In class we created a list of the potential environmental exposures that we know about in people's homes, schools, workplaces, and in the community. While I know a lot about toxic exposures in the homes I was having a hard time thinking about concrete examples, then I started to remember all the changes I made to help reduce my seasonal allergy symptoms. I had to remove scented products and started using non-toxic cleaners. In our class discussion we started to talk about the departments managing exposures in these areas and I started to think about policy and how health in all policy is becoming more relevant to me. More specifically, I started to think about sanitation in homeless encampments and how this is a health issue due to the current housing crisis.
I like your point about sanitation in homeless encampments. I do work at a homeless shelter in South San Francisco and even though i spend time helping those people, I never really think about sanitation when they are on the streets. I think for me it is something I take for granted and don't consider, but sanitation in homeless encampments has an effect on me even though I don't live in that setting. I think it is important to remember that those issues aren't personal issues, they are public issues.
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