Environmental Health Problems

Key Signs and Symptoms

Health Problems Caused By Heavy Metals, Airborne Lead and Mercury Vapor

Key Signs / Symptoms of Lead Poisoning...

in Adults:

• Gastrointestinal discomfort / constipation I anorexia
• Nausea
• Fatigue, weakness
• Personality changes
• Headache
• Hearing loss
• Tremor, lack of coordination

and in Infants and Small Children:

• irritability
• abdominal pain
• ataxia
• seizures I loss of consciousness
• (chronic) learning deficits
• hyperactivity, reduced attention span

Key Signs / Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

• Muscle cramps or tremors
• Headache
• Tachycardia
• Intermittent fever
• Acrodynia
• Personality change
• Neurological dysfunction

Health Problems Related To Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Key Signs / Symptoms...

in Adults:

• rhinitis / pharyngitis
• nasal congestion
• persistent cough
• conjunctival irritation
• headache
• wheezing (bronchial constriction)
• exacerbation of chronic respiratory conditions

and in Infants and Children

• asthma onset
• increased severity of, or difficulty in controlling, asthma
• frequent upper respirators infections and / or episodes of otitis media
• persistent middle-ear effusion
• snoring
• repeated pneumonia, bronchitis

Health Problems Caused By Animal Dander, Molds, Dust Mites, Other Biologicals

Key Signs / Symptoms

• recognized infectious disease
• exacerbation of asthma
• rhinitis
• conjunctival inflammation
• recurrent fever
• malaise
• dyspnea
• chest tightness
• cough

Health Problems Caused By Carbon Monoxide, Other Combustion Products (Stoves. Space Heaters, Furnaces, Fireplaces)

Key Signs / Symptoms

• Dizziness or headache
• Confusion
• Nausea / emisis
• Fatigue
• Tachycardia
• Eye and upper respiratory tract irritation
• Wheezing / bronchial constriction
• Persistent cough
• Elevated blood carboxyhernoglobin levels
• Increased frequency of angina in persons with coronary heart disease

Health Problems Caused By Volatile Organic Compounds
(Formaldehyde, Pesticides, Solvents. Cleaning Agents)

Key Signs / Symptoms

• conjunctival irritation
• nose, throat discomfort
• headache
• allergic skin reaction
• dyspnea
• declines in serum cholinesterase levels
• nausea / emesis
• epistaxis (formaldehyde)
• fatigue
• dizziness