Environmental Health

What is Environmental Health? Environmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health. Environmental Health is the field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease. “Environment,” in this context, means things in the natural environment like air, water and soil, and also all the physical, chemical, biological and social features of our surroundings.

The man-made, or “built,” environment includes physical structures where people live and work such as homes, offices, schools, farms and factories, as well as community systems such as roads and transportation systems, land use practices and waste management. Consequences of human alteration to the natural environment, such as air pollution, are also parts of the man-made environment. The social environment encompasses lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, socioeconomic status, and other societal influences that may affect health.

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The Media of Environmental Hazards

Air, water and food are the major environmental media or vectors through which exposure to hazardous environmental agents occurs.

Environmental hazards

• The major environmental hazards and their relative importance in various environmental settings.

• Chemical agents: pesticides, VOC’S, and PCB’S

• Physical agents: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, vibration, temperature, and noise.

• Biological agents: infectious and allergic disorders Interaction between hazardous exposures and humans

• Four characteristics critical to exposure assessment:

• Route ( Inhalation, Ingestion, Dermal) • Magnitude (Concentration or Dose)

• Duration (Minutes, Hours, Days, Lifetime)

• Frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonally)

All of the environmental media are possible exposure routes, and should be considered in a risk assessment.

• Humans have access to environmental toxicants by contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, and breathing contaminated air.