases, their contributing factors (malnutrition, sanitation, climate change, urbanization), and drug-resistant pathogens. It also reviews respiration (aerobic and anaerobic), the respiratory system, and related problems. Finally, it examines tropospheric ozone formation, effects, and solutions. Key diseases like dysentery and mesothelioma are also discussed.
#AP Environmental Science: Infectious Diseases, Pollution, and Respiration - The Night Before Review! 🚀
Hey there, future AP Environmental Science rockstar! Let's get you prepped and confident for tomorrow. This guide is designed to be your final, high-impact review, hitting all the key points you need to know. Let's dive in!
#1. Infectious Diseases: A Global Challenge 🌍
Infectious diseases are a major global health concern, especially in developing countries. Several factors contribute to their spread:
#1.1 Key Contributing Factors
- Malnutrition: Weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. 🍎
- Example: Malnutrition increases vulnerability to measles.
- Poor Sanitation & Unclean Water: Facilitate the transmission of waterborne diseases. 💧
- Example: Cholera spreads through contaminated water.
- Example: Typhoid spreads due to lack of sanitation.
- Lack of Proper Medical Care: Hinders diagnosis and treatment, leading to disease persistence. 🏥
- Example: Tuberculosis (TB) can be difficult to control without proper medical care.
Key Point: These factors often overlap, creating complex health challenges.
#1.2 Drug-Resistant Pathogens: A Growing Threat 🦠
The overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of drug-resistant pathogens, making treatment more difficult. Here are some examples:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Common in hospitals. 🏥
- Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB): Resistant to multiple TB drugs. 🫁
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): Resistant to vancomycin. 💊
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE): Resistant to carbapenems. 🧪
- Antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea: Becoming harder to treat. 🧬
Common Mistake: Confusing antibiotic resistance with the body becoming resistant to antibiotics. It's the bacteria that become resistant, not the person.
#1.3 Climate Change and Disease 🌡️
Climate change significantly impacts disease transmission by altering environmental conditions:
- Vector-borne diseases: Warmer temperatures increase the range of mosquitoes and ticks. 🦟 ...
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