Question

1. The environment is not frequently thought about when we consider "health." Why do you think that is?

2. What do you believe to be the number one environmental health threat in the US?

3. Detail your rationale for thinking this way. What is one thing that you think every person could do to improve environmental health?

Answer 1

1. Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing as defined by WHO. When we consider health if it often seen from an individual’s perspective or sometimes the community as a whole. In whichever case, it is seen as a state of a person most commonly the condition of his body. Since it is seen as a state, the environment does not come into play. Although environment is considered as one of the key factors in causation of disease in the epidemiological triad, it is not always considered in case of health. So we think of environment in case of disease and not much in case of health.

2. The number one environmental health threat in US could be air pollution which leads to different cancers and other respiratory disorders. Since the number of vehicles, factories and other agents which use dangerous chemicals has increased the air pollution has also increased. Another common air pollution is also due to tobacco smoking.

3. Clean air is an essential source for living. When that is polluted it leads to number of diseases. It is not only heredity or genes that causes cancer, air pollutants such as dangerous chemicals also cause cancer. Everyone should take a step towards environmental health. One thing everyone can follow is the green cycle - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and also stop smoking.