ENV100Y5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19: Serpentine Subgroup, Coastal Erosion, Environmental Health
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ENV100Y5 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Asbestos is an industrial and commercial term encompassing several groups of minerals that occur in long, hairlike microscopic fibers. Two groups of minerals produce asbestos fibers: Canada produces asbestos only from the serpentine group (this group contains only one asbestos-forming mineral, called chrysotile) The study and practice of environmental health assesses environmental factors that influence human health and quality of life. These environmental factors include natural aspects of the environment, as well as anthropogenic (human-caused) factors for which we ourselves are responsible for. We can categorize hazards (word that comes from old french, referring to a game of dice ) into four main types: chemical, physical biological and cultural. Chemical hazards: include spills and other exposures to many synthetic chemicals, such as disinfectants, pesticides, etc. Physical hazards: arises from processes that occur naturally and pose risks to human life, health and property (and to the natural environment) they include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, floods, blizzards, landslides, etc.
