Humans are constantly interacting with the environment. As a result, maintaining a healthy environment is key to increasing quality of life and years of healthy life. Globally, nearly one-quarter of the global disease burden, and more than one-third of the burden among children, is due to modifiable environmental factors. (Prüss-Üstün, 2006). Environmental health hazards generally fall into one of three categories: physical, chemical, or biological. The impact an environmental hazard may have on the health of an individual can be greatly affected by the person’s genetics, life style, and their risk perceptions. The influence of poor environmental quality on health is greater in people whose health status is already at risk. Therefore, …show more content…
Of these examples, air pollution, contaminated water, and our built environment often have the greatest impact on health. Air pollution is the product of the release of harmful materials into the air. Common air pollutants include: hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and ozone. In fact, exhaust emissions from cars and trucks are the main source of most of these air-borne pollutants (Health Unit, 2000). Increased amounts of contaminants in the air can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract and increased hospital admissions for respiratory complaints. For example: a common health problem related to airborne contaminants is asthma (Health Unit, 2000). Certain types of bacteria and other organisms present in water can cause serious health problems. Hence, why it is so important for people to have access to safe drinking water. In order to ensure that water quality meets the various requirements to be drank or used for recreational purposes, there are many monitoring and testing systems put in place. The built environment refers to roads, buildings, homes, workplaces, schools, parks and business complexes. In other words, it is everything man made that has altered our natural surroundings. Well-designed cities, towns, and parks provide numerous opportunities for experiences that improve health. However, urban sprawl, unregulated industrial development and decaying public infrastructure can bring about damaging consequences such as pollution,
There are loads of different ways that we as humans affect the world and the environment we live in. Some things that we do can not only change and affect the environment but can also affect our health.
Environmental conditions can directly impact one’s health and safety. Davis explains, that primary prevention through assessments of the home and community are
An individual’s environment plays a pivotal role in their overall health. The environment can affect a range of physical and mental processes, and is considered a defining factor of well-being. As a result, specific geographic areas are instrumental in shaping an individual’s health profile. This is clearly seen in the disparity between those living in areas exposed to toxic substances, versus individuals living in clean environments. Individuals in unpolluted environments experience the advantage of a body system free from the barrage of chemical assault. Unfortunately, people who live near toxic wastes or byproducts of industry, have a body that is in constant defense of attack. This natural defense mechanism can prove
Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There
The primary health issues that come with the impact of air pollution are asthma, cardiovascular illnesses and premature mortality. These health issues are due to pollution and the poor air quality such as ozone. Thus, human health becomes a concern and issue. The individuals who are usually more vulnerable to such illnesses are the children and elderly. For example, there’s approximately 162,438 children under the age of and 258,586 adults aged 65 years and older in Riverside county that are prone to environmental health illnesses (cdph). According to UCLA institute of the Environment and Sustainability,
A copious amount of health problems can occur directly and indirectly due to pollution that could chronically impact a person, further
Environmental healthcare addresses all the chemical, physical and biological factors that are external to an individual as well as the related factors impacting behaviors. It is comprised of assessment and control of those environmental hazards that can potentially affect health leading to disease and medical conditions such as asthma and cancer (Knight, 2006). These environmental hazards such as chemical wastes have devastating effects on the quality of air, water and soil of regions affected. In my area, Orlando, Florida, there are various environmental hazards that have affected the quality of water, air and soil. According to various analysis carried out in Orlando, Florida on the quality of its air, water and soil, most of them have shown that the quality has been affected. In comparison of the recent analysis with those of past years, the quality of this matter has been
The focus of this approach is to incorporate the medical model with other approaches that consider the effects of the environment (Mellin, Hunt, & Nichols, 2011). Using this
Air pollution is the dispersion of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into the atmosphere, causing diseases, allergies and death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as animals and food crops or the natural or built environments (Brunekreef & Holgate, 2002; Nowak, Crane, & Stevens, 2006). Polluted air directly or indirectly may cause or be attributed to an increase in fatality or serious unwellness and decline humans state of health (Kampa & Castanas, 2008). For example, in Canada, the Ontario Medical Association has attributed 9500 premature deaths per year and evaluates increased costs of health care ($506.64 M) and missed productivity ($374.18) as a result of air pollution (Rowe, 2011). Thus, employment
Poor air quality is associated with some health issues from the short-term problems to severe
These pollutants are characterized as air toxics, which include lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and a variety of other chemicals. The impact of air pollution could be very serious to both the heath condition of the population, which could by extension affects the economy of the impacted community. However, this impact is directly related to the amount of pollution in the air. Health consequences from air pollution could range from eye irritation, brain and nerve damage, runny nose, cancer, heart and
Air pollution has been recognized as a major threat to environmental health, and the effects that it can have on the population are extremely varied. In the environmental aspects, air
This neighborhood is very culturally diverse and has a wide range of ages. There are both young and older families living in their neighborhood. Some aspects of the community that could affect resident's health are air pollution, aging populations, and noise disturbances. According to Health People 2020 leading health indicator for this population is environmental hazards. Some populations are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards. As a result, health disparities exist. Exposures to environmental
You can’t escape from it. Everybody has to breath, and when air isn’t clean you health is affected. Air pollution is problem of all of us. You might think that you are healthy because you eat, and do only healthy things, so you cannot be sick, or get cancer, allergies or even die. Everybody is affected by air pollution.
Air, is one of the most substantial source to mankind and our planet. While it exists, so does everything else along. However, in today’s epidemic, there has been certain factors that have increased in understanding whether the air we breathe today is healthy or not? Is it doing more harm than we thought? In other words, the health risks against air pollution have risen in the past few decades; all from what you may ask? Well, it could be for various factors and evaluations; either environmental or materialistic. Pollution is a major public health crisis in the world. (Friis, 2012). This is one of the conflicts that contribute to various aspects of an individual’s life, whether they may realize it or not. In this paper will include the sources that cause pollution with the effects it cause as well as policies on the regulation of air pollution.