FWR Group Sustainability Articles
Environmental health basics
Environmental health refers to the environments impact on human health and disease. The study of environmental health ranges from research into the understanding of how organisms function to the investigation of patterns of disease in people exposed to various environmental agents. Once the fundamental mechanism of a process is understood and the toxicity of an environmental agent is known, the information can be used to determine potential human health effects and develop preventative strategies.
In broad terms environmental health relates to any health impact environmental exposure can have on humans. From foetal development to the aging process and eventual death. Environmental exposure can occur through air, water and food and can cause a range of issues in humans. Toxic exposures can come from industrial or medical waste, fertilizers and insecticides in our garden, paints and finishes in our home and even chemicals in our food and drinking water. There are many other ways that the environment can affect our health, but common problems are asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, autism, cancer and reproductive disorders.
Environmental health is also linked to a variety of other social, economic and environmental factors. Disparities in exposure to hazardous environmental agents exist along racial, ethnic and financial boundaries and can be found in all nations. Minorities and low income earners in developed countries are often forced to live in marginal land and on sites closer to industrial areas with more pollution. Government regulation of hazardous materials is often lax and basic services like clean drinking water and sewerage treatment can be lacking. This problem is not exclusive to developing countries as many Western nations have also got issues with inequality. However regulation of toxic substances is generally better regulated in developed countries.
It must also be recognised that human health is directly related to the health of the surrounding environment. The state of ecological systems, including the health of all other species and ecosystems, will reflect human health. It is therefore imperative that the health of the environment is maintained for all living creatures.
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This work by Michael Duggan is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License.
