Environmental impacts on health globally

Environmental health impacts come from the air we breathe, the water we consume, the food we eat and absorption through our skin.  Air, as well as water and food, is essential for life but if polluted with particles or chemicals it can become toxic to individuals and to the planet.  Health can also be impacted by the way to develop our physical environment; the conditions under which we live-can we walk or bike to work and school or must we use motorized vehicles. If we use coal, charcoal or wood for cooking and heating, lungs and heart can be negatively affected as well as the brains of children damaged from lead and other chemicals in the smoke.

In planning how we live and build our environment we need to consider the known and seriously suspected benefits and hazards which will impact the local area and which can often spread via air and water to distant populations.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Discuss areas where environment can negatively or positively impact health List environmental health hazards Discuss action plan for protection from environmental health hazards at the personal, local, national and international level.

Keyword(s): Air Pollution & Respiratory Health, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working in the area of public health as aprofesson , physician nationally and internationally and have presented at various conferences for the past 40 years
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3262.0: Individuals, systems, and environment: Implications for global health