Environment and Health

  Basic environmental needs are clean air, pure water, balanced food , proper clothing and decent accommodation. Population growth coupled with the exploitation and wastage of natural resources are threatening the environmental integrity inter alia affecting the health of the people.

 Health is an outcome of the interaction between people and the environment. Better environmental management is essential for sustaining the health of the people. While on one hand economic growth along with industrialization and urbanization have changed the life style of the people, overcrowding and increase in the different diseases have generated lot of problems. Heavy traffic on the road and the consequent air pollution have led to an increase in the asthma patients. Use of too many pesticides in agriculture has affected the farmers and those who consume such products.

 Environmental Health – an over view

World Health Organization (WHO) defines environmental health as comprising different aspects of human health. These are physical, chemical, biological, social and psychological factors in the environment. It also refers to the practice of assessing, correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the environment that affect the present and future generations.

 Climate and weather affects human health. Natural disasters such as floods, storms, hurricanes and earthquakes kill many people. New strategies will have to be evolved to counteract these natural disasters and mitigate the sufferings of the affected people..

 People and Environment Links

The health of the people is closely linked with the environment in different ways.

 -         Due to the consumption of contaminated water / food, many are affected by diarrhea leading to death. Untreated waste water and sewage sometimes enter water sources contaminating the drinking water. Usage of this water leads to gastrointestinal diseases. Malaria is anther epidemic caused due to unhygienic environment.

-         Living in ill-ventilated homes leads to respiratory diseases including lung cancer and tuberculosis. Motor vehicle exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke and industrial fumes also cause respiratory diseases.

-         A large number of people die every year due to road accidents.

 Remedial Steps

-Arrangements   must be made to make available clean drinking water, nutritious food, and neat and clean surroundings and habitable shelters to one and all.

-Provide clean energy sources.

-Reduce environmental pollution from industries and transportation.

-Shift agricultural patterns from usage of harmful pesticides, insecticides and herbicides to non-toxic substances.

- Control population explosion and consequent damage of natural resources.

- Poverty is closely linked to health. An inequitable sharing of natural resources should be followed.

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