MEV 018: Unit 06 – Environmental Quality and Human Health

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 UNIT 6: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH

6.0 Introduction

Human health is intrinsically linked to the quality of the environment in which people live. Environmental quality encompasses the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, and the surroundings we interact with daily. Both natural and anthropogenic (human-made) environmental changes can significantly influence health outcomes. Poor air and water quality, exposure to hazardous chemicals, climate change, and urbanization are just some of the environmental factors that can impact physical, mental, and social well-being. This unit introduces the foundations of environmental health and explores how different environmental factors affect human health across ecological and societal systems.

6.1 Objectives

After studying this unit, learners will be able to:

  • Understand the core principles of environmental health.
  • Analyze the relationship between human health and the environment.
  • Identify natural and anthropogenic environmental factors affecting health.
  • Explain how environmental quality influences population health.
  • Appreciate the importance of sustainable interaction with the environment.

6.2 Foundations of Environmental Health

Environmental health is a branch of public health that focuses on the interrelationships between people and their environment. Its foundations include:

  • Preventive approach: Identifying environmental hazards and minimizing risks before they impact health.
  • Ecological perspective: Viewing health within the broader context of ecosystems and biodiversity.
  • Interdisciplinary nature: Integrating insights from medicine, ecology, chemistry, and sociology.
  • Population-based focus: Concerned not only with individual health but also with the health of communities and vulnerable populations.

Key concerns include:

  • Sanitation and clean water supply
  • Safe food and nutrition
  • Pollution control (air, water, soil, noise)
  • Housing and urban development
  • Occupational and industrial safety
  • Waste management

6.3 Human–Environment Interaction

Humans constantly interact with their environment through:

  • Consumption (air, water, food)
  • Habitation (living conditions, urban or rural setups)
  • Production (industrial and agricultural activities)
  • Recreation (exposure to natural or built environments)

These interactions can have positive or negative health impacts, depending on how natural resources are managed and environmental risks are mitigated.

Some key examples of interactions include:

  • Air Pollution: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from traffic or industrial sources is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Water Pollution: Contaminated drinking water causes waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.
  • Climate Change: Increases vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue), heat strokes, and food insecurity.
  • Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss: Can lead to zoonotic disease spillover (e.g., COVID-19, Ebola).

6.4 Factors Affecting Human Health

Several environmental and social factors shape the health of individuals and populations:

a. Physical Factors

  • Air Quality: Pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter.
  • Water Quality: Fluoride, arsenic, nitrate contamination, and biological pathogens.
  • Soil Contamination: Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and pesticides affecting food chains.
  • Climate Conditions: Extreme heat or cold, floods, and droughts affect food production and disease patterns.

b. Chemical Factors

  • Toxic chemicals: Industrial solvents, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants.
  • Household pollutants: Cleaning agents, insecticides, and indoor air contaminants like radon or carbon monoxide.

c. Biological Factors

  • Pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites present in air, food, or water.
  • Allergens: From dust, molds, pollens causing respiratory issues.

d. Social and Behavioral Factors

  • Lifestyle: Diet, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use.
  • Occupation: Exposure to hazardous materials in industrial or agricultural settings.
  • Housing and Sanitation: Overcrowding, poor drainage, and lack of waste disposal facilities.

e. Economic and Policy Factors

  • Healthcare access, education, and public policy enforcement (such as pollution control or building regulations) significantly affect exposure levels and health outcomes.

6.5 Natural and Anthropogenic Environment

Environmental influences on health can be classified as:

a. Natural Environment

This includes factors present without human interference:

  • Climate and Weather: Heatwaves, droughts, monsoons, seasonal disease patterns.
  • Geology: Natural presence of arsenic or fluoride in groundwater.
  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Natural disease regulation, pollination, and ecological balance.

Although these are naturally occurring, poor adaptation or failure to manage them can lead to severe health consequences.

b. Anthropogenic (Human-made) Environment

Refers to human-induced changes that affect environmental quality:

  • Urbanization: Leads to overcrowding, increased pollution, and heat islands.
  • Industrialization: Air and water contamination due to emissions and effluents.
  • Agriculture: Use of pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics affecting soil and water quality.
  • Deforestation and Mining: Loss of ecological services, contamination, and displacement of populations.

Anthropogenic activities have a growing role in the emergence and re-emergence of public health crises.

6.6 Let Us Sum Up

Environmental quality is a crucial determinant of human health. The interaction between people and their environment is shaped by both natural factors (such as climate, geography, and biodiversity) and anthropogenic factors (such as pollution, industrialization, and land-use changes). Foundations of environmental health emphasize prevention and sustainability to protect populations from environmental hazards. Understanding the sources, pathways, and impacts of environmental factors can help public health professionals, urban planners, and policymakers design better interventions and mitigate health risks effectively.

6.7 Key Words

  • Environmental Health: Public health branch focusing on environment–health interactions.
  • Human–Environment Interaction: The dynamic exchange between people and their surroundings.
  • Anthropogenic Factors: Human-made environmental changes.
  • Air and Water Pollution: Contaminants affecting respiratory and gastrointestinal health.
  • Climate Change: Affects disease patterns, nutrition, and disaster frequency.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Increases risk of emerging diseases and reduces ecosystem services.
  • Environmental Determinants: External factors impacting health status.

 

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