Problem:
Given the scenarios that you are a public health professional and have been contacted by a rural county health department. They county is home to roughly 30,000 residents and several business operations. A petroleum refinery has been operating in the county for a little over 20 years. Residents of the county have begun to express concerns about the refinery's emissions and their potential to be toxic. At a recent public hearing, many county residents spoke of fears over toxic emissions and potential adverse health effects, such as the development of childhood leukemias. In response to growing public concerns, the county has sought your assistance in investigating the situation and developing a proposal to address findings. You are tasked with gathering facts, analyzing the circumstances, and educating county leadership and the residents on findings.
Explain if the risks in the assigned scenario are best characterized as occupational exposure risks or environmental exposure risks. Justify your position.