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to control AMR. Instead, a coordinated One Health and Global Health approach
may assist in controlling AMR by designing and implementing epidemiological and
ecological AMR surveillance networks, applying multivariate analysis of AMR
drivers (including sociodemographic and economic factors) and by realistically
estimating the economic impact of interventions to reduce AMR.
8.5 Classification of Health Hazard Agents
Health hazards cover a wide range of agents, from physical (e.g. noise, radiation),
chemical (e.g. pesticides, explosives) and to biological agents (e.g. viruses, bacteria, toxins). These agents may be contained in air, water, soil, or food. Humans are
exposed to such health hazards via inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption and as
consequence, manifest adverse health effects with various degrees of severity (acute
or delayed in onset, clinical or subclinical, reversible or irreversible).
Nanoparticles, engineered structures with diameters of <100 nm for which currently limited knowledge exists on the adverse effects they might have on human
health, are not addressed here [14]. Nevertheless, appropriate evaluation and regulation of nanoparticle effects on health, fostered by transdisciplinary One Health
approaches, is of great actuality in the context of the rapid developments in the field
of nanotechnology [15].
8.5.1 Physical Health Hazard Agents
Physical health hazards include noise, temperature, vibration, radiation. Exposure to
physical health hazard agents may be short or long term and can occur at home,
school, work and in the community. Among physical hazard agents, radiation is outstanding and associates with carcinogenic effects on human health. Radiation is a
natural part of our environment and as such, exposure to small doses of radiation is a
casual and constant part of our environment. Radiation is defined as energy emitted in
the form of waves or particles, transmitted through an intervening medium or space.
Depending on the capacity of removing electrons during its interaction with
atoms, radiation classifies as: ionizing (has sufficient energy to remove electrons
from atoms) and non-ionizing (cannot remove electrons from atoms). Examples of
ionizing radiation are the radon gas (naturally occurring), the X-rays and the radiation from nuclear power plants (man-made). Examples of non-ionizing radiation
include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet and visible light and radiation
from ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging devices.
Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast,
can cause acute health effects such as skin burns, acute radiation syndrome and may
lead to long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Exposure
to low levels of radiation encountered in the environment does not cause immediate
health effects, but is a minor contributor to our overall cancer risk.
8 Risks and Consequences of Hazard Agents to Human Health
to control AMR. Instead, a coordinated One Health and Global Health approach
may assist in controlling AMR by designing and implementing epidemiological and
ecological AMR surveillance networks, applying multivariate analysis of AMR
drivers (including sociodemographic and economic factors) and by realistically
estimating the economic impact of interventions to reduce AMR.
8.5 Classification of Health Hazard Agents
Health hazards cover a wide range of agents, from physical (e.g. noise, radiation),
chemical (e.g. pesticides, explosives) and to biological agents (e.g. viruses, bacteria, toxins). These agents may be contained in air, water, soil, or food. Humans are
exposed to such health hazards via inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption and as
consequence, manifest adverse health effects with various degrees of severity (acute
or delayed in onset, clinical or subclinical, reversible or irreversible).
Nanoparticles, engineered structures with diameters of <100 nm for which currently limited knowledge exists on the adverse effects they might have on human
health, are not addressed here [14]. Nevertheless, appropriate evaluation and regulation of nanoparticle effects on health, fostered by transdisciplinary One Health
approaches, is of great actuality in the context of the rapid developments in the field
of nanotechnology [15].
8.5.1 Physical Health Hazard Agents
Physical health hazards include noise, temperature, vibration, radiation. Exposure to
physical health hazard agents may be short or long term and can occur at home,
school, work and in the community. Among physical hazard agents, radiation is outstanding and associates with carcinogenic effects on human health. Radiation is a
natural part of our environment and as such, exposure to small doses of radiation is a
casual and constant part of our environment. Radiation is defined as energy emitted in
the form of waves or particles, transmitted through an intervening medium or space.
Depending on the capacity of removing electrons during its interaction with
atoms, radiation classifies as: ionizing (has sufficient energy to remove electrons
from atoms) and non-ionizing (cannot remove electrons from atoms). Examples of
ionizing radiation are the radon gas (naturally occurring), the X-rays and the radiation from nuclear power plants (man-made). Examples of non-ionizing radiation
include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet and visible light and radiation
from ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging devices.
Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast,
can cause acute health effects such as skin burns, acute radiation syndrome and may
lead to long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Exposure
to low levels of radiation encountered in the environment does not cause immediate
health effects, but is a minor contributor to our overall cancer risk.
8 Risks and Consequences of Hazard Agents to Human Health