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Fundamentals of Environmental Health Policymaking
Published in Barry L. Johnson, Maureen Y. Lichtveld, Environmental Policy and Public Health, 2017
Barry L. Johnson, Maureen Y. Lichtveld
Environmental factors play a central role in human development, health, and disease. Broadly defined, the environment, including infectious agents, is one of three primary factors that affect human health. The other two are genetic factors and personal behavior. Human exposures to hazardous agents in the air, water, soil, and food and to physical hazards in the environment are major contributors worldwide to disease, disability, and death. Furthermore, deterioration of environmental conditions in many parts of the world slows economic and social development. Poor environmental quality is estimated to be directly responsible for approximately 25% of all preventable ill health in the world, with diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections heading the list [15]. As discussed in Chapter 13, ill health resulting from poor environmental quality varies considerably among countries. Poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status already may be at risk.
Carcinogens and cancer
Published in Chris Winder, Neill Stacey, Occupational Toxicology, 2004
Genetic factors are inherited at conception and their control is presently not feasible. Individuals have some control over their behaviour, including tobacco use, diet, alcohol use, exposure to sunlight, sexual behaviour patterns and general personal hygiene. Environmental factors include occupational exposures to carcinogens, exposures during medical procedures, as well as factors that occur naturally or are synthetic and contaminate water, air and soil. These factors are beyond the individual’s control, and their effective control thus requires broad social action. For example, there is an obligation that employers who employ workers exposed to known or suspected carcinogens will take active steps to eliminate or minimise exposures to levels as low as practicable.
History, evolution and future of environmental health in Uganda
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2018
Rawlance Ndejjo, Edwinah Atusingwize, Frederick Oporia, Charles Ssemugabo, David Musoke, David K. Ssemwanga, Abdullah Ali Halage, John Bosco Isunju, Winnifred Kansiime, Ruth Mubeezi, Richard Kibirango Mugambe, Emery Patrice Mbaha, Paul Luyima, John. C. Ssempebwa
Environmental Health addresses all physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It involves the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health by primarily focusing on preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments.3 Such factors include air, food and water contaminants, radionuclides, toxic chemicals, wastes, disease vectors, safety hazards and habitat alterations.4 Indeed, global evidence shows that environmental factors have adverse health effects to humans5,6 ranging from infectious diseases7,8 to noncommunicable diseases such as mental health,9 cancers,10–12 and cardiovascular diseases.13,14 In 2012, 23 and 22% of global deaths and disability adjusted life years, respectively were attributable to environmental risks with nearly 35% in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.15,16 Because of this recognition, Environment Health is centrally positioned within the sustainable development goals (SDGs) with SDG 3 aiming to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages, and SDG 6 to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Several Environmental Health indicators are also present in the other SDGs.17