Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What strategy can be used to mitigate environmental health risks?

1. Conducting random health screenings

2. Promoting urban development with less pollution

3. Implementing policies that favor hazardous waste sites

4. Reducing available green spaces

The correct answer is: Promoting urban development with less pollution

Promoting urban development with less pollution is a strategy that effectively mitigates environmental health risks by focusing on the creation of healthier living environments. This approach typically involves integrating sustainable practices in urban planning, such as increasing green spaces, improving transportation systems to reduce vehicle emissions, and ensuring that residential areas are situated away from sources of pollution like factories or highways. By developing spaces that limit pollution exposure, this strategy aims to enhance the overall health of communities, reduce respiratory and other pollution-related illnesses, and support a higher quality of life for residents. In contrast, other options either fail to address health risks or actively contribute to them. For instance, conducting random health screenings may help identify existing health issues but does not prevent environmental health risks. Implementing policies that favor hazardous waste sites could exacerbate pollution and negatively impact public health, while reducing available green spaces would diminish natural buffers against pollution and degrade mental and physical well-being. Thus, promoting urban development with less pollution stands out as a proactive measure to improve environmental health.