Governmental Regulation vs. Privatization

To prepare for this Discussion, read Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of the course text. Review the PowerPoint presentations in your Learning Resources. Review the required websites expanding your knowledge of air, food, water, and human health issues. Focus on the regulations regarding food-handling, indoor air quality, water privatization, and the responsibilities of the involved parties. Also, if you choose, review the optional resources, which have been chosen to highlight exciting public health topics.

Post a comprehensive response to ONE of the following questions. Discuss the potential human health effects associated with the topic/question you selected.

Then explain your position and justify your viewpoint with support from the course text and at least two reputable organizations’ websites. Identify the topic in the first line of your posting (for example, Air).

Questions:

1. Water: Should private companies be allowed to pump water from water sources in order to produce bottled water that is sold for profit?
1. If so, what would you require of them regarding the source water? Would you limit their profits?
2. If not, how do you balance your decision with the rights of companies to participate in capitalism?
2. Air: Does the government have the right to tell people they cannot smoke tobacco products in public? Explain your answer.

3. Food: A restaurant recently underwent a governmental food inspection and was found to have multiple food-handling issues that may cause illness. The government inspectors required that the issues be cleared within three months, or the restaurant would be closed. During those three months, 98 people became ill with Clostridium perfringens. The victims believe the government shares in the responsibility for their illness and have named the governmental inspectors in a lawsuit. Do you agree with the victims? To what extent are the inspectors, the government, the owners, and the victims responsible for the victims’ illness?

• Required Resources
Readings
• Course Text: Essentials of Environmental Health
•
o Chapter 9, “Water Quality”
o Chapter 10, “Air Quality”
o Chapter 11, “Food Safety”
o PowerPoint: Chapter 9, “Water Quality”
o PowerPoint: Chapter 10, “Air Quality”
o PowerPoint: Chapter 11, “Food Safety”
Web Resources
• Essentials of Environmental Health Flashcards:
http://publichealth.jbpub.com/essential/friis/2e/Login.aspx?
•
o Chapter 9, “Water Quality”
o Chapter 10, “Air Quality”
o Chapter 11, “Food Safety”
Websites
• AIRNow. (2011). AIRNow. Retrieved from

• http://www.airnow.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). CDC and food safety. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/cdc-and-food-safety.html
• Eaton, J. M., & Caplan, R. (2003). Water for people and nature: The story of corporate water privatization [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from

Click to access wpn01.pdf

• Food Safety. (2011). Food safety. Retrieved from
http://www.foodsafety.gov/
• National Environmental Health Association. (2011). National environmental health association. Retrieved from
http://www.neha.org/index.shtml
• National Environmental Health Association. (2011). Food safety. Retrieved from
http://www.neha.org/food_safety/
• Public Citizen. (2004). Citizen’s guide to water privatization. Retrieved from

Click to access Citizenguide.pdf

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Clean air act. Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Indoor air quality. Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Introduction to clean water act. Retrieved from
http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/index.cfm
• Optional Resources
Readings
• Book: Pollan, M. (2006). The omnivore’s dilemma: A natural history of four meals. New York, NY: Penguin.
• Book: Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast food nation: The dark side of the all-American meal. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.
• Book: Sinclair, U. (1906). The jungle. Retrieved from
http://books.google.com/books?id=VfWDOBvNvlkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Media
• Devito, D. (Producer), Shamberg, M. (Producer), Sher, S. (Producer), & Soderbergh, S. (Director). (2000). Erin Brockovich. [Motion picture]. United States: Universal Pictures.
• Guggenheim, D. (Director). (2006). An inconvenient truth. [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Vantage.

Is this the question you were looking for? If so, place your order here to get started!