Environmental Inequality of the Underprivileged: Health

This book records the findings of an independent group of experts commissioned by WHO to assess the complex interactions between health status & environmental change within the context of socioeconomic development. The experts were also asked to examine global trends in such areas as resource use, waste generation, & population growth, & to determine how these trends will influence both human & environmental health. The core of the report consists of separate chapters analysing the ways in which human needs & activities affect the environment, & thus alter environment-related risks to health, in the areas of food & agriculture, water, energy, industry, & human settlements & urbanization.

The role natural environments play in human health and wellbeing is attracting increasing attention. There is growing medical evidence that access to the natural environment can prevent disease, aid recovery, tackle obesity and improve mental health. This book examines the history of natural environments being used for stress-reduction, enjoyment, aesthetics and catharsis, and traces the development of the connection between humans and the environment, and how they impact our personal and collective health.

Eighty-two thousand chemicals - both natural and man-made--are used today. Some of these chemicals do not produce notable adverse health outcomes, but others can be toxic and harmful to anyone exposed. Currently, we know very little about basic properties of the majority of these chemicals and even less about the human health impact of these exposures. Given the sheer number of chemicals in use today, it can be difficult to balance their use with the protection of human health. Regulation should create a clear and balanced decision-making process for considering the scientific evidence and translating that information into policy and regulation of these chemicals. On January 15, 2008, the workshop Environmental Health Sciences Decision Making: Risk Management, Evidence, and Ethics addressed emerging issues in risk management, weight of evidence, and ethics that influence environmental health decision making. The workshop engaged science interest groups, industry, government, and the academic sector to understand better decision-making processes and best practices for environmental health research.

Climate change is one of the most widely debated and worrisome topics of our time. As environmental changes become more prevalent, there has been evidence to suggest that there is a correlation between the environment and a substantial increase of infectious diseases and viruses around the globe. Examining the Role of Environmental Change on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Pandemics investigates the impact of climate change in relation to the emergence and spread of global diseases. Highlighting epidemiological factors and policies to govern epidemics and pandemics, this publication is a critical reference source for medical professionals, students, environmental scientists, advocates, policy makers, academics, and researchers.