Environmental Health Risk Assessment

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT 1
Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Students Name
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT 2
Table of Contents
Executive summary...........................................................................................................3
Introduction........................................................................................................................4
Issue Identification.........................................................................................................4
Hazard and Exposure Assessment................................................................................6
Risk characterization...................................................................................................10
Risk management plan................................................................................................11
Conclusion........................................................................................................................13
References.........................................................................................................................14
Appendix...........................................................................................................................17

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT 3
Executive summary
Poor housing and overcrowding are associated with adverse health conditions among the
people living in Melbourne's inner-city apartments. The major hazards associated with poor
housing and overcrowding in the area include Air pollution, Infection risk and Fire risk. The
health effects associated with these hazards include lung and respiratory illnesses, certain types
of cancer, tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid and other serious illness. Air pollution has led to the
increase in toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and
hydrocarbons due to increase in cars and other human activities. The infection risk has led to the
increase in the susceptible to infectious diseases due to poor ventilation and the presence of
infectious diseases as a result of overcrowding. Overcrowding and poor living conditions has led
to the increase in the fire risk as it is difficult to control fire outbreaks in such conditions. There
is also lack of important fire strategies in the area leading to increased fire risk. To control the air
pollution, infection risk and fire risk, the city of Melbourne, needs to ensure that there is reduced
overcrowding by monitoring the number of people living per apartment.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT 4
Introduction
Housing is a major determinant of health. Poor housing and overcrowding have been a
significant public health issue in recent years. Poor housing and overcrowding are associated
with adverse health conditions among the people living in Melbourne's inner-city apartments.
The major hazards associated with poor housing and overcrowding in the area include Air
pollution, Infection risk and Fire risk (Clay, 2016). The health risks associated with these hazards
include lung and respiratory illnesses, certain types of cancer, tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid and
other serious illness. The risks of the hazards are high meaning that they are more likely to occur
with severe effects on the people (Giles-Corti, Ryan & Foster, 2012). Although many
interventions have been put to help prevent hazards, I believe much more needs to be done.
Issue Identification
The major hazards associated with overcrowding and poor living conditions in
Melbourne’s inner city apartments include air pollution, fire risk and infection risk (Clay, 2016).
Air pollution is a major issue in many countries and has more severe effects especially where the
living conditions are poor and where a population is overcrowded (How air pollution is
destroying our health, n.d.). The major sources of air pollution in Melbourne’s inner-city
apartments include automobiles, fuel burning in the houses, waste mismanagement and animal
waste (How air pollution is destroying our health, n.d.).
The increase in toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and
particulate matter has been attributed to the increase in automobiles in the area (How air
pollution is destroying our health, n.d.). As Melbourne's inner-city becomes overcrowded and
the living conditions become poor, the waste management systems in the area become
overloaded and hence leading to leakages of very toxic gases. Poor ventilation in the apartments