ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

 

Five Environmental Factors that Affect Health

What is the Environment?

In simple words, the environment can be defined as everything around us. Our environment is composed of both living and non-living things, and is referred to as the biotic and abiotic components of the environment.

Biotic components

Biotic components comprise all living things, including animals, birds, microbes, plants, reptiles, and insects.

         Abiotic components

Abiotic components comprise all non-living things, including the soil, air, temperature, water, sunlight, nutrients, rocks, mountains, etc.



Environmental Factors

The environmental factors can be defined as the identifiable element within the environment that affects an organism’s survival, operations, and growth.

Environmental factors involve everything that changes the natural environment. Some elements are visible, while others cannot be seen. Air, water, climate, soil, natural vegetation and landforms are all environmental factors.

By definition, the environmental factors affect everyday living, and play a key role in bringing health differences across the geographic areas. The interaction between human and ecological factors significantly impacts human health, either directly or indirectly.

Five Environmental Factors

The primary five environmental factors which affect the health and well-being of human life are:

Pollution

Pollution is defined as introducing pollutants, organic molecules, or other unsafe materials into the Earth’s atmosphere. This can either be caused by natural events (like forest fires) or by man-made activities (like emissions from automobiles, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.)

The different types of pollution include:

    • Air pollution
    • Soil pollution
    • Noise pollution
    • Water pollution
    • Radioactive pollution

                             

Deforestation

Deforestation refers to the cutting down of trees and the destruction of forests. These can either be for human habitation and use or natural causes.

Deforestation has a tremendous negative impact on the environment. The most dramatic effect is a loss of trees and forests, which drives climate change, and several other problems have been raised for the ecosystem.

                           

Solid Waste Pollution

Solid waste pollution is also referred to as a type of pollution, along with air, water, noise and soil pollution.

Solid waste pollution refers to the improper disposal of solid waste, including garbage, construction waste, metal pieces, glass and plastic products, dead and decaying matter, solid agricultural waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, etc.



Global Warming

The phenomenon of a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and its water bodies is termed global warming. The leading cause for this environmental issue is the increased volumes of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane released by burning fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles, industries, and other human activities.

                               

Change in Climatic Conditions

There are several causes of climate change. The most significant effect on the climate is the increasing trend in the concentration of greenhouse gases and global warming in the atmosphere.

Climate change is having an adverse impact on the environment. These include the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of ecosystems.

Other than natural disasters, humans are also responsible for climate change. The burning of fossil fuels, emissions from vehicles, and industries are a few of them.

A change in the global climate includes:

    • Typhoons
    • Rising temperature
    • An average to more rainfall
    • Melting of global ocean currents and lots more.

                                     


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