Environmental Risk Factors Flashcards

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What is meant by an environmental risk factor?

It is something around you that increases your chance of getting a disease.

How is an environmental risk factor different from a lifestyle risk factor?

Environmental factors come from where you live or work. Lifestyle factors come from choices you make, like what you eat.

Give two examples of environmental risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

Examples include air pollution and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.

How can breathing in air pollution affect your lungs?

It can irritate your airways and make asthma worse. Over many years, it can increase the risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases.

Why might living near a busy road increase your risk of disease?

Busy roads produce more air pollution and tiny particles. Breathing these in can damage the lungs and heart over time.

How does ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight act as a risk factor?

Too much UV radiation can damage the DNA in skin cells. This damage can build up and increase the risk of skin cancer.

What is ionising radiation?

It is high-energy radiation that can remove electrons from atoms. It can damage DNA in cells and increase the risk of cancer.

Name one natural source of ionising radiation that people may be exposed to.

Radon gas in some rocks and soils is a natural source of ionising radiation.

What is asbestos and what disease can it cause when breathed in?

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral once used for insulation in buildings. Breathing in its fibres can cause serious lung diseases, including cancer.

What is second-hand smoke and why is it an environmental risk factor?

Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke breathed in from other people’s cigarettes. It is an environmental risk factor because non-smokers are exposed to it in the air around them.