NRS 429 Benchmark – Policy Brief Solution

NRS 429 Benchmark – Policy Brief Solution

People’s health depends on many factors, including lifestyles, knowledge to prevent diseases, and vulnerabilities. Among other factors, the environment has far-reaching effects on people’s health since it affects air and quality, people’s safety, and the type of food available. Living in unhealthy environments implies increased exposure to pollution and health hazards. As a result, individual, community, and government interventions are necessary to keep people safe and improve the overall quality of life. The purpose of this policy brief  paper is to analyze lead as an environmental issue, suggestions for addressing the problem, and impacts on the health care delivery system.

Policy Health Issue Description

Lead is among the naturally occurring elements not abundant on the earth’s surface. It can be found in many parts of the environment, including water, surfaces, air, and soil. Despite its many benefits, lead is highly toxic. As the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported, a significant portion of lead exposure comes from human activities such as the use of fossil fuels and coming into contact with lead compounds (EPA, 2022). Most lead compounds are common in home products, including pipes and plumbing materials, cosmetics, and paint. The abundance of lead in home products and surfaces increases the chances of lead exposure.

Regarding the population affected, all populations are at risk of lead exposure. As a result, it is right to deduce that lead is a national problem requiring a national-based approach. Children, pregnant women, and adults are affected differently. EPA (2022) posited that behaviors common in children, like putting hands and objects in the mouth, increase lead exposure in infants and children. Given that infants and children are still developing, lead exposure has far-reaching effects on the children’s physical and mental development. Adults are usually exposed to lead at work, eating and drinking food and water containing lead, and contacting painted surfaces. Pregnant women are a sensitive population since they expose the developing baby (EPA, 2022). Interventions should be multifaceted to address the issue comprehensively.

Problem Statement

At the community level, environmental issues have far-reaching effects on people’s health. They pollute the environment and increase people’s exposure to harm and poor health. Regardless of the level, lead exposure in children triggers behavior and learning problems and slows growth and development (Mayans, 2019). As a vulnerable population, pregnant women can experience miscarriages or give birth to premature babies after lead exposure. The entire baby’s body system can also be hurt, including the brain, kidneys, and nervous system (Parhoudeh et al., 2018). Cardiovascular health and reproductive problems are typical in adults exposed to lead. Such health dangers imply low quality of life and productivity. Unless communities are adequately aware of lead sources and avoid them, lead exposure will continue harming people and the environment. Increased health problems increase hospital visits, leading to a significant rise in health care costs and management.

Suggestions for Addressing Lead Exposure

Lead exposure can be addressed by creating informed communities to enhance knowledge on lead sources and avoidance strategies and through policy interventions. To create informed populations, health care professionals such as community health nurses should be actively involved in designing and implementing health education programs in communities (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019). Policies involve government Acts and regulations to minimize lead exposure at residential places. Support for water infrastructure improvements is also necessary. EPA efforts to reduce lead exposure perfectly illustrate the critical role of policy interventions. EPA engages in support programs to replace lead service lines in cities to reduce lead and other contaminants in drinking water (EPA, 2021). Other interventions include banning lead-based paints in residential areas while intensifying public education and outreach.