Running head: EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH 1

Effects of the Environmental Health on Human Health

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EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH 2

Effects of the Environment on Human Health

Introduction

The environment impacts human health in various ways. The association between the

health of surroundings and human well-being has been studied extensively. The ecological risks

and factors have been shown to influence human health by directly subjecting the human

population to unsafe agents and indirectly disturbing the life-sustaining ecological units. While

the precise involvement of the environmental influences to the growth and increase of the disease

may not be determined accurately, the World Health Organization approximates that “thirteen

million deaths annually are attributable to preventable environmental causes” (Remoundou &

Koundouri, 2009). This article examines how environmental health affects human health and the

associated counterarguments to the claims. Environmental health is one of the top priorities in

public health since the environmental factors adversely affect population and individual health

Climate change is posing a significant risk to human health and wellbeing and, therefore,

an emerging global concern. For instance, the change in climate in 2000 was approximated “to

be responsible for 2.4% of global diarrhea and 6% of malaria” (Remoundou & Koundouri,

2009). Moreover, environmental health researchers have also argued that the change in climate

leads to shifts in patterns of disease, making the community susceptible to various illnesses.

Change in climate disrupts the natural environment in ways that impede health and enhances

vulnerability to diseases, such as enhanced temperatures and frequent heavy rains (WHO, 2008).

In addition, the change in the climate has been associated with the wildfires, uptick in floods, and

superstorms. These impacts often lead to vulnerability to respiratory and nervous system diseases

as well as diarrhea. These resultant dangers play huge roles in the harming and degrading of

human health and wellbeing.

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Environmental health is an integrated aspect that impacts the health of the community at

large as such environmental health comprises the conditions that surround homes, schools,

workplaces, and playgrounds. These conditions are primary to human populations and their

interactions and thus influence their health. According to Regis College (2020), poor

environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status is already at risk.”

For example, factors such as litter and pollution can make residents less inclined for recreation

and exercise, thus putting the entire community at risk of diseases. Moreover, the infrastructural

aspects of the environment also impact human health. As an illustration, regions that have poorly

maintained roads exhibit increased chances of accidents that cause injuries. Besides, places with

inadequate sanitation infrastructure enhance the prevalence of disease that ultimately impact the

health of the human population.

Microbes and disease-causing microorganisms present primary concerns in

environmental health. Many microbes exist within the human body and the environment, such as

the soil, water, and air. While the majority of microbes have adverse health effects, many also

perform significant biological functions, for instance, supporting immune and digestive health:

viruses, bacteria, and fungiform the various types of microbes. Nonetheless, harmful microbes,

often known as germs or pathogens present in the environment, can cause illness to humans.

Human health is negatively affected by these microbes (Regis College, 2020). For instance, E.

coli is a type of bacteria found in the environment and foods that result in respiratory illness,

urinary tract infection, and other harmful health conditions. Moreover, other harmful microbes

can be inhaled or ingested, thus resulting in harm to human health.

Every living organism relies on their environments for materials and energy required for

the sustenance of life, for example, clean air, nourishing food, and safe environments to live in.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH 4

For the majority of human past, the advances in long life were due to enhanced access to

environmental necessities. Therefore, improvements in agriculture, water management, and

hygiene have significantly impacted human health. For instance, the unsafe drinking of water

results in a variety of communicable diseases, including schistosomiasis, gastritis, and cholera,

among other diseases. According to Resnik & Portier (2015), “approximately 350,000 children

under age 5 (mostly in the developing world) died from diarrheal diseases related to unsafe

drinking water, and approximately 1.8 billion people used drinking water contaminated with

feces.” Therefore, environmental contamination, particularly water contamination in the

environment, causes environmental health degradation, which ultimately leads to diseases. These

diseases present in drinking water consequently harm human health and wellbeing when

consumed.

On the contrary, researchers have also argued that activities that enhance human health

and prolong human life also pose adverse ecological effects. As an illustration, the production of

food results in environmental destruction from fertilizers, insecticides, soil salinization, carbon

releases from transportation, industrial manufacturing, waste generated by animals, and

overfishing. Besides, facilities of care also cause negative impacts on the environment. For

instance, hospitals utilize huge electricity as well as fossil fuels while producing medical wastes.

Moreover, to prevent particular diseases for the betterment of human health, there is a need to

damage the surroundings. For instance, “malaria was eradicated in the United States and other

developed nations in the 1940s and 50s as a result of draining wetlands and spraying DDT to kill

mosquitoes” (Resnik & Portier, 2015). Moreover, reductions in mortality caused by starvation

and disease can result in increased population, which causing stress to the surroundings in

numerous ways, for instance, increased use of fossil oils, wastes and causing pollution.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH 5

Therefore, according to the researchers, increased human health causes stress to the environment

which further enhances the poor conditions of the environment.

Conclusion

Overall, new improvements in science, industry, and technology are merging, and they

are bound to result in advantages and risks to human health and the surroundings—for instance,

nanotechnology, antibiotic resistance, plant genetic modification, and developing market for

biofuels. Moreover, prolonged issues still exist, including endangered species and ecosystem

preservation. While more developments will emerge, researchers must understand the connection

between the environment and human health. This will help solve the problem and improve

environmental health and thus result in an enhancement in human health.

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References

Brusseau, M. L., Ramirez-Andreotta, M., Pepper, I. L., & Maximillian, J. (2019). Environmental

impacts on human health and wellbeing. In Environmental and Pollution Science (pp.

477-499). Academic Press. https://sci-hub.do/10.1016/B978-0-12-814719-1.00026-4

Regis College. (2020, November 16). Eight environmental factors that affect health. Retrieved

from https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/environmental-factors-that-affect-health/

Remoundou, K., & Koundouri, P. (2009). Environmental effects on public health: An economic

perspective. International journal of environmental research and public health, 6(8),

2160-2178.

Resnik, D. B., & Portier, C. J. (2015, September 23). Environment, ethics, and human health.

Retrieved from https://www.thehastingscenter.org/briefingbook/environmental-health/

World Health Organization. (2008). Climate change and health.