Careers in Biomedical Technology Objective 3 Environmental careers

Careers in Biomedical Technology Objective 3 Environmental careers, resources, and hazards 1

Objective Content A. Nutritional Services B. Environmental Control C. Other Support Service Personnel D. Environmental Resources and Hazards 2

A. Nutrition Services Career Ladder Dietician Nutritionist Dietary Technician Dietetic Assistant 3

Dietician Educational Requirements: • Bachelor’s Degree Job Tasks: • Plan nutrition programs for both sick and healthy people • Provide counseling and education for their clients or patients with a goal of improving both their nutritional and overall health status • Works as a member of the health care team in many different types of settings For more information go to: http: //gahec. org/nchc/default-old. htm 4

Nutritionist Also known as “Public Health Nutritionist” Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree For more information go to: http: //gahec. org/nchc/default-old. htm Job Tasks: • Counseling and making recommendations to individuals and whole communities • Typically work on education programs for adults and children to teach practical ways to prevent disease and improve health • May also specialize in clinical settings and focus on areas such as pediatrics, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc. 5

Dietary Technician Educational Requirements: • Associates Degree Job Tasks: • Extends and supports the work of the dietician’s role • Works under the supervision of a dietician • Plans menus and supervises preparation of meals For more information go to: http: //gahec. org/nchc/default-old. htm 6

Dietetic Assistant Educational Requirements: • No formal education required • On-the-job training Job Tasks: • Works under the supervision of a dietician and/or dietary technician • Prepares food, assists in distributing food trays to patient areas • Maintains safe, clean food preparation areas 7

Weight Reduction Specialist Is one of the specialty area that a nutritionist could choose to specialize in. Their job is to counsel obese patients using dietary and activity guidelines. 8

B. Environmental Control Career Ladder Environmental Engineer Health and Regulatory Inspectors Sanitarian 9

Video: Environmental Protection Careers http: //streaming. discoveryeducation. com Environmental Engineer 10

Environmental Engineer Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree Salary Range: $43, 180. 00 - $106, 230. 00 Job Tasks: • Design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental health hazards • Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology • Usually works within industry as a consultant to industry 11

Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree Job Duties: • Collect, synthesize, study, report, and take action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources • Manage environmental health problems and promote public awareness of the need to prevent and eliminate environmental health hazards • Conduct inspections and take enforcement actions for environmental health laws and regulations 12

Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians Areas of Specialization: - Air and Industrial Hygiene - Child-Care Centers - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention - Environmental Management - Food, Lodging and Institutions - Food Protection - Migrant Housing - On-Site Wastewater - Private Wells - Public Swimming Pools - Tattoos - Water Resource - Others For more information go to: http: //gahec. org/nchc/default-old. htm 13

Health and Regulatory Inspectors and Sanitarians set and enforce standards concerning their area of specialization. Food Sewage Waste Disposal 14

Video: Food Safety http: //streaming. discoveryeducation. com Great Books: The Jungle Skills for Healthy Living: Playing It Safe Food Safety 15

C. Other Support Service Personnel Career Ladder Biomedical Engineer Biomedical Equipment Technician For more information go to: http: //gahec. org/nchc/default-old. htm 16

Biomedical Engineer Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree Areas of Specialization: 1. Clinical Engineering - the biomedical engineer designs and maintains diagnostic and health care delivery systems 2. Medical Engineering - the biomedical engineer develops artificial organs and limbs, diagnostic and therapeutic devices, pacemakers, and imaging equipment 3. Research and Design 17

Video: Biomedical Engineers http: //streaming. discoveryeducation. com Emerging Careers: Biotechnology Occupations 18

Biomedical Equipment Technician Educational Requirements: Associates Degree Job Tasks: • Install, operate, repair, and maintain equipment such as X-ray machines, incubators, electronic thermometers, dental equipment, cardiac pressure monitors, and sterilizers • Instructs other health care personnel in the correct use of the equipment and assists in the evaluation of new devices 19

Central Service Technician Educational Requirements: No formal education required On-the-job training Job Tasks: • Include sterilizing, assembling and cleaning diagnostic and surgical equipment 20

D. Environmental Resources and Hazards – Related Terminology 1. 2. 3. 4. Biosphere Ecosystems (ecology) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Diseases and health conditions linked to environment: a. Emphysema b. Lead Poisoning c. Carbon monoxide poisoning d. Lung Cancer 21

• Biosphere -The biosphere is simply "life on Earth"—the sum total, that is, of all living things on Earth. • Ecosystems (ecology) An ecosystem is a complete community of living organisms and the nonliving materials of their surroundings. 22

A young tapir searching for food. This species is threatened by loss of habitat and over-hunting for food. The balancing of development with conservation is the most important challenge in developing countries. 23

• Environmental Protection Agency The federal agency responsible for setting and regulating the standards for the environment. 24

Diseases and health conditions linked to environment: Emphysema – a chronic lung disorder characterized by the inability to exhale normally due to collapsed and stiffened alveoli. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, barrel chest and clubbed fingers. It can be caused or worsened by air pollution as well as smoking. 25

Lead Poisoning caused by increased levels of the lead in the blood. Lead may cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity. 26

Some of the places lead is found in are paint, leaded gasoline, old brass water pipes and lead mines. Government programs have helped reduce lead poisoning in the population by regulating the amount of lead in paints and gasoline additives. 27

• Carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a significantly toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nonirritating, it is very difficult for people to detect. Symptoms of mild poisoning include headaches, vertigo, and flu-like effects; larger exposures can lead to significant toxicity of the central nervous system, and heart, even death. 28

Sources of carbon monoxide exposure: House fires, faulty furnaces, heaters, or wood-burning stoves, motor vehicle exhaust, propane-fueled equipment such as kitchen and portable camping stoves, and gasoline powered tools such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, high-pressure washers, concrete cutting saws, power trowels, and welders. Riding in the back of a pick- up truck can expose the riders to carbon monoxide from the truck exhaust pipe. 29

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Boys' deaths determined to be from carbon monoxide The Medial Examiner's Twelve-year-old Parker and 14 -year-old Jules Baudin were found dead in their home in Florida. Office has determined that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of the deaths of two brothers on Monday. 30

• Lung Cancer – is the mutation of lung cell cycles that can be caused by, or initiated by environmental exposures. 31

Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung Cancer • Radon – a naturally occurring gas that is emitted as uranium decays in the soil. • Asbestos – used to insulate homes built prior to 1970, if left alone is considered safe. Certified contractors should supervise removal if remodeling or destruction of building containing asbestos is considered. 32

Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung Cancer • Air pollution – it is uncertain exactly what the correlation is but there is a 10% higher incidence rate of lung cancer in urban areas compared to rural areas. • Industrial chemicals – always read warning labels and use personal protective equipment as indicated if working with known carcinogens. Employers are required to notify employees of all known hazards in the workplace. 33

Environmental Exposures Linked to Lung Cancer Radiation exposure - Exposure to medical radiation to the chest for other cancers, for example Hodgkin’s lymphoma or breast cancer, can increase the risk of lung cancer, although the benefits of treatment usually far outweigh this risk. • Second hand smoke - Secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in an exposed nonsmoker two- three -fold times. It is currently felt to be responsible for 1. 6% of lung cancers in the United States. http: //lungcancer. about. com/od/causesoflungcance 1/a/envirocause. htm 34

Question for Monday • People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. • The professional that designs instruments and machines that are used to monitor and treat disease is the_______ 35

End of Objective 3 Describe environmental careers, resources and hazards. 36