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What is Environmental Health and What Critical Issues Impact Our Health?

What is environmental health, areas of environmental health, global environmental health, how you can help protect and improve environmental health.

Water quality, safe housing, healthy food access, and pollution -free transportation all contribute to human health, along with many other factors. Where people live and how they're connecting to the world can affect their health. The environmental health field—with its professionals, policies, and programs—is focused on these factors.

Your health is determined by personal choices (like whether you exercise or get vaccinated ) but also factors like local industry, the age of your home, food deserts , green space in your community, and more. Environmental stressors and advantages help to shape your options.

This article explains what environmental health is and how it can affect you and your community. It describes the work done by professionals and what you can do, too, to improve environmental health.

Environmental health is the  public health  field that monitors and addresses physical, chemical, and biological factors that impact your health though they're not always within your direct control.

Simply put, environmental health is the area of public health that deals with all the different ways the world can impact physical and mental well-being. Examples of impacts include:

  • Lead toxicity (poisoning) from the paint or water pipes in older homes and neighborhoods
  • Obesity and type 2 diabetes risk in food deserts and food swamps (communities with limited access to grocery stores and healthy food options, but often home to fast food stops)
  • Cancer and the impacts of air pollution, heat, ultraviolet radiation, and other carcinogens and climate factors
  • Stress, sleep disruptions , hearing loss , and other impacts due to traffic and other environmental noise
  • Depression, cognition, and other brain health factors can be affected by green space

If you live in an urban heat island with few trees, it may be hotter than other neighborhoods— affecting a range of issues, from heat-related illness to asthma and heart disease. It's harder to get outside and exercise, too. When your home was built and the materials used, what insects live nearby, and what food you can access affect your health and the health of your family.

Environmental health is one of the largest fields within public health because of the myriad ways external forces can impact how people eat, live, and grow. These forces can be about addressing the natural environment (as in the case for clean water or sanitation), but they can also be the consequence of human beings' actions—including societal norms.

There are a number of initiatives focused on environmental health in the United States. Among them is the Healthy People 2030 agenda, which highlights six key areas that encompass the various ways environmental health is crucial to the health of communities.

Air Quality

Air is non-negotiable for humans. It's needed to survive and air quality can have a significant impact on health.

Poor air quality has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including SIDS, lung cancer , and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ). Air pollution is also linked to low birth weight.

One2019 study found that people exposed to high levels of air pollutants in the early and late states of pregnancy were more likely to have babies with lower birth weights, or with preterm births, than their non-exposed peers.

The Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act of 1970 marked the first time the federal government took responsibility for protecting the air quality for all U.S. citizens by regulating harmful emissions from things like cars and factories. The act was later expanded in 1990 to address acid rain and ozone depletion.

Water and Sanitation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 780 million people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water, and a jaw-dropping 1.7 billion (or roughly a fifth of Earth’s population) lack adequate sanitation services like clean bathrooms.

The simple act of filtering and chlorinating water systems in the United States has resulted in significant declines in once-common diseases like typhoid . Historically, clean water is responsible for the bulk of the decline in childhood mortality in the country.

The environmental health impact of safe water can't be overstated. An estimated 2,200 children die every day worldwide of diarrheal diseases linked to improper water and sanitation. The United Nations estimates a return of $4.30 in medical and social costs for every dollar spent on clean water.

Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes

Toxicology—that is, the area of science devoted to understanding how chemicals and substances can affect people and their surroundings—is an important field in environmental health. Many of the materials needed to advance industries and technology, like heavy metals or even some plastics, can also hurt the human body and even lead to serious medical conditions.

The Flint, Michigan, water crisis is an example of lead poisoning effects in a community that can lead to long-term health complications, including brain damage in children. Economically disadvantaged kids are often most affected.

The Flint crisis, which exposed more than 100,000 people to unsafe lead levels in drinking water, was a prime example of how environmental health issues often hurt those whose health status is already most at risk.

Homes and Communities

Home and neighborhoods are at the core of environmental health. When a neighborhood has a lot of violence, for example, families or older people might not go outside to exercise. When roads aren't properly maintained, it can result in more car crashes. When sidewalks are in poor condition, people may avoid walking for fear of accidents.

An emerging field of environmental health is that of food access. In neighborhoods without full-service grocery stores, people rely on convenience stores, gas stations, and fast food restaurants. This limits fresh produce options—a vital part of a healthy diet. These food deserts contribute to health disparities for low-income and minority populations especially.

Environmental health professionals are urging communities to establish public gardens where residents can grow and harvest their own fresh produce, improve access to public transportation to full-service grocery stores and farmers markets, and change zoning laws to incentivize retailers to offer healthier food options.

Infrastructure and Surveillance 

A primary piece of any public health strategy is information to identify risks and guide the resources and responses to prevent them. This includes investigating and responding to diseases—a field called  epidemiology —as well as screening for hazards and establishing surveillance programs.

Surveillance activities involve either going out and looking for particular health concerns (active surveillance) or by asking professionals in other fields, such as medicine or agriculture, to alert environmental health agencies when they encounter them (passive surveillance).

An example of this in action is mosquito surveillance and abatement activities. These programs test mosquitoes for certain things, including the presence of dangerous infections like  Zika virus , as well as monitor populations to ensure control measures are working. This information can help health officials know what to watch for in doctors' offices, direct local governments on where and how best to spray for mosquitoes, and alert the public if a mosquito-borne illness is spreading in the area.

In the coming decades, environmental health professionals are bracing for a warmer, wetter climate that will likely prompt or exacerbate threats to public health across the globe.

Disease-carrying mosquitoes can live in areas previously too cold for them to survive, upping the number of people impacted by vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria . As sea levels rise, whole coastal cities and island nations face flood risks and disease due to displacement.

Even though health outcomes have improved significantly over the past century—in wealthy nations like the United States in particular—environmental hazards and infectious diseases know no geopolitical boundaries. People today are traveling farther and more often than ever before, and conflicts in areas like Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan cause millions to flee their homes.

These increases in cross-border and cross-continental movements have the potential to threaten disease prevention efforts and overextend existing infrastructure. That's why it's crucial that countries look beyond their borders to improve the health of the global population overall.

Environmental health is supported by trained experts who assess nutrition and community health, test water for heavy metals, and do research on how rising heat might change where insects are likely to spread disease. They develop laws, policies, and programs at all levels of government.

And while environmental health doesn't focus on individual impacts and footprints, there's much you can do to help. Consider protecting environmental health and safety by:

  • Improving air quality. You can ride your bike, take mass transportation, or work from home instead of driving a car to and from work.
  • Testing for toxins. You can test for radon gas, lead paint, or heavy metal exposure in pipes to prevent toxicity. Don't forget your cooking stove, which can be a source of indoor air pollution.
  • Cooling your home. You can plant trees, install roofs designed for cooling, and make lifestyle choices (like closing off rooms or running certain appliances after dark) to limit heat impacts.
  • Promoting healthy food choices. Plant gardens, shop at local farmer's markets, join a food co-op, and consider eating less meat when opting for a diet that's friendlier to environmental health.

Keep in mind that visibility helps to drive environmental health policy. Talk with your government and local businesses about investing in environmental health to ensure every neighbor has the chance to live, work, and play in a healthy and safe community.

Environmental health professionals focus on factors like industrial air pollution, water quality, healthy food access, and safe housing that impact public health. In many cases, these factors (unlike the personal risk of genetics, for example) are preventable or can be changed to improve public health and overall health equity .

Most communities in the United States are served by environmental health agencies, whether at the local and state level or through federal authorities. You can help to improve environmental health by working closely with these professionals, local businesses, and other stakeholders.

But there's much you can do personally to make lifestyle changes, like limiting plastic waste and reducing energy use, that can limit environmental health risk both for you and the planet.

Neta G, Martin L, Collman G. Advancing environmental health sciences through implementation science . Environ Health . 2022 Dec 23;21(1):136. doi:10.1186/s12940-022-00933-0. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Sources of lead exposure .

Bevel MS, Tsai MH, Parham A, Andrzejak SE, Jones S, Moore JX. Association of Food Deserts and Food Swamps With Obesity-Related Cancer Mortality in the US . JAMA Oncol . 2023 Jul 1;9(7):909-916. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0634. 

Hiatt RA, Beyeler N. Cancer and climate change . Lancet Oncol . 2020 Nov;21(11):e519-e527. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30448-4. 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. New AAP policy, technical report offer advice on reducing harms from excessive noise exposures .

Jimenez MP, Elliott EG, DeVille NV, Laden F, Hart JE, Weuve J, et al .  Residential green space and cognitive function in a large cohort of middle-aged women .  JAMA Netw Open.  2022;5(4):e229306. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9306

Sampath V, Shalakhti O, Veidis E, Efobi JAI, Shamji MH, Agache I, et al . Acute and chronic impacts of heat stress on planetary health . Allergy . 2023 Aug;78(8):2109-2120. doi:10.1111/all.15702. 

Department of Health and Social Services. Healthy People 2030 .

Lee JT. Review of epidemiological studies on air pollution and health effects in children . Clin Exp Pediatr. 2021 Jan;64(1):3-11. doi:10.3345/cep.2019.00843

Liu Y, Xu J, Chen D, Sun P, Ma X. The association between air pollution and preterm birth and low birth weight in Guangdong, China .  BMC Public Health . 2019;19(1):3. doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6307-7

Environmental Protection Agency. Progress Cleaning the Air and Improving People's Health .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assessing access to water and sanitation .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The water people drink .

Alsan M, Goldin C. Watersheds in child mortality: the role of effective water and sewerage infrastructure, 1880–1920 .  Journal of Political Economy . 2019;127(2):586-638. doi:10.1086/700766

Center for Disease Philanthropy. Water, sanitation and hygiene .

  • United Nations. Every dollar invested in water, sanitation brings four-fold return in costs .

World Health Organization. Lead poisoning .

Brown J, Acey CS, Anthonj C, Barrington DJ, Beal CD, Capone D, et al . The effects of racism, social exclusion, and discrimination on achieving universal safe water and sanitation in high-income countries. Lancet Glob Health . 2023 Apr;11(4):e606-e614. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00006-2. 

Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Access to affordable, nutritious food Is limited in “Food Deserts” .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus .

World Mosquito Program. Explainer: How climate change is amplifying mosquito-borne diseases .

U.S. National Library of Medicine. The impact of globalization on infectious disease emergence and control: Exploring the consequences and opportunities: Workshop summary .

Environmental Protection Agency. Radon .

Kiefner-Burmeister A, Heilman CC. A Century of Influences on Parental Feeding in America . Curr Nutr Rep . 2023 Dec;12(4):594-602. doi: 10.1007/s13668-023-00499-4. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  What Is Health Equity?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental Health Services .

Healthy People.gov. Environmental Health . Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Environmental Health Topics .

By Robyn Correll, MPH Robyn Correll, MPH holds a master of public health degree and has over a decade of experience working in the prevention of infectious diseases.

short essay on environmental health

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short essay on environmental health

What is environmental health?

Examining a massive influence on our health: the environment..

We've been reporting on environmental health for 20 years. But what is environmental health? You've got questions, and we have answers.

Environmental health is a branch of public health that monitors the relationship between human health and the environment, examining aspects of both our natural and human-made environment and their effect on human wellbeing.

What is an example of environmental health?

Living near factories or heavy traffic worsens air quality and leads to health impacts on the lungs and heart.

Credit: Kouji Tsuru / Unsplash

Environmental health is a broad area of study — everything from the climate to the food we eat to the air we breathe plays into environmental health. A few specific examples include:

  • Air pollution: Living near factories or heavy traffic worsens air quality and leads to health impacts on the lungs and heart such as asthma and increased risk of heart attacks or stroke.
  • Water contamination: Drinking lead-contaminated water can cause IQ loss, behavioral issues, learning disabilities and more. Infants and young children are most at risk.
  • Toxic chemicals in consumer products: Phthalates, a class of chemicals that are widely used in consumer products, are known endocrine-disruptors, meaning they hijack your body’s hormones and can cause a wide array of health impacts including increased risk of cancer and fertility issues.

What is the role of environmental health?

The role of environmental health research is to examine areas of the environment that impact our health so that we can make personal and policy changes to keep ourselves safe and improve human health and wellbeing.

Why is environmental health important?

Credit: Viki Mohamad / Unsplash

Environmental health impacts every one of us.

We reap the benefits of clean air, clean water, and healthy soil. If our environment is unhealthy, with toxic chemicals saturating our resources and pollution abundant, then our health also suffers.

It is also an important field of study because it looks at the “unseen” influences on your health.

Many individuals may not associate their health problems with air or water quality, or with what clothes they wear, makeup and household goods they use, or food they eat.

That’s because not every example of environmental health problems are obvious: some chemicals, for example, build up slowly over time in your body: a small dose may not seem to bring harm, but repeated small doses can lead to later impacts.

  • BPA absorbed through plastic containers, cans, receipts, etc. lingers in the body and the build-up over time increases risk of cancer, diabetes, liver failure, and more.
  • PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals ’— they don’t break down and are widely used, so small exposures are frequent and contribute to immune system and reproductive damages, heightened cholesterol levels, and more.
  • Mercury from eating seafood and shellfish can impact neurological development of fetuses in the womb, and populations that regularly consume mercury-heavy seafood have shown mild cognitive impairment.

Also, individual susceptibility can differ: for example, one member of a household can experience illness, asthma, migraines, etc. from chemicals found in their water supply while another member of the same household is just fine, such as the case in a young girl’s reaction to benzene in her water from living near fracking wells.

Certain variables play a role in susceptibility and level of adverse health effects such as age, gender, pregnancy, and underlying health conditions. Studies suggest fetuses, infants and children are much more at risk to experience lifelong health problems from toxic chemical exposure.

Rate, duration, and frequency of exposure to toxic chemicals and other influences from our environment all factor into our health.

Good environmental health = good human health.

What environmental health problems affect our health?

Two women extracting from a well in Senegal.

Credit: JordiRamisa

There are many environmental health issues that affect human health. These include:

Air pollution — nine out of 10 people currently breathe air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s guideline limits for air pollution worldwide. This mainly affects people in low and middle-income countries, but in the United States, people that live in cities, or near refineries or factories, are often affected as well.

Air pollution also ramps up during wildfire season.

Read more: Breathless: Pittsburgh's asthma epidemic and the fight to stop it

Water pollution — as of 2014, every year more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. Water is the ‘universal solvent’, meaning it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid on Earth. Thus, it is too easy for toxic chemicals to enter our water supply.

Read more: Sacred Water: Environmental justice in Indian Country

Lack of access to health care — yes, this is an environmental health issue! Having an accessible health care system is part of one’s environment. Difficulty getting health care can further impact one’s health.

Poor infrastructure — from “food deserts” to lack of transportation services, living in an area with poor infrastructure can impact your health.

Read more: Agents of Change: Amplifying neglected voices in environmental justice

Climate change — climate change-induced heat waves, increased frequency and severity of large storms, droughts, flooding, etc. have resulted in health problems and even death.

Chemical pollution — chemical pollution can be sneaky: the chemicals in your everyday products, from shampoo to deodorant to your clothing to the food you eat, can directly affect your health. These chemicals are often not on the label or regulated at all.

Read more: Exposed: How willful blindness keeps BPA on shelves and contaminating our bodies

How can we improve our environmental health?

Credit: instaphotos

Educate yourself. Environmental health is a broad topic, so this can seem overwhelming. Start by taking stock of your own personal environment. Look up air pollution monitoring in your area. Get your water tested to see its chemical makeup. Evaluate the products you use in your life — personal products like shampoo and deodorant, household cleaners, air fresheners, the foods that you eat — and see what you’re bringing into your home.

Explore the Environmental Working Group's guides to check your products for toxic chemicals.

We have additional guides to help you learn more about environmental health. Find guides to plastic pollution , environmental justice , glyphosate , BPA , PFAS and more in the Resources tab at the top of our website.

As individuals we have the power to improve some of our environmental health, but there is a pressing need for systemic change and regulation on a policy level.

We’re actively working with scientists to share their research and knowledge with politicians to advocate for science-backed policy change. But we need your help. Contact your representatives to let them know that environmental health is important to you — whether it’s air pollution in your area, contaminated water, plastic pollution, food deserts in your area, or chemicals in consumer products.

Subscribe to Above the Fold , our daily newsletter keeping you up-to-date on environmental health news.

About the author(s):

short essay on environmental health

Gwen Ranniger is the former Communications and Engagement Manager at Environmental Health Sciences.

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Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Students are often asked to write an essay on Environmental Sustainability in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Understanding environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is about making decisions that do not harm the environment. It’s about preserving nature for future generations.

Importance of Environmental Sustainability

Our survival depends on the environment. If we don’t sustain it, we risk losing resources like water and air. It’s crucial for our health and economy.

Ways to Achieve Sustainability

We can achieve sustainability by reducing waste, recycling, and using renewable energy. It’s about changing our lifestyles to protect the environment.

Environmental sustainability is crucial for our future. We all need to play our part to ensure our planet remains healthy.

Also check:

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Environmental Sustainability

250 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Introduction to environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is an integral aspect of our existence, intertwined with the notion of preserving the natural world for future generations. It encapsulates the concept of stewardship, wherein we are responsible for managing the Earth’s resources responsibly and efficiently.

The Imperative of Sustainable Practices

The current environmental crisis, characterized by climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, underscores the urgency of sustainable practices. These practices aim to minimize the environmental footprint by reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting recycling. They are not merely an ethical obligation, but a necessity for human survival.

Role of Innovation in Sustainability

Innovation plays a pivotal role in environmental sustainability. Technological advancements like renewable energy, green architecture, and waste management systems pave the way for a sustainable future. They provide practical solutions to environmental problems, enabling us to balance economic growth with ecological preservation.

Individual Responsibility and Collective Action

Environmental sustainability demands individual responsibility and collective action. Each of us can contribute by adopting sustainable lifestyles, such as minimizing waste, conserving water, and reducing energy consumption. Collective action, on the other hand, involves policy changes, corporate responsibility, and international cooperation.

In conclusion, environmental sustainability is a multidimensional concept, involving the careful management of natural resources, innovative technologies, and concerted human effort. As stewards of the Earth, we must strive to ensure the sustainability of our planet for future generations.

500 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is a concept that has grown in prominence as the world grapples with the effects of climate change. It refers to the practice of using resources in a way that preserves the environment for future generations. This includes reducing waste, promoting renewable energy, and maintaining biodiversity.

The Importance of Environmental Sustainability

The significance of environmental sustainability cannot be overstated. As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for resources. This increased demand, coupled with unsustainable practices, has led to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. By practicing environmental sustainability, we can help ensure that future generations inherit a planet that is as rich and diverse as the one we enjoy today.

Principles of Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is underpinned by several key principles. First, we must recognize the finite nature of our planet’s resources and strive to use them sparingly. Second, we must work towards reducing waste and promoting recycling. Third, we must strive to reduce our carbon footprint and promote renewable energy. Lastly, we must value and protect our biodiversity, recognizing the intrinsic worth of all living things.

Challenges to Environmental Sustainability

Despite its importance, achieving environmental sustainability is not without its challenges. There is often a conflict between economic development and environmental protection, with many arguing that the latter hampers the former. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness and understanding about environmental issues, leading to apathy and inaction. Lastly, there is a lack of political will to implement and enforce environmental regulations.

Role of Individuals and Institutions in Promoting Environmental Sustainability

Individuals and institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting environmental sustainability. Individuals can make a difference by making sustainable choices in their daily lives, such as reducing waste, recycling, and choosing renewable energy. Institutions, on the other hand, can implement sustainable practices in their operations and advocate for environmental sustainability at the policy level.

In conclusion, environmental sustainability is not just a buzzword; it is a necessity for our survival and the survival of future generations. It requires a collective effort from individuals, institutions, and governments alike. By understanding the importance of environmental sustainability and the principles that underpin it, we can all play a part in preserving our planet for future generations.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Environmental Issues
  • Essay on Environmental Hygiene
  • Essay on Environmental Hazards

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Environment and health: an overview

In the 1980s biologists began to observe startling declines in frog populations around the world, even in isolated and relatively pristine environments. It appears that no single factor is responsible. Rather, the health and reproductive success of amphibians is being damaged by an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) light (because of thinning of stratospheric ozone), traces of globally distributed toxic chemicals, competition from introduced predator species and infections caused by virulent fungi and bacteria. 1 , 2 The declining health of frogs, birds and thousands of other organisms may be one of the clearest indications of environmental threats to human health. Although local environmental tragedies of climate change, species extinction and deforestation have marked every period of human history, today's environmental degradation is rapidly creating an unprecedented global crisis driven by population growth and industrialization. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

For the first time, human beings are altering the basic operations of the Earth's atmosphere, geosphere and biosphere. In a recent essay, 4 prominent biologists noted with concern that "human alteration of Earth is substantial and growing. Between one-third and one-half of the land surface has been transformed by human action; the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased nearly 30% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution; more atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by humanity than by all natural terrestrial sources combined; more than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity, and about one-quarter of bird species on Earth have been driven to extinction." 8 In 1992 the World Scientists' Warning to Humanity 9 was endorsed by more than 1600 scientists from 70 countries, among them 104 Nobel laureates, including most of the science prize recipients. The warning cited clear evidence of a growing environmental crisis. 9

Ten years ago Alexander Leaf wrote about the potential effects of global environmental change on human health. 10 This essay in CMAJ introduces a series of articles that continue Leaf's initial exploration. In each article, the authors will present a brief state-of-the-science review of their topic, an interpretation of the problem, and suggestions for medical and public health responses. The intent of the series is to examine the links between environmental change and human health and to suggest programs and policies that will protect both health and the environment. These essays do not address environmental hazards for which the association with disease is well understood, such as environmental lead poisoning, particulate and ozone air pollution, radon and tobacco smoke. Instead, these papers will focus on global environmental changes precipitated by human activity and their likely role in emerging health problems.

From a biomedical standpoint health is viewed as an attribute of the individual. The fields of medicine and public health acknowledge environmental causes of illness and assign risk to specific exposures. In the past decade, biologists, ecologists and physicians have developed the concept of ecosystem health. This idea recognizes that humans are participants in complex ecosystems and that their potential for health is proportional to the health of the ecosystem. 11 An ecosystem-based health perspective takes into account the health-related services that the natural environment provides (e.g., soil production, pollination and water cleansing) and acknowledges the fundamental connection between an intact environment and human health. 12

Environmental degradation exaggerates the imbalance between population and resources, increases the costs of development, and worsens the extent and severity of poverty. Population growth and the "corporatization" of agriculture and forestry have forced poor people onto land that is the least productive and ecologically the most fragile. In crowded or poor countrysides, people often abandon traditional and sustainable land use practices in favor of short-term survival strategies such as farming on steep slopes and living in areas threatened by flood or drought. The need for farmland, fuel wood and timber for export results in deforestation, which in turn increases soil erosion, flooding and mud slides and reduces agricultural productivity. In short, interactions between poverty, population growth and environmental degradation impede sustainable economic development and worsen population health. 13

The problems resulting from environmental change pose new challenges for traditional public health science. 14 The health effects of global change are often indirect and difficult to assess, and the quality of evidence for the health- related outcomes of global environmental change varies widely. 7 For example, the prevalence of malaria has increased worldwide, but no clear relation to climate change has been established. Similarly, exposure to UV light (especially UVB) increases skin cancer and cataract formation, but large studies across geographical areas with different levels of UV exposure have not been performed. Furthermore, the health science necessary to understand global environmental change is increasingly interdisciplinary and requires collaboration among meteorologists, chemists, biologists, agronomists, biologists and health scientists, over long periods. Organizing and funding such science is difficult. Finally, the science of global change frequently relies on computer models to suggest the direction of change, but politicians and policy-makers are loath to commit resources to predicted but unproven future outcomes.

It is important for scientists to anticipate the potential consequences of environmental change. 15 Serious environmental problems are often unknown or unrecognized. The stratospheric ozone hole produced by chloroflurocarbons, although anticipated, was discovered by accident. 16 At the time of the first major international conference on the environment, held in Stockholm in 1972, global warming, acid rain and tropical deforestation were not recognized as major problems. Explanations of the decline in amphibian populations, cancer outbreaks in fish and the bleaching of coral reefs are still inadequate today. Furthermore, change in natural systems may be sudden and nonlinear. For example, fish populations that have remained stable during long periods of intense harvesting may suddenly collapse.

Global environmental issues at this special moment in history are unique in their scope and consequences, and discussion of them may be emotionally and politically charged. 17 Global change may seem so remote from our daily lives that we become indifferent to the litany of environmental apocalypse. We may not perceive the actual degradation of the Earth. 18 Some of us distance may ourselves from the discussion because we find it frightening or overwhelming As a result, policy-makers and politicians are not pressed to confront the consequences of the continuing expansion of human enterprise. For example, climate change produced by the accumulation of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, seems increasingly certain. The 1995 second report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that "man's impact on climate is discernible," and many climate scientists believe that we are already experiencing global warming effects. 19 But it is difficult for us to acknowledge that industrial carbon dioxide — invisible, odourless and nontoxic — is a pollutant. International political leadership has only recently begun to seek solutions to the global issues of climate change, toxic pollution, species loss and deforestation.

Two recent developments have drawn renewed attention to the health risks of persistent organic pollutants (also known as POPs): the identification of medical waste as a significant source of toxic pollution and the emergence of the new toxicological field of endocrine disruption. Medical waste incineration is a major source of the dioxin and mercury released into the environment. Almost all humans have measurable residues in their tissues of chlorinated hydrocarbon chemicals, including pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin. In some cases these levels approach the threshold of public health concern. 20 Pressured by advocacy organizations, the health care industry has begun efforts to better manage medical materials and waste. The second development is the emerging toxicological field of endocrine disruption. Endocrine disruptors are a class of chemicals, including many of the persistent organic pollutants, that imitate or block hormones. These chemicals produce a variety of reproductive and neurodevelopmental disturbances in wildlife, laboratory animals and humans, often at very low doses. Endocrine disruption, currently the object of renewed study by government, industry and academia, offers a new toxicological paradigm that may supplement carcinogenesis as the outcome of concern. 21 , 22

Public concern about environmental degradation in both rich and poor nations is developing into a broad environmental health movement. 23 But to argue, as some do, that the quality of human existence is improving because life expectancy is increasing and child mortality is decreasing in many parts of the world is to miss what McMichael has called the "essential newness" of environmental change. 14 The carrying capacity of the Earth may appear adequate at this moment in history, particularly for those of us in affluent countries. Economic development and improved access to public health programs have produced expected improvements in less developed countries. Although the world's population has increased fourfold in the last 150 years, the food supply has kept pace. But can we support another approximate doubling of the population by 2050, from 6 billion to 10 or 12 billion, the high-fertility forecast by the United Nations? 24 Will the food supply remain adequate? What are the health consequences of global warming and climate change? 25 What are the consequences of loss of biodiversity, forests and marine life? 26 Science has only begun to address these questions.

To protect the health of populations we must develop systems of food, energy and industrial production that can be sustained over generations. We also need value systems of stewardship, precaution and prevention to guide environmental protection and health promotion. Finding solutions to the threats posed by environmental change is the major health challenge of the next century. 27 , 28

Dr. McCally is with the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Organization of the series "Environment and Health" was supported by a grant from the Jennifer Altman Foundation.

Correspondence to: Dr. Michael McCally, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York NY 10029; fax 212 360-6965; [email protected]

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Environmental Health

ISSN: 1476-069X

short essay on environmental health

Essay On Environment and Human Health

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This essay examines how the environment affects human health and how humans can take steps to improve their health by protecting their environment. It looks at the importance of clean air, water, and food for human health, and how environmental pollution can have a negative effect on human health. It also explores the potential of natural remedies to improve the health of both humans and the environment.

Environment and human health are closely related. The environment we live in has a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. We depend on a healthy environment to provide us with the food, water and air we need to survive. If our environment is polluted or damaged, it can lead to poor health and illness. We can help protect our environment and our health by taking steps such as reducing our use of chemicals, recycling, and conserving energy. By doing these things, we can help reduce air, water, and soil pollution. We can also protect our environment from further damage by reducing waste and using natural resources responsibly. It is also important to make sure that the food we eat is safe and healthy. Eating foods grown without pesticides or chemicals can help reduce our exposure to chemicals that can harm us. It is also important to support sustainable farming practices to help preserve our environment for future generations. Finally, we can take steps to protect our environment and our health by educating ourselves and others about the importance of protecting our environment. We can also get involved in local initiatives that help to protect our environment and our health. By protecting our environment, we will be protecting our health and the health of generations to come.

FAQs Related to Essay On Environment and Human Health

1. what is the relationship between environment and human health.

The relationship between environment and human health is very close and complex. Our environment can have a significant impact on our physical, mental, and emotional health, both directly and indirectly. For example, air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, including asthma, lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis.

2. What are the environmental factors that can cause disease?

Environmental factors that can cause disease include exposure to toxins such as air pollution, water pollution, and chemicals; ultraviolet radiation; physical agents such as noise, radiation, and extreme temperatures; and biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and overcrowding can also contribute to the risk of developing certain diseases.

3. What are the most common environmental health hazards?

The most common environmental health hazards are air pollution, water pollution, lead poisoning, exposure to hazardous chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, and indoor air pollution.

4. What are the health effects of air pollution?

Air pollution can cause numerous health effects, including asthma, respiratory irritation, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Long-term exposure to air pollution can also lead to decreased life expectancy.

5. What are the health effects of water pollution?

Water pollution can cause numerous health effects, including digestive problems, skin irritation, reproductive problems, and neurological problems. It is also linked to cancer and can contaminate drinking water supplies.

6. What is indoor air pollution and what health effects can it cause?

Indoor air pollution is caused by the presence of hazardous particles and gases, such as radon, formaldehyde, and asbestos, in the air. It can cause a range of health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems, as well as cancer.

7. What are the health effects of poor nutrition?

Poor nutrition can lead to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and anemia. It can also lead to weakened immune systems, cognitive impairment, and stunted growth.

8. What are the health effects of exposure to natural disasters?

Exposure to natural disasters can lead to physical and psychological health problems, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

9. What are the impacts of environmental pollution on human health?

Environmental pollution can have a variety of negative impacts on human health. These can range from short-term illnesses such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea to more serious long-term conditions such as respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease.

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Essay on Environment for Students and Children

500+ words essay on environment.

Essay on Environment – All living things that live on this earth comes under the environment. Whether they live on land or water they are part of the environment. The environment also includes air, water, sunlight, plants, animals, etc.

Moreover, the earth is considered the only planet in the universe that supports life. The environment can be understood as a blanket that keeps life on the planet sage and sound.

Essay on Environment

Importance of Environment

We truly cannot understand the real worth of the environment. But we can estimate some of its importance that can help us understand its importance. It plays a vital role in keeping living things healthy in the environment.

Likewise, it maintains the ecological balance that will keep check of life on earth. It provides food, shelter, air, and fulfills all the human needs whether big or small.

Moreover, the entire life support of humans depends wholly on the environmental factors. In addition, it also helps in maintaining various life cycles on earth.

Most importantly, our environment is the source of natural beauty and is necessary for maintaining physical and mental health.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of the Environment

The environment gives us countless benefits that we can’t repay our entire life. As they are connected with the forest, trees, animals, water, and air. The forest and trees filter the air and absorb harmful gases. Plants purify water, reduce the chances of flood maintain natural balance and many others.

Moreover, the environment keeps a close check on the environment and its functioning, It regulates the vital systems that are essential for the ecosystem. Besides, it maintains the culture and quality of life on earth.

The environment regulates various natural cycles that happen daily. These cycles help in maintaining the natural balance between living things and the environment. Disturbance of these things can ultimately affect the life cycle of humans and other living beings.

The environment has helped us and other living beings to flourish and grow from thousands of years. The environment provides us fertile land, water, air, livestock and many essential things for survival.

Cause of Environmental Degradation

Human activities are the major cause of environmental degradation because most of the activities humans do harm the environment in some way. The activities of humans that causes environmental degradation is pollution, defective environmental policies, chemicals, greenhouse gases, global warming, ozone depletion, etc.

All these affect the environment badly. Besides, these the overuse of natural resources will create a situation in the future there will be no resources for consumption. And the most basic necessity of living air will get so polluted that humans have to use bottled oxygen for breathing.

short essay on environmental health

Above all, increasing human activity is exerting more pressure on the surface of the earth which is causing many disasters in an unnatural form. Also, we are using the natural resources at a pace that within a few years they will vanish from the earth. To conclude, we can say that it is the environment that is keeping us alive. Without the blanket of environment, we won’t be able to survive.

Moreover, the environment’s contribution to life cannot be repaid. Besides, still what the environment has done for us, in return we only have damaged and degraded it.

FAQs about Essay on Environment

Q.1 What is the true meaning of the environment?

A.1 The ecosystem that includes all the plants, animals, birds, reptiles, insects, water bodies, fishes, human beings, trees, microorganisms and many more are part of the environment. Besides, all these constitute the environment.

Q.2 What is the three types of the environment?

A.2 The three types of environment includes the physical, social, and cultural environment. Besides, various scientists have defined different types and numbers of environment.

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Essay on Environmental Pollution: 100 Words, 200 Words

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  • Aug 31, 2023

essay on environmental pollution

One of the biggest risks to life as we know it is environmental degradation. The water we drink, the air we breathe, and the ecosystems on which we depend are all impacted by pollution. People, animals, and plants will decline if pollution levels continue to rise since they won’t be able to adapt to a significantly altered environment. Are you struggling to write an essay on environmental pollution? If the answer is yes, then this blog will help you get some ideas to write an effective essay. Keep reading further to know more!

This Blog Includes:

Essay on environmental pollution – 100 words , essay on environmental pollution – 250 words , essay on environmental pollution – 500 words .

The presence of contaminants in the environment is referred to as pollution. Gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO), among others; solid pollutants like plastic, sewage, etc.; and chemicals like fertilisers, as well as those produced as byproducts in manufacturing, transportation, etc., are a few examples of polluting substances.

The immediate result of pollution is that it makes the world’s natural resources useless or toxic to use, as well as leads to the extinction of species and ecological imbalance. To stop more harm from occurring to the earth and its inhabitants due to environmental pollution, it is imperative to take proactive precautions.

Also Read: Essay on Pollution in Hindi 

When undesired elements, or pollutants, are present in the environment, it is said to be polluted. The environment is severely harmed by pollution, which poses a direct threat to it. Although the world has begun to understand the importance of addressing pollution if the planet and its biodiversity are to be conserved there is still a long way to go.

Everything that makes up the environment, including the air, water bodies, flora, and wildlife, is impacted by pollution in one way or another. There are four main types of pollution – Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Noise Pollution and Soil or Land Pollution . Additionally, pollution contributes to global issues including acid rain, global warming, and greenhouse gas consequences. A rise in the planet’s average surface temperature is referred to as global warming, and it causes starvation, floods, and droughts.

Environmental pollution has a wide-ranging impact. In addition to the current effects of pollution, a lack of effective pollution prevention measures also imperils the future of various species. The pollution is causing harm at a far faster rate than it can be healed. Reversing the environmental harm we have caused could take generations, and even then, it won’t be simple. It will require tight discipline and commitment to stop pollution.

The best ways feasible are being used by various nations to respond to these catastrophes. More efforts are being launched to raise public awareness about the dangers of pollution and the importance of preserving our ecosystem. Greener lifestyles are gaining popularity; examples include using wind and solar energy, new climate-friendly cars, and energy-efficient lighting. 

Also Read: Environmental Conservation

Pollution is the term used to describe the entry of pollutants into the environment. Noise, water, and air pollution are only a few of the several types of pollution. There is a direct relationship between the rise of pollution levels and illnesses among people. Therefore, it is important for everyone to be knowledgeable about pollution, its impacts, and effective ways to eliminate it. Our environment needs a balanced combination of all components, just like our body requires a balanced diet. The environment is polluted by any substance that is present above that limit for example rise in the levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes harm to human health due to poor air quality. 

All forms of pollution, whether in the air, water, soil, or noise, have a negative impact on living things. Deadly diseases that are brought on by the contamination of soil, water, air, or sound affect organisms.

Among the most common disorders brought on by air pollution are acute lower respiratory infections in children, ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Air pollution is a major contributor to a number of ailments in India, including strokes, bronchitis, heart attacks, lung diseases, cancer, and early mortality from heart disorders. The most pressing issue in the world now is global warming, which is caused by air pollution.

Around the world, poor drinking water quality is the reason behind 50% of child deaths and 80% of illnesses, including more than 50 different diseases. Water pollution causes diarrhoea, skin diseases, malnutrition, and even cancer, as well as other issues that are related to it.

 Every day, noise pollution has an effect on millions of people. The most frequent result of this is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Loud noises have the potential to cause stress, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep difficulties. Children in particular are prone to these health issues across the board in terms of age groups. Noise pollution is extremely harmful, and it’s especially deadlier for people with heart issues. 

Use of the 3Rs, or reduce, reuse, and recycle, is the first step in reducing pollution. People should use air conditioners less since they generate noxious gases, such as ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which will minimise air pollution.

Reducing the number of vehicles on the road will also help to clean up the planet’s air. The more often cars are used, the more dangerous chemicals like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons that contribute to major air pollution are released into the atmosphere.

Increasing public awareness is a further means of reducing pollution on Earth. Through programmes like the “Go Green” campaign, which urges people to plant more trees and use recyclable materials in their daily lives, awareness can be raised about the significance of eliminating pollution on Earth. The “Earth Hour” is another globally recognised event that calls for everyone to turn off all lights for one hour in order to raise awareness of the significance of reducing electricity usage in order to minimise pollution on Earth.

The government’s obligation to maintain national laws is one way to reduce pollution on Earth. Offenders should be subject to harsh penalties, such as increased fines and longer prison terms, which will force them to reconsider their influence on the environment and serve as a message to those who are not currently involved but who might be in the future.

Must Read: Essay on Pollution: Elements, Type, Format & Samples

Light Pollution  Radioactive Pollution  Soil Pollution  Water Pollution  Air Pollution  Thermal Pollution  Noise Pollution 

Mentioned below are some of the ways to control environmental pollution:  Walk or ride a bicycle to work instead of driving. While replacing a car go for a fuel-efficient vehicle.  When leaving the room turn off the lights and television to save energy.  Buy energy-efficient appliances. 

There are many things that cause pollution such as by-products of coal-fueled power plants, vehicle emissions, fumes from chemical production, etc.  

We hope you got some ideas to write an effective essay on environmental pollution. To read more informative articles like this one, keep following Leverage Edu . 

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Short Essay on Environment and Human Health

Long and short essay on environment and human health in english for children and students.

short essay on environmental health

Life on this planet is interconnected. Nothing is isolated and everything has an impact on everything else. With concerns about climate change looming and becoming more immediate, we need to understand how our environment and health are connected.

Long and Short Essay on Environment and Human Health in English

Below you will find some essays on environment and human health that can help you in your examinations/assignments. Select any environment and human health essay you need from the ones given below.

Short Essay on Environment and Human Health – Essay 1 (200 words)

Introduction

Human health is defined as the state of well-being with regards to the mental, physical and social aspects of the human condition. A person cannot be called healthy merely because of the absence of disease; he or she needs to be doing well in all ways to actually qualify as healthy. Many factors play a role in determining our health – biological, nutritional, psychological and chemical. These factors can be influenced by internal and external conditions. Externally, the biggest factor that influences our health is our environment.

Environment and Human Health

Our environment isn’t merely the air we breathe, although that is a major component; it ranges from the water we drink to the soil we grow our food in to the sounds and noises in our surroundings. Each part affects us and thereby our health. With emissions from vehicles, factories and fires, our air supply is full of toxic chemicals that present the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and asthma. The food we eat is covered in pesticides that make soil less fertile and can be carcinogenic for us. The human body needs water to survive but our water sources are full of human and industrial wastes that create serious health issues.

We need to remember that we have to live in synergy with our environment. What we put out in it will come back to us. Unless we do something now, the earth will very soon no longer be a habitable planet.

Essay on Health and Environment – Essay 2 (300 words)

Human tendency has always been to subjugate our surroundings. We take pleasure in conquering and reshaping our environment as though it is beneath us and we are supreme. However, the simple truth is that humans are as dependent upon the environment as any other animals on the planet for our continued well-being. Therefore, if we harm our environment, we harm ourselves.

Health and Environment

Our physical, mental and social well-being is dependent upon our surroundings. What we put into the ecosystem is eventually cycled back to us. The pollutants we discard into this ecosystem find their way back through the air we breathe, the food we consume and the water we drink. Since we discard these pollutants because they are harmful to us, it follows that when we inadvertently consume them afterwards, they will still have harmful effects on our health.

Problems with this have been going on for quite some time. We use pesticides on our food crops because the chemicals kill the pests that could destroy the crops. However, those pesticides remain on the food when we consume them causing health problems ranging from skin problems to cancer. The pesticides also reduce the fertility of the soil ensuring that the next crop isn’t as bountiful.

Similarly, we discard human and industrial waste into whatever water body is conveniently close. But we also use the same water bodies for drinking water. Water pollution leads to diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, lead poisoning, polio and arsenicosis amongst others. The air is also polluted by all the gaseous emissions our activities release. Ranging from smoke from fires to emissions from vehicles and industries, these pollutants cause respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis and can even result in lung cancer.

Environmental scientists have been raising the alarm for some time, but things are very critical now. Our unchecked activities have had adverse effects on the ecosystem and some of that damage is now irreversible. If we do not step up to the plate, we will render the earth uninhabitable very soon.

Essay on Environment Affects Humans Health – Essay 3 (400 words)

As per the definition by WHO, “human health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”. This well-being does not happen in isolation; it is affected by internal as well as external factors. Internal factors include issues inside the human body such as immune deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and genetic or congenital disorders.

External factors generally include three types of health hazards: physical hazards such as ultraviolet and radioactive radiations, noise pollution, carbon monoxide and CFCs; chemical hazards such as industrial effluents, heavy metals, pesticides and fossil fuel combustion; and biological hazards such as parasites, bacteria and viruses.

This clearly means that our health is, to a great extent, dependent upon our environment and the environmental factors that affect human health are mostly created by humans. What we release into our eco-system eventually finds its way back to us.

How Environment Affects Human Health

Since we are completely dependent on the environment to survive, it is safe to say that any changes to the environment will impact human well-being. However, the actual relationship between these two is more complex than we believed and isn’t always easy to assess. The most obvious impacts that we have seen are from deteriorating water quality, air pollution and unsanitary conditions. Radiation poisoning too has deadly consequences for human health.

The response to these issues has been an overall attempt to clean up our ecosystem. While that has worked for some countries, mostly in the developed world, it hasn’t been applied thoroughly in the developing countries of the world. Bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries have managed to address some of the more immediate concerns such as the emission of CFCs into the atmosphere and the damage done to the ozone layer by them.

The corporate world is also trying to lessen its carbon footprint and turning to ‘green’ solutions. However, there are many concerns that have yet to be addressed and are spiralling out of control such as biodiversity; on an average, one species dies out every day. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a proper supply of food so that the world doesn’t starve.

We are simply too well-woven into our surroundings to be immune to the effects of any changes in those surroundings. The problem is that because the relationship between health and environment is complex, we aren’t motivated to make major changes; we’re waiting for irrefutable evidence. By the time we do get it, it might be too late.

Essay on Healthy Environment Healthy Life – Essay 4 (500 words)

We are aware of the complex strands that bind us to our environment. We have already started noticing the difference in our health and how it is related to what we do to our environment. However, a point to consider is that if a bad environment can cause harm to human health, a good environment can actually nurture it.

Unhealthy Environment Unhealthy Life

A report jointly published by the United Nations Environment Programme, the WHO, the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel conventions states that in the year 2012 alone, approximately 12.6 million people lost their lives due to conditions brought on by environmental pollution. UNEP also estimates that environmental degradation is behind 25 percent of all human diseases.

Environmental Pollution Impact

While environmental pollution may have an impact on everyone, research has shown that there are certain demographics that are more vulnerable to its effects – the young, the poor, women, the migrant workers and the elderly. In addition, diseases such as Ebola, Zika and SARS are emerging every few months and spreading because of overpopulation, too much livestock and the resultant environmental impact.

In order to stop the spread of these diseases, healthy ecosystems are essential. While tackling these diseases, such ecosystems can also bring about economic development, reduction of poverty, fewer risks to human well-being and the security of knowing that resources will not run out.

Mental Health

Increasingly, studies conducted on mental health are relating good mental health with exposure to nature. These studies have linked reduction of the symptoms of anxiety and depression and lowered stress levels to the presence of green space close by. In fact, people who moved to urban areas that are greener were seen to have improved mental health.

Water Contamination Impact

This is another example of environmental pollution affecting those in the lower economic strata. In countries where the income levels are middle to low, unavailability of clean water is responsible for 58 percent of the diarrhoea cases. Contaminated water and poor hygiene and sanitation are responsible for the deaths of around 3.5 million people. They also cause the premature deaths of around 25 percent of children younger than 14 years of age.

Approach to Resolution

There are several areas of immediate concern, based on the connection between poor human health and environmental degradation. Some of them are:

  • Ecosystems that have degraded and natural systems on earth that are under pressure, which are more likely to cause disasters such as disease outbreaks, scarcity of food and natural disasters.
  • Insufficient sanitation, poor hygiene and unsafe water that are the causes of deadly diseases, poor mental health and even hit economic productivity badly.
  • Poor nutrition combined with dropping levels of physical activity, leading to the spread of non-communicable diseases.

Directly or indirectly, a healthy environment means healthy people. This is not to say that disease and malnutrition will be eliminated entirely but the incidences of these occurrences will reduce and millions of human lives will not be lost every year.

Long Essay on Impact of the Environment on Health – Essay 5 (600 words)

Human health or human well-being is affected by two main factors – individual traits or internal factors and ecological well-being or external factors. However, most of the time, when research is conducted on the human health condition, these two factors are investigated in isolation from each other. If one truly wants to answer the question – how does the environment affect individual health – one has to look at both factors in tandem. This becomes especially important now in light of climate change warnings and governmental indifference to them.

Impact of Environment on Health

The drawback with health related environmental studies or environment related health studies being conducted, especially those in the West, have narrowed their focus to concentrate on specific allergenic, infectious or toxic agents. They aren’t focusing on broader issues that cover psychological and social impacts too.

Some researchers agree that when studying human health it is important to take into account the impact of the environment of the people being studied. That impact can be seen in the fact that health inequalities exist as per the geography. In fact, health is impacted by the social and physical environment.

Additional research has also shown that there is a direct relationship between people’s mental health and the prevalence of green spaces; the more proximity to the green space, the better the mental health.

Socio-economic Differences in Environmental Impact

That the environment and human health are intertwined cannot be denied. However, that relationship works out differently in different places. In other words, depending upon where you are in the world, the immediate health concerns and the environmental factors affecting those concerns can be varied.

Developing countries tend to focus more on issues such as infant mortality, malnutrition and infectious diseases. The immediate environmental concerns in these countries are sanitation, hygiene, mining, ore processing, oil production and water quality. However, when one looks at developed nations, health concerns revolve around issues such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease. These countries have economies built around industries and those industries do not dispose off their hazardous wastes responsibly, thereby contaminating nearby water bodies and soil.

Considering these factors, it is no wonder that emphasis is placed more on the diseases than on the causes behind those diseases. The causes vary; the diseases may not necessarily do so.

Examples of Environmental Impact on Health Globally

Unfortunately, there isn’t any part of the globe that is free of environmental damage, not even the Polar Regions. If one goes looking, one will almost always find health concerns related to those environmental issues. It doesn’t help that countries such as China and India are developing very quickly. Their pace is such that environmental concerns aren’t being able to keep up with development.

Untreated human waste, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff and just plain old dumping are playing havoc with the ecology in both countries. Then there are the eastern European countries, many of which are former Soviet Union states. Over the past decades, hazardous waste such as heavy metals and nitrates were dumped without any plan or precaution. The result is badly contaminated ground water and surface water, not to mention the lowered quality of soil.

Some action is being taken finally where in such regions are being identified and efforts have been made to remediate, reclaim and restore the soil and surface water in such places; the effort comes too late, however, for the population that has already been exposed to these contaminants.

If one really wants to know what the environmental impact on health looks like, they need to stop looking at it in terms of discrete bubbles. They must study health disorders from an individual as well as an environmental perspective.

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Environmental Health and Safety Problem Solution Essay

The need for waste management is essential in assessing the requirements for properly managed waste in a community. Needs assessment process would involve checking the existing waste management strategies, identifying the areas of importance, focusing on the critical needs, and identifying possible solutions. Waste management involves supervising the gathering, ferrying, processing, discarding and recycling of waste materials formed by human activity.

If this waste is not well managed, it can be a threat to humans and the environment in general. Thus, needs assessment for managing waste would be conducted by observing the methods that can be used to control the negative effects of waste. Waste is classified into four classes namely solid, liquid, gaseous, and radio active. Each of these four classes has its own methods of discarding.

To begin with, observation of how landfills are managed is essential in assessing the need for waste management. Landfill is whereby waste is collected and buried in an isolated piece of land that is relatively far from residential areas such as quarries. The waste is then compacted and covered in order to keep rodents away and keep the waste intact. This is the cheapest method of discarding waste but its effectiveness relies on how the dumping site is planned and run.

There are several problems that are associated with landfills. Lemann (2008) argues that if the landfill is not planned well, it might attract rodents such as rats and mice and also debris from the dumpsite might be blown by wind into residential areas. Secondly, these dumping sites generate a gas that contains carbon dioxide and methane which is produced by decaying organic matter.

This gas has a fowl odor and does not support plants life. This gas can be extracted using perforated pipes and then burnt to generate electricity. Thus, without proper management of landfills in a community, the community is deemed to be affected by waste.

Another method of waste management that can be assessed is incineration. Incineration is the most appropriate method of discarding solid, liquid and gaseous waste. Its best suited for places where land is inadequate. In this method waste is discarded by burning or by exposing the waste matter to high temperatures referred to as thermal treatment. The waste is usually put in a furnace where it is burned to produce gas which is then used to produce electricity.

Recycling involves collecting waste bins and ferrying them to a recycling center. Once they arrive at the recycling center, they are graded according to the materials that are used to manufacture them. This is to ensure that waste that is made from a common material can be remanufactured to make new goods. Good examples of products that can be reused are aluminum cans, plastic beverage containers, computers, glass jars, PVC and papers.

Involving the Community in Needs Assessment Process

Biological reprocessing.

This is one of the methods that can be used to involve the community in needs assessment process. Organic waste for example food bits and pieces, plants and papers is reprocessed using biological absorption and composting to decay the organic waste which is then used as manure (organic fertilizer) in farms.

This process is used to increase the process of decaying the organic matter. During this process methane is extracted and is thereby used in producing electricity. This method has been found to be more efficient than the other methods of discarding waste.

Energy Retention

The energy contained in waste material can be recaptured by converting them into other forms of fuel. This means that the waste material can be used in homes as fuel for cooking food and also the gas that is obtained from decaying matter can be used as fuel in boilers that produce electricity in turbines.

The process of extracting this gas from organic waste is called gasification. The waste material is put into boilers that are tightly sealed to create high pressure. The boilers are then heated at very high temperatures which in return change the form of the waste from solid to liquid and lastly gas. The gas and the liquid are reprocessed to produce energy while the solid material is converted to active carbon.

Methods of Avoiding Accumulation of Waste

According to Vaughn (2009), there are several ways through which accumulation of waste can be avoided. The first one is by adopting the habit of continuous use of items that had been used previously. To add on to that all households and organizations should be encouraged to repair their broken items instead of replacing the item with a new one. By doing this, all dustbins will remain empty.

Manufactures too can contribute to avoiding accumulation of waste by coming up with products that can be reused. For instance plastic shopping bags should be replaced by cotton bags because cotton can be reprocessed to make another shopping bag.

Consumers can also participate in this campaign by not using disposable products such as plastic knives, plates, spoons and forks. Manufacturers should also use light materials in their products for instance in telecommunications industry lighter phones are more preferred than bulky ones because they are easy to carry around.

All companies that manufacture goods for local and external markets should be held accountable for the lifecycle of their goods from the time they are manufactured till they are fully exhausted. Individuals or organizations that will be found polluting the environment should be made to compensate for the damages they cause to the environment.

In conclusion, the pollution of air and water by discarding toxic materials and also polluting the soil by deforestation and emitting toxic gases that damage the ozone layer contribute to global warming which poses a great threat to human lives and those of other living things on planet earth.

Lemann, M.F. (2008). Waste Management . Switzerland: Peter Lang AG, International Academic Publishers.

Vaughn, J. (2009). Waste Management . Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, Inc.

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Essay on Environment and Human Health in English for Children and Students

short essay on environmental health

Table of Contents

Life on this planet is interconnected. Nothing is isolated and everything has an impact on everything else. With concerns about climate change looming and becoming more immediate, we need to understand how our environment and health are connected.

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Long and Short Essay on Environment and Human Health in English

Below you will find some essays on environment and human health that can help you in your examinations, assignments. Select any environment and human health essay you need from the ones given below.

Short Essay on Environment and Human Health – Essay 1 (200 words)

Introduction

Human health is defined as the state of well-being with regards to the mental, physical and social aspects of the human condition. A person cannot be called healthy merely because of the absence of disease; he or she needs to be doing well in all ways to actually qualify as healthy.

Many factors play a role in determining our health – biological, nutritional, psychological and chemical. These factors can be influenced by internal and external conditions. Externally, the biggest factor that influences our health is our environment.

Environment and Human Health

Our environment isn’t merely the air we breathe, although that is a major component; it ranges from the water we drink to the soil we grow our food in to the sounds and noises in our surroundings. Each part affects us and thereby our health. With emissions from vehicles, factories and fires, our air supply is full of toxic chemicals that present the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and asthma. The food we eat is covered in pesticides that make soil less fertile and can be carcinogenic for us. The human body needs water to survive but our water sources are full of human and industrial wastes that create serious health issues.

We need to remember that we have to live in synergy with our environment. What we put out in it will come back to us. Unless we do something now, the earth will very soon no longer be a habitable planet.

Essay on Health and Environment – Essay 2 (300 words)

Human tendency has always been to subjugate our surroundings. We take pleasure in conquering and reshaping our environment as though it is beneath us and we are supreme. However, the simple truth is that humans are as dependent upon the environment as any other animals on the planet for our continued well-being. Therefore, if we harm our environment, we harm ourselves.

Health and Environment

Our physical, mental and social well-being is dependent upon our surroundings. What we put into the ecosystem is eventually cycled back to us. The pollutants we discard into this ecosystem find their way back through the air we breathe, the food we consume and the water we drink. Since we discard these pollutants because they are harmful to us, it follows that when we inadvertently consume them afterwards, they will still have harmful effects on our health.

Problems with this have been going on for quite some time. We use pesticides on our food crops because the chemicals kill the pests that could destroy the crops. However, those pesticides remain on the food when we consume them causing health problems ranging from skin problems to cancer. The pesticides also reduce the fertility of the soil ensuring that the next crop isn’t as bountiful.

Similarly, we discard human and industrial waste into whatever water body is conveniently close. But we also use the same water bodies for drinking water. Water pollution leads to diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, lead poisoning, polio and arsenicosis amongst others. The air is also polluted by all the gaseous emissions our activities release. Ranging from smoke from fires to emissions from vehicles and industries, these pollutants cause respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis and can even result in lung cancer.

Environmental scientists have been raising the alarm for some time, but things are very critical now. Our unchecked activities have had adverse effects on the ecosystem and some of that damage is now irreversible. If we do not step up to the plate, we will render the earth uninhabitable very soon.

Essay on Environment Affects Humans Health – Essay 3 (400 words)

As per the definition by WHO, “human health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”. This well-being does not happen in isolation; it is affected by internal as well as external factors. Internal factors include issues inside the human body such as immune deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and genetic or congenital disorders.

External factors generally include three types of health hazards: physical hazards such as ultraviolet and radioactive radiations, noise pollution, carbon monoxide and CFCs; chemical hazards such as industrial effluents, heavy metals, pesticides and fossil fuel combustion; and biological hazards such as parasites, bacteria and viruses.

This clearly means that our health is, to a great extent, dependent upon our environment and the environmental factors that affect human health are mostly created by humans. What we release into our eco-system eventually finds its way back to us.

How Environment Affects Human Health

Since we are completely dependent on the environment to survive, it is safe to say that any changes to the environment will impact human well-being. However, the actual relationship between these two is more complex than we believed and isn’t always easy to assess. The most obvious impacts that we have seen are from deteriorating water quality, air pollution and unsanitary conditions. Radiation poisoning too has deadly consequences for human health.

The response to these issues has been an overall attempt to clean up our ecosystem. While that has worked for some countries, mostly in the developed world, it hasn’t been applied thoroughly in the developing countries of the world. Bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries have managed to address some of the more immediate concerns such as the emission of CFCs into the atmosphere and the damage done to the ozone layer by them.

The corporate world is also trying to lessen its carbon footprint and turning to ‘green’ solutions. However, there are many concerns that have yet to be addressed and are spiralling out of control such as biodiversity; on an average, one species dies out every day. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a proper supply of food so that the world doesn’t starve.

We are simply too well-woven into our surroundings to be immune to the effects of any changes in those surroundings. The problem is that because the relationship between health and environment is complex, we aren’t motivated to make major changes; we’re waiting for irrefutable evidence. By the time we do get it, it might be too late.

Essay on Healthy Environment Healthy Life – Essay 4 (500 words)

We are aware of the complex strands that bind us to our environment. We have already started noticing the difference in our health and how it is related to what we do to our environment. However, a point to consider is that if a bad environment can cause harm to human health, a good environment can actually nurture it.

Unhealthy Environment Unhealthy Life

A report jointly published by the United Nations Environment Programme, the WHO, the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel conventions states that in the year 2012 alone, approximately 12.6 million people lost their lives due to conditions brought on by environmental pollution. UNEP also estimates that environmental degradation is behind 25 percent of all human diseases.

Environmental Pollution Impact

While environmental pollution may have an impact on everyone, research has shown that there are certain demographics that are more vulnerable to its effects – the young, the poor, women, the migrant workers and the elderly. In addition, diseases such as Ebola, Zika and SARS are emerging every few months and spreading because of overpopulation, too much livestock and the resultant environmental impact.

In order to stop the spread of these diseases, healthy ecosystems are essential. While tackling these diseases, such ecosystems can also bring about economic development, reduction of poverty, fewer risks to human well-being and the security of knowing that resources will not run out.

Mental Health

Increasingly, studies conducted on mental health are relating good mental health with exposure to nature. These studies have linked reduction of the symptoms of anxiety and depression and lowered stress levels to the presence of green space close by. In fact, people who moved to urban areas that are greener were seen to have improved mental health.

Water Contamination Impact

This is another example of environmental pollution affecting those in the lower economic strata. In countries where the income levels are middle to low, unavailability of clean water is responsible for 58 percent of the diarrhoea cases. Contaminated water and poor hygiene and sanitation are responsible for the deaths of around 3.5 million people. They also cause the premature deaths of around 25 percent of children younger than 14 years of age.

Approach to Resolution

There are several areas of immediate concern, based on the connection between poor human health and environmental degradation. Some of them are:

  • Ecosystems that have degraded and natural systems on earth that are under pressure, which are more likely to cause disasters such as disease outbreaks, scarcity of food and natural disasters.
  • Insufficient sanitation, poor hygiene and unsafe water that are the causes of deadly diseases, poor mental health and even hit economic productivity badly.
  • Poor nutrition combined with dropping levels of physical activity, leading to the spread of non-communicable diseases.

Directly or indirectly, a healthy environment means healthy people. This is not to say that disease and malnutrition will be eliminated entirely but the incidences of these occurrences will reduce and millions of human lives will not be lost every year.

Long Essay on Impact of the Environment on Health – Essay 5 (600 words)

Human health or human well-being is affected by two main factors – individual traits or internal factors and ecological well-being or external factors. However, most of the time, when research is conducted on the human health condition, these two factors are investigated in isolation from each other. If one truly wants to answer the question – how does the environment affect individual health – one has to look at both factors in tandem. This becomes especially important now in light of climate change warnings and governmental indifference to them.

Impact of Environment on Health

The drawback with health related environmental studies or environment related health studies being conducted, especially those in the West, have narrowed their focus to concentrate on specific allergenic, infectious or toxic agents. They aren’t focusing on broader issues that cover psychological and social impacts too.

Some researchers agree that when studying human health it is important to take into account the impact of the environment of the people being studied. That impact can be seen in the fact that health inequalities exist as per the geography. In fact, health is impacted by the social and physical environment.

Additional research has also shown that there is a direct relationship between people’s mental health and the prevalence of green spaces; the more proximity to the green space, the better the mental health.

Socio-economic Differences in Environmental Impact

That the environment and human health are intertwined cannot be denied. However, that relationship works out differently in different places. In other words, depending upon where you are in the world, the immediate health concerns and the environmental factors affecting those concerns can be varied.

Developing countries tend to focus more on issues such as infant mortality, malnutrition and infectious diseases. The immediate environmental concerns in these countries are sanitation, hygiene, mining, ore processing, oil production and water quality. However, when one looks at developed nations, health concerns revolve around issues such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease. These countries have economies built around industries and those industries do not dispose off their hazardous wastes responsibly, thereby contaminating nearby water bodies and soil.

Considering these factors, it is no wonder that emphasis is placed more on the diseases than on the causes behind those diseases. The causes vary; the diseases may not necessarily do so.

Examples of Environmental Impact on Health Globally

Unfortunately, there isn’t any part of the globe that is free of environmental damage, not even the Polar Regions. If one goes looking, one will almost always find health concerns related to those environmental issues. It doesn’t help that countries such as China and India are developing very quickly. Their pace is such that environmental concerns aren’t being able to keep up with development.

Untreated human waste, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff and just plain old dumping are playing havoc with the ecology in both countries. Then there are the eastern European countries, many of which are former Soviet Union states. Over the past decades, hazardous waste such as heavy metals and nitrates were dumped without any plan or precaution. The result is badly contaminated ground water and surface water, not to mention the lowered quality of soil.

Some action is being taken finally where in such regions are being identified and efforts have been made to remediate, reclaim and restore the soil and surface water in such places; the effort comes too late, however, for the population that has already been exposed to these contaminants.

If one really wants to know what the environmental impact on health looks like, they need to stop looking at it in terms of discrete bubbles. They must study health disorders from an individual as well as an environmental perspective.

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Analysis-China's Emissions, Efficiency Targets Under Threat After Falling Short in 2023

Analysis-China's Emissions, Efficiency Targets Under Threat After Falling Short in 2023

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Solar panels lie in front of factories at Jinjie Industrial Park in Shenmu, Shaanxi province, China November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Colleen Howe/File Photo

By David Stanway

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China is falling short on key targets for tackling climate-warming emissions, and analysts said Beijing's credibility in global climate talks could be at risk unless it redoubles its efforts to get back on track.

The Chinese government has rarely missed targets in the past. But now, driven primarily by energy security concerns, it has shown little political will to address the emissions gap, analysts said.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a planning agency, promised last week to "redouble efforts in energy conservation and carbon reduction" this year after it "fell short of expectations" in 2023.

Analysts say it is well behind on its goal to slash energy intensity by 13.5% and carbon intensity by 18% between 2021 and 2025.

The intensity rates – measuring how much energy is consumed and how much carbon dioxide emitted per unit of economic growth – are a key part of the country's pledge to bring emissions to a peak before 2030 and to net zero by 2060.

Keeping its targets within reach would require "concerted efforts across all sectors to bridge the gap", said Jom Madan, senior research analyst with the consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

But the planning commission set targets for 2024 that fall far short of what is needed. For energy intensity, the commission mandated only a 2.5% reduction. It set no new target for carbon intensity, and made no new moves to curb the use of coal – the most polluting fossil fuel.

Madan predicted that China might "come close … but not quite achieve its targets" on energy efficiency. If the country misses its 2025 targets, it could raise doubts worldwide about its ability to rein in emissions.

The country also risks a "serious loss of diplomatic credibility," said lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

"China has long emphasised its ability to implement the country's commitments, while criticising others for setting lofty targets," he said.

The NDRC did not respond to a request for comment.

As the world's biggest carbon polluter and second-largest economy, China has faced growing international pressure to show more climate ambition. It has resisted, arguing that it is already doing more than most fast-developing countries.

China's rising emissions account for 35% of the world’s annual total. On a per capita basis, the emissions level is 15% higher per capita than the OECD average, the International Energy Agency said last week.

To meet its goals, Beijing should focus on efficiency improvements in industry and construction, and offer more financial support for companies to replace or retrofit outdated facilities, Madan said. Expanding the carbon market would also help, he added.

NEW REALITY

Officially, China's energy intensity fell 0.5% in 2023, the country's statistics bureau said last month, missing a 2% target.

The gap would have been worse, but China last month removed non-fossil fuels such as nuclear and renewable energy from the equation to focus on tackling fossil fuels. China is applying this definition retroactively, Myllyvirta said. Without the change, the energy intensity calculation would have shown an increase of 0.5%.

Myllyvirta estimated that China would need to cut energy intensity by 6% in 2024 and 2025 to meet the 2021-2025 target – far higher than the 2.5% goal set this week.

Energy intensity might matter less in the future, however, said Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. The change in how it is calculated "reflects a new reality" for China, in which economic growth is increasingly driven by the renewables sector, and fossil-fuel dependent industries will come under more pressure to boost efficiency, Ma said.

"That means carbon intensity is going to matter more," he said.  

Although China set no new targets for carbon intensity, the country's economic growth implies the measure will fall about 3% this year, analysts said.

However, after dropping 4.6% from 2020 to 2023, carbon intensity would need to drop about 7% this year and next to reach the 2025 goal, Myllyvirta said.

Missing climate targets is unusual for China, which has made job promotions contingent on environmental progress to encourage workers and agencies to meet goals.

In 2022, China's corruption watchdog warned that some regions were providing fraudulent energy and carbon intensity figures that were overly positive.

Pressure to comply with intensity targets also caused economic disruptions in 2010, with provinces cutting power supplies to energy-intensive industries and forcing homes to ration electricity.

Without a major boost to its climate efforts now, "meeting the five-year intensity targets by 2025 will be very challenging," said Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington.

"This year's government work report certainly did not signal that level of decisiveness," Shou said.

(Editing by Katy Daigle and Gerry Doyle)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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