Term	Definition	Prefix	Root	Suffix
Aquatic	Pertaining to the ocean		aquat	ic
Asepsis	Pertaining to absence of pathogens	a	sep/s	is
Biomedical	Pertaining to medicine and life	bio	medic	al
Biosphere	Pertaining to the earth and air	bio	sphere
Ecology	Study of environment		ec	ology
Hydrocarbon	Pertaining to hydrogen and carbon	hydro	carbon
Hydrosphere	Pertaining to water	hydro	sphere
Lithosphere	Pertaining to the earth and rock	lith/o	sphere
Mutagen	Originating mutation	muta	gen
Ultrasonic	Pertaining to sound beyond the range (of human hearing)	ultra	son	ic

^*A transition syllable or vowel may be added to or deleted from the word parts to make the combining form.

Abbreviations for Environmental Careers

Abbreviation	Meaning
CBET	Certified biomedical equipment technician
CLES	Clinical laboratory equipment specialist
CRES	Certified radiological equipment specialist
CO	Carbon monoxide
CST	Certified surgical technologist
dB	Decibel
EMF	Electromagnetic field
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
ORT	Operating room technologist
pH	Potential or partial concentration of hydrogen ions

Careers

Environmental careers create a supportive environment for the patient. Support services or ancillary health workers are necessary in all aspects of health care (Table 34-1). Most ancillary workers are not seen by the person receiving the service (Box 34-1). Many of the assistant-level environmental workers provide care in other career areas by maintaining the equipment and supplies necessary for optimal care. In addition to the specific skills and knowledge necessary in each specialty area, ancillary workers must know basic medical terminology and principles of asepsis.

BOX 34-1 Environmental Health Careers

Health equipment servicer

Industrial hygienist

Industrial safety health teacher

Medical coordinator, pesticides

Microbiologist, public health

Pollution control engineer

Public health dentist

Public health educator

Public health service officer

Safety manager

Sanitarian

Sheltered works director

TABLE 34-1

Environmental Career Educational Cost and Earnings

Career	Educational Cost*	Earnings†
Dietitian	University of Kentucky, bachelor’s degree, 128 credit hours Fees include: Tuition $4305/semester Fees $477/semester	Median annual salary: Lexington, Ky.—$51,110

^*http://www.uky.edu/Registrar/feesgen.htm.

^†http://data.bls.gov:8080/oes/datatype.do.

Nutrition Services

Dietitians provide nutritional counseling and services in a variety of settings. They supervise food operations to meet the patients’ needs and provide counseling on nutrition. Dietitians manage the nutritional services of the health care system. The goals of the dietitian include promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of illness, and assistance in rehabilitation through nutritional education and diet. Dietitians may specialize in clinical, community, management, business, education, or consulting services. Dietitians must successfully complete a minimum of 4 years in a bachelor’s degree program in dietetics, nutrition, or food systems management. Part of the dietitian program includes an internship in the health care industry. A master’s or doctoral degree is preferred in many employment opportunities. Registration is available after successful completion of an accredited program and examination.

Dietary technicians complete a 2-year associate degree program. They plan menus and supervise the production of food. Food service workers or dietary assistants prepare and deliver the meal trays to patients or prepare the dining area (Fig. 34-1). They may also help the patient select a menu and process the order. Food service workers may prepare food and beverages. Collecting the empty meal trays and washing the dishes are also duties of the food service worker. On-the-job training is available for some of the entry-level dietary positions.

FIGURE 34-1 Using the proper place setting can make food more appealing to patients.

Dietitians are assisted by others in the facility to distribute meal requisitions to patients early in the day (Fig. 34-2). The type of meal plan is determined by the physician’s order, preferences, and special needs of the patient. When the diet menus are completed, they are collected, and the amount of food portions necessary to complete the meals may be determined and prepared. In some cases, the meals may be served using “a la carte” room service. Patients are allowed to request their meals and snacks from a personal diet menu at any time. (See Skill List 34-1, Planning Menus, and Skill List 34-2, Preparing the Dining Area, p. 555.)

FIGURE 34-2 Planned meal requisitions allow a variety of food choices within the limits of the individual diet.

Weight-reduction specialists counsel patients to lose weight using dietary and activity guidelines. These individuals may be called nutritionists, dietary consultants, or weight counselors. The person giving weight-loss counseling must be outgoing, sincere, and patient. Weight-loss programs vary greatly, as do the qualifications of these specialists. Some weight-loss centers hire individuals who have gone through a weight-loss program and have had some training sponsored by the organization. Weight-loss specialists in private practice may be registered dietitians. Licensing for diet counselors is either in place or under consideration in 31 states.

The food scientist-technologist evaluates the safety of food processing and ingredients in the industry setting. This worker also develops new foods and new methods for producing known foods. Food scientist-technologists complete a minimum of 2 years of college. Bachelor’s degrees are available in the area of food technology.

Case Study 34-1

You are caring for a patient on a restricted diet for diabetes. You notice there is an empty candy wrapper in the trashcan after the family visits. What should you do?

Answers to Case Studies

are available on the Evolve website:

http://evolve.elsevier.com/Gerdin

Environmental Control

The pollution control engineer analyzes contamination problems to establish methods and equipment to prevent pollution. Engineers review data from potential sources of contamination such as industrial plants. They calculate the pollutants being produced and may recommend denial of operating permits in plants that cause excessive amounts of pollution. A bachelor’s degree is minimal for entry-level employment as a pollution control engineer.

The environmental engineer modifies facilities for environmental protection. The responsibilities include recommending methods for insect and rodent control and providing for safe disposal of radioactive waste materials. The environmental engineer researches factors concerning population growth, industrial planning, and natural environments. The duties of an environmental engineer include recommendation of equipment to meet the standards set by government agencies. A master’s degree is recommended for entry-level employment as an environmental engineer.

Industrial hygienists conduct health programs in manufacturing plants and government agencies. Hygienists identify, control, and eliminate health hazards and diseases in the workplace. Responsibilities of an industrial hygienist include collection and analysis of dust, gases, and other possibly harmful substances. Consideration is given to ventilation, radiation, noise, exhaust, lighting, and other items that may affect the workers’ health. Industrial hygienists prepare reports and recommend actions to eliminate potential hazards. Employment may be possible with a bachelor’s degree, but master’s-level preparation is preferred.

Safety engineers are employed in all work environments. They identify existing and potential hazards in conditions and practices. Additionally, safety engineers develop, implement, and evaluate methods to control hazards. Most safety engineers are employed by manufacturing, insurance, construction, or government agencies.

Health and regulatory inspectors enforce laws and regulations concerning employment hazards. Inspectors work for the local, state, or federal government. Health inspectors regulate consumer products such as food, drugs, and cosmetics. They also regulate quarantine for imported products and for people from other countries. Environmental health inspectors ensure that food, water, and air meet government standards. Health inspectors may specialize in such areas as dairy, food, waste, and air or in institutional or occupational health.

Radiation monitors, also called health physics technicians, test air, soil, water, floors, walls, and other areas of human contact for radiation. Most radiation monitors have at least 2 years of college education with a degree in nuclear technology. Most employers train radiation monitors on the job in the specific procedures used to detect radiation. Certification is available through the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists.

Ecologists analyze and regulate the quality of the environment as it is affected by living organisms. Some areas of specialization include air pollution analysis, water quality analysis, soil analysis, forest ecology, aquatic ecology, plant ecology, and animal ecology. Most ecologists work in the habitat to be studied, such as the forest, large city, ocean, and so forth. Ecologists earn a baccalaureate degree in one of the major sciences with emphasis on courses in the area of specialization. Most ecologists are employed by the government or private industry such as petrochemical companies.

Sanitarians plan, develop, and execute environmental health programs. Their work includes organizing waste disposal procedures for schools and governments and for community, industrial, and private organizations. Sanitarians set and enforce standards concerning food, sewage, and waste disposal. Bachelor’s preparation in environmental science is minimal for entry-level appointments. Advancement requires a master’s degree in public health. Sanitation engineers may be educated in civil engineering.

Environmental health technicians collect and analyze air and water samples under the supervision of the sanitarian (Fig. 34-3). Training for the environmental health care technician is available in postsecondary vocational programs. Training may also be offered in the community college and result in an associate degree. Certification is available for the environmental health technician through the National Environmental Health Association. Environmental health assistants perform routine tasks under the supervision of the sanitarian. Environmental health assistants learn on the job.