Posted: April 29th, 2018

The impact of the environment on human health

The impact of the environment on human health

The environment is the physical, chemical, and biological context in which humans live, work, and play. It influences our health in many ways, both directly and indirectly. Some of the environmental factors that affect human health are:

– Air quality: The quality of the air we breathe can have a significant impact on our respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide can cause or worsen diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated 7 million premature deaths per year globally .

– Climate change: The changes in the Earth’s climate due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture can have profound effects on human health. Climate change can alter the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms, floods, and droughts, which can cause injuries, deaths, displacement, and mental stress. Climate change can also affect the availability and quality of water, food, and natural resources, which can increase the risk of malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19. WHO estimates that climate change will cause an additional 250 000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to heat stress, malnutrition, malaria, and diarrhoea .

– Water quality: The quality of the water we drink and use for domestic purposes can affect our health in various ways. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, dysentery, and polio. Water scarcity can also limit access to safe water sources and sanitation facilities, which can increase the risk of dehydration, hygiene-related infections, and exposure to human and animal waste. According to WHO, more than 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and more than 4.2 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services .

– Chemicals: The exposure to chemicals in the environment can have adverse effects on human health depending on the type, dose, duration, and route of exposure. Some chemicals are known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, neurological disorders, hormonal disruption, immune system dysfunction, and reproductive problems. Some examples of chemicals that pose health risks are lead, mercury, arsenic, asbestos, pesticides, solvents, plastics, and endocrine disruptors. According to WHO, exposure to selected chemicals results in an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year globally .

– Radiation: The exposure to radiation in the environment can have harmful effects on human health depending on the type (ionizing or non-ionizing), source (natural or artificial), level (background or occupational), and duration of exposure. Ionizing radiation can damage the DNA of cells and cause mutations that can lead to cancer or genetic defects. Non-ionizing radiation can cause thermal effects that can damage tissues or organs. Some examples of sources of radiation that pose health risks are radon gas (natural), nuclear power plants (artificial), ultraviolet rays (natural), and mobile phones (artificial). According to WHO,
exposure to ionizing radiation causes an estimated 64 000 deaths per year globally .

– Built environment: The built environment refers to the human-made structures and spaces where people live,
work, learn, play, and interact. It includes buildings,
transportation systems,
energy systems,
green spaces,
and urban planning.
The built environment can affect human health in various ways,
such as by influencing physical activity,
social interaction,
mental well-being,
injury prevention,
and exposure to noise,
light,
and heat.
Some examples of features of the built environment that can promote or hinder health are sidewalks,
bike lanes,
parks,
schools,
hospitals,
workplaces,
housing,
public transportation,
and street lighting.
According to WHO,
the built environment accounts for an estimated 3.7 million deaths per year globally due to physical inactivity,
road traffic injuries,
and ambient air pollution .

Conclusion

The environment is a key determinant of human health
and well-being.
Environmental factors can affect human health
both positively and negatively
through various pathways
and mechanisms.
Environmental health is the field of public health
that aims to prevent
and reduce
the adverse effects of environmental factors
on human health
and to enhance
the positive effects of environmental factors
on human health.
Environmental health requires a multidisciplinary
and multisectoral approach
that involves collaboration
among different stakeholders
such as governments,
non-governmental organizations,
academia,
industry,
and civil society.
Environmental health also requires a holistic
and integrated perspective
that considers the interconnections
and interdependencies
among different environmental factors
and their impacts on human health.

Bibliography

: WHO. (2024). Air pollution. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1

: WHO. (2023). Climate change and health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

: WHO. (2024). Drinking-water. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/drinking-water#tab=tab_1

: WHO. (2024). Chemicals. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/chemicals#tab=tab_1

: WHO. (2024). Radiation. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/radiation#tab=tab_1

: WHO. (2024). Built environment. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/built-environment#tab=tab_1

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