Discuss The Environmental Factors That Affect Health

What Are the Environmental Factors That Affect Health
Health is affected by a combination of factors. The condition and environment is an important consideration when determining health. Other than the more commonly considered factors such as healthcare access, factors that have large impacts on the health of a population include the living conditions, genetics, level of education and the state of the environment. Thus, the World Health Organization has defined the determinants of health, which are the social and economic environment, physical environment, and the characteristics and behaviors of the individual.
The environment influences health in a number of ways. Human health is largely influenced by environmental factors, either directly
It has been estimated that around two million premature deaths per annum are attributed to air pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels used to generate energy and for transportation is the main cause of the change in atmospheric composition. Air pollution is a major cause of diseases and conditions such as respiratory infections and lung cancer. Being the concern of both developed and developing countries, the quality of air is constantly being researched and reviewed to provide evidence on the benefits brought upon health by the improvement of quality of air. Contact with air pollutants may occur by different routes, mainly through inhalation and ingestion, while a minor route occurs via dermal contact. Air pollutants also lead to the contamination of food and water. Irritation of the nose and throat, bronchoconstriction and dyspnoea are experienced after increased exposure to air pollutants, especially in asthmatic individuals. The risk of cardiovascular diseases such as angina or myocardial infarction increases because air pollutants produce lung irritation and cause changes in blood clotting, thus obstructing blood vessels. Climatic changes can cause temperatures to rise, affecting those with cardiovascular problem, especially in the elderly population, and respiratory diseases in the young and old
Climatic changes can be seen through increasing temperatures, precipitation changes, increase in frequency or intensity of extreme weather, and rising sea levels. Due to the changing global climate, current health problems may become amplified in the future. Health effects are already observed in the European region by WHO, due to the frequent and changing weather, and also due to changes in the geographic range of some infectious disease vectors. Increase in temperature can prolong and intensify heat waves, thus increasing the number of heat-related deaths. The risks of cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases are also likely to be increased by exposure to extreme heat. Vectors that carry diseases, or vector-borne diseases, may cause change in the pattern of the spread of disease. Climate and non-climatic factors such as access to health care, individual response to disease, and socioeconomic and cultural conditions will affect the spread of these diseases. Climatic changes also affect food safety and nutrition. For example, higher sea temperatures may lead to higher concentration of mercury in seafood. Malnutrition, spread of contagious diseases and food poisoning are attributable to changes in the climate, and the effects are more observable in developing