Environmental health#Concerns

Environmental health was defined in a 1989 document by the World Health Organization (WHO) as:

Those aspects of human health and disease that are determined by factors in the environment.{{Cite web |title=What is environmental health? |url=https://www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/overview/what-is-environmental-health/#:~:text=Environmental%20health%20refers%20to%20aspects,psychosocial%20factors%20in%20the%20environment |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=ehinz.ac.nz |language=en-US}} It is also referred to as the theory and practice of accessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health.{{Cite book |last=von Schirnding |first=Yasmin E.R. |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/35585 |title=Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health |date=February 2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-966175-6 |editor-last=Detels |editor-first=Roger |edition=6 |pages=1523–1541 |chapter=11.5 Environmental health practice |doi=10.1093/med/9780199661756.003.0240 |access-date=2024-08-12 |editor-last2=Gulliford |editor-first2=Martin |editor-last3=Karim |editor-first3=Quarraisha Abdool |editor-last4=Tan |editor-first4=Chorh Chuan |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/book/35585/chapter-abstract/306374236}}

A 1990 WHO document states that environmental health, as used by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, "includes both the direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation and some biological agents, and the effects (often indirect) on health and well being of the broad physical, psychological, social and cultural environment, which includes housing, urban development, land use and transport."{{Cite web |date=1999-03-29 |editor-last=Novice |editor-first=Robert |title=Overview of the environment and health in Europe in the 1990s |url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e66792.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314225710/http://euro.who.int/document/E66792.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-14 |access-date=2007-12-04 |publisher=World Health Organization}}

{{as of|2016}}, the WHO website on environmental health states that "Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behaviour not related to environment, as well as behaviour related to the social and cultural environment, as well as genetics."{{Cite web|title=Health topics: Environmental health |url=https://www.who.int/topics/environmental_health/en/ |access-date=10 January 2015}}

The WHO has also defined environmental health services as "those services which implement environmental health policies through monitoring and control activities. They also carry out that role by promoting the improvement of environmental parameters and by encouraging the use of environmentally friendly and healthy technologies and behaviors. They also have a leading role in developing and suggesting new policy areas."{{Cite journal |last1=Brooks |first1=Bryan W. |last2=Gerding |first2=Justin A. |last3=Landeen |first3=Elizabeth |last4=Bradley |first4=Eric |last5=Callahan |first5=Timothy |last6=Cushing |first6=Stephanie |last7=Hailu |first7=Fikru |last8=Hall |first8=Nancy |last9=Hatch |first9=Timothy |last10=Jurries |first10=Sherise |last11=Kalis |first11=Martin A. |last12=Kelly |first12=Kaitlyn R. |last13=Laco |first13=Joseph P. |last14=Lemin |first14=Niki |last15=McInnes |first15=Carol |year=2019 |title=Environmental Health Practice Challenges and Research Needs for U.S. Health Departments |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=127 |issue=12 |page=125001 |doi=10.1289/EHP5161 |issn=1552-9924 |pmc=6957286 |pmid=31799881 |last16=Olsen |first16=Greg |last17=Stratman |first17=Robert |last18=White |first18=Carolyn |last19=Wille |first19=Steven |last20=Sarisky |first20=John|bibcode=2019EnvHP.127l5001B }}{{Cite journal |last1=MacArthur |first1=I. |last2=Bonnefoy |first2=X. |year=1997 |title=Environmental health services in Europe. 1. An overview of practice in the 1990s |journal=WHO Regional Publications. European Series |volume=76 |pages=vii–xii, 1–177 |issn=0378-2255 |pmid=9557583}}

The term environmental medicine may be seen as a medical specialty, or branch of the broader field of environmental health.{{Cite web |title=Experts See Growing Importance of Adding Environmental Health Content to Medical School Curricula |url=https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/experts-see-growing-importance-adding-environmental-health-content-medical-school-curricula |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=AAMC |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last1=Schwartz |first1=Brian S. |last2=Rischitelli |first2=Gary |last3=Hu |first3=Howard |date=September 2005 |title=Editorial: The Future of Environmental Medicine in Environmental Health Perspectives: Where Should We Be Headed? |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=113 |issue=9 |pages=A574–A576 |doi=10.1289/ehp.113-1280414 |issn=0091-6765 |pmc=1280414 |pmid=16140601}} Terminology is not fully established, and in many European countries they are used interchangeably.{{Cite web |title=environmental medicine — European Environment Agency |url=https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/environmental-medicine |access-date=2021-08-02 |publisher=Europa (web portal) |language=en}}

Other terms referring to or concerning environmental health include environmental public health and health protection.{{Citation |last=Jennings |first=Bruce |title=Environmental and Occupational Public Health |year=2016 |work=Public Health Ethics: Cases Spanning the Globe |volume=3 |pages=177–202 |editor-last2=H. Barrett |editor-first2=Drue |editor-last=W. Ortmann |editor-first=Leonard |editor-last3=Dawson |editor-first3=Angus |editor-last4=Saenz |editor-first4=Carla |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435781/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |series=Public Health Ethics Analysis |place=Cham (CH) |publisher=Springer |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-23847-0_6 |isbn=978-3-319-23846-3 |pmid=28590693 |s2cid=168480156|doi-access=free}}

Children's environmental health is the academic discipline that studies how environmental exposures in early life—chemical, biological, nutritional, and social—influence health and development in childhood and across the entire human life span.{{Cite book |last=Landrigan PL and Etzel RA. |title=Textbook of Children's Environmental Health |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=9780199929573 |location=New York |pages=3}} Pediatric environmental health is based on the recognition that children are not “little adults.” Infants and children have unique patterns of exposure and vulnerabilities. Environmental risks of infants and children are qualitatively and quantitatively different from those of adults. Pediatric environmental health is highly interdisciplinary. It spans and brings together general pediatrics and numerous pediatric subspecialties as well as epidemiology, occupational and environmental medicine, medical toxicology, industrial hygiene, and exposure science.

Five basic disciplines generally contribute to the field of environmental health: environmental epidemiology, toxicology, exposure science, environmental engineering, and environmental law. Each of these five disciplines contributes different information to describe problems and solutions in environmental health. However, there is some overlap among them.

• Environmental epidemiology studies the relationship between environmental exposures (including exposure to chemicals, radiation, microbiological agents, etc.) and human health. Observational studies, which simply observe exposures that people have already experienced, are common in environmental epidemiology because humans cannot ethically be exposed to agents that are known or suspected to cause disease. While the inability to use experimental study designs is a limitation of environmental epidemiology, this discipline directly observes effects on human health rather than estimating effects from animal studies.{{Cite book |last1=Epidemiology |first1=National Research Council (US) Committee on Environmental |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233640/ |title=Environmental Epidemiology: The Context |last2=Sciences |first2=National Research Council (US) Commission on Life |date=1997 |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |language=en}} Environmental epidemiology is the study of the effect on human health of physical, biologic, and chemical factors in the external environment, broadly conceived. Also, examining specific populations or communities exposed to different ambient environments, Epidemiology in our environment aims to clarify the relationship that exist between physical, biologic or chemical factors and human health.{{Cite book |last=National Research Council (US) Committee on Environmental Epidemiology |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.17226/1802 |title=Environmental Epidemiology, Volume 1 |date=1991-01-01 |isbn=978-0-309-04496-7 |doi=10.17226/1802 |pmid=25121252}}
• Toxicology studies how environmental exposures lead to specific health outcomes, generally in animals, as a means to understand possible health outcomes in humans. Toxicology has the advantage of being able to conduct randomized controlled trials and other experimental studies because they can use animal subjects. However, there are many differences in animal and human biology, and there can be a lot of uncertainty when interpreting the results of animal studies for their implications for human health.{{Cite web |title=Toxicology |url=https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/toxicology/index.cfm |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |language=en}}
• Exposure science studies human exposure to environmental contaminants by both identifying and quantifying exposures. Exposure science can be used to support environmental epidemiology by better describing environmental exposures that may lead to a particular health outcome, identify common exposures whose health outcomes may be better understood through a toxicology study, or can be used in a risk assessment to determine whether current levels of exposure might exceed recommended levels. Exposure science has the advantage of being able to very accurately quantify exposures to specific chemicals, but it does not generate any information about health outcomes like environmental epidemiology or toxicology.{{Cite web |title=Exposure Science |url=https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/exposure/index.cfm |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |language=en}}
• Environmental engineering applies scientific and engineering principles for protection of human populations from the effects of adverse environmental factors; protection of environments from potentially deleterious effects of natural and human activities; and general improvement of environmental quality.{{Cite web |title=Environmental Engineers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm#tab-2 |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=bls.gov |language=en-us}}
• Environmental law includes the network of treaties, statutes, regulations, common and customary laws addressing the effects of human activity on the natural environment.{{Cite web |title=Environmental law |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/environmental-law |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-05 |title=INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW – Folorunso and Co. |url=https://folorunsoandco.com/international-environmental-law-and-basic-principles-of-environmental-law/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |language=en-US}}

Information from epidemiology, toxicology, and exposure science can be combined to conduct a risk assessment for specific chemicals, mixtures of chemicals or other risk factors to determine whether an exposure poses significant risk to human health (exposure would likely result in the development of pollution-related diseases). This can in turn be used to develop and implement environmental health policy that, for example, regulates chemical emissions, or imposes standards for proper sanitation.{{Cite book |last=Frumkin |first=Howard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTgSBW8jE8QC&q=environmental+health+from+global+to+local+by+howard+frumkin&pg=PP1 |title=Environmental Health: from Global to Local |publisher=Wiley |year=2010 |isbn=9780470567760 |edition=2 |location=San Francisco |pages=XXX-LIII |chapter=Introduction}} Actions of engineering and law can be combined to provide risk management to minimize, monitor, and otherwise manage the impact of exposure to protect human health to achieve the objectives of environmental health policy.

File:Health effects of pollution.png

File:FEMA - 16491 - Photograph by John Fleck taken on 09-30-2005 in Mississippi.jpg/EPA Hazardous Materials Team removing hazards left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, 2005]]

File:How is our sick planet making us sick.webm) on environmental health]]

Environmental health addresses all human-health-related aspects of the natural environment and the built environment. Environmental health concerns include:

• Biosafety.
• Disaster preparedness and response.
• Food safety, including in agriculture, transportation, food processing, wholesale and retail distribution and sale.
• Housing, including substandard housing abatement and the inspection of jails and prisons.
• Childhood lead poisoning prevention.
• Land use planning, including smart growth.
• Liquid waste disposal, including city waste water treatment plants and on-site waste water disposal systems, such as septic tank systems and chemical toilets.
• Medical waste management and disposal.
• Occupational health and industrial hygiene.
• Radiological health, including exposure to ionizing radiation from X-rays or radioactive isotopes.
• Recreational water illness prevention, including from swimming pools, spas and ocean and freshwater bathing places.
• Solid waste management, including landfills, recycling facilities, composting and solid waste transfer stations.
• Toxic chemical exposure whether in consumer products, housing, workplaces, air, water or soil.
• Toxins from molds and algal blooms.
• Vector control, including the control of mosquitoes, rodents, flies, cockroaches and other animals that may transmit pathogens.

According to recent estimates, about 5 to 10% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost are due to environmental causes in Europe. By far the most important factor is fine particulate matter pollution in urban air.{{Cite web |title=National and regional story (Netherlands) - Environmental burden of disease in Europe: the EBoDE project — European Environment Agency |url=https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/2010/countries/nl/national-and-regional-story-netherlands-1 |publisher=Europa (web portal)}} Similarly, environmental exposures have been estimated to contribute to 4.9 million (8.7%) deaths and 86 million (5.7%) DALYs globally.{{Cite journal |last1=Prüss-Ustün |first1=Annette |last2=Vickers |first2=Carolyn |last3=Haefliger |first3=Pascal |last4=Bertollini |first4=Roberto |year=2011 |title=Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review |journal=Environmental Health |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=9 |doi=10.1186/1476-069X-10-9 |issn=1476-069X |pmc=3037292 |pmid=21255392 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2011EnvHe..10....9P }} In the United States, Superfund sites created by various companies have been found to be hazardous to human and environmental health in nearby communities. It was this perceived threat, raising the specter of miscarriages, mutations, birth defects, and cancers that most frightened the public.{{Cite book |last=Schleicher |first=D |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bg2f9CyXwscC |title=But is it True?: A Citizen's Guide to Environmental Health and Safety Issues |date=1995 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-08923-5 |editor-last=Wildavsky |editor-first=Aaron B |pages=153–184 |chapter=Superfund's abandoned hazardous waste sites |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bg2f9CyXwscC}}

Air quality includes ambient outdoor air quality and indoor air quality. Large concerns about air quality include environmental tobacco smoke, air pollution by forms of chemical waste, and other concerns.

Air pollution is globally responsible for over 6.5 million deaths each year.{{Cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Richard |last2=Landrigan |first2=Philip J |last3=Balakrishnan |first3=Kalpana |author-link3=Kalpana Balakrishnan |last4=Bathan |first4=Glynda |last5=Bose-O'Reilly |first5=Stephan |last6=Brauer |first6=Michael |last7=Caravanos |first7=Jack |last8=Chiles |first8=Tom |last9=Cohen |first9=Aaron |last10=Corra |first10=Lilian |last11=Cropper |first11=Maureen |last12=Ferraro |first12=Greg |last13=Hanna |first13=Jill |last14=Hanrahan |first14=David |last15=Hu |first15=Howard |year=2022 |title=Pollution and health: a progress update |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=e535–e547 |doi=10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0 |pmid=35594895 |doi-access=free |last16=Hunter |first16=David |last17=Janata |first17=Gloria |last18=Kupka |first18=Rachael |last19=Lanphear |first19=Bruce |last20=Lichtveld |first20=Maureen |last21=Martin |first21=Keith |last22=Mustapha |first22=Adetoun |last23=Sanchez-Triana |first23=Ernesto |last24=Sandilya |first24=Karti |last25=Schaefli |first25=Laura |last26=Shaw |first26=Joseph |last27=Seddon |first27=Jessica |last28=Suk |first28=William |last29=Téllez-Rojo |first29=Martha María |last30=Yan |first30=Chonghuai|pmc=11995256 }} Air pollution is the contamination of an atmosphere due to the presence of substances that are harmful to the health of living organisms, the environment or climate.{{Cite web |title=Air pollution |url=https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution |access-date=2024-08-12 |publisher=World Health Organization |language=en}} These substances concern environmental health officials since air pollution is often a risk-factor for diseases that are related to pollution, like lung cancer, respiratory infections, asthma, heart disease, and other forms of respiratory-related illnesses.{{Cite web |title=7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/25-03-2014-7-million-premature-deaths-annually-linked-to-air-pollution |access-date=2024-08-12 |publisher=World Health Organization |language=en}} Reducing air pollution, and thus developing air quality, has been found to decrease adult mortality.{{Cite journal |last1=Rovira |first1=Joaquim |last2=Domingo |first2=José L. |last3=Schuhmacher |first3=Marta |author-link3 = Marta Schuhmacher|year=2020 |title=Air quality, health impacts and burden of disease due to air pollution (PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3): Application of AirQ+ model to the Camp de Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) |journal=Science of the Total Environment |volume=703 |page=135538 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135538|pmid=31759725 |bibcode=2020ScTEn.70335538R }}

File:Air pollution amid blue skies, the day after reopening from lockdown near Mumbai.jpg

Common products responsible for emissions include road traffic, energy production, household combustion, aviation and motor vehicles, and other forms of pollutants.{{Cite report |url=https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/204585 |title=Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks |last1=Prüss-Üstün |first1=Annette |last2=Wolf |first2=J. |year=2016 |publisher=World Health Organization |language=en |last3=Corvalán |first3=Carlos F. |last4=Bos |first4=R. |last5=Neira |first5=Maria Purificación |isbn=9789241565196}}{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OAR |date=2015-09-10 |title=Overview of Air Pollution from Transportation |url=https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/overview-air-pollution-transportation |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=epa.gov |language=en}} These pollutants are responsible for the burning of fuel, which can release harmful particles into the air that humans and other living organisms can inhale or ingest.{{Cite web |title=Air Pollution and Your Health |url=https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |language=en}}

Air pollution is associated with adverse health effects like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, related illnesses, and even death.{{Cite journal |last1=Abdo |first1=Nour |last2=Khader |first2=Yousef S. |last3=Abdelrahman |first3=Mostafa |last4=Graboski-Bauer |first4=Ashley |last5=Malkawi |first5=Mazen |last6=Al-Sharif |first6=Munjed |last7=Elbetieha |first7=Ahmad M. |date=2016-06-01 |title=Respiratory health outcomes and air pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review |journal=Reviews on Environmental Health |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=259–280 |doi=10.1515/reveh-2015-0076 |pmid=27101544 |issn=2191-0308}} The risk of air pollution is determined by the pollutant's hazard and the amount of exposure that affects a person.{{Cite book |last=Vallero |first=Daniel |title=Fundamentals of Air Pollution |date=2014-08-13 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-401733-7 |publication-place=Amsterdam Boston}} For example, a child who plays outdoor sports will have a higher likelihood of outdoor air pollution exposure than an adult who tends to spend more time indoors, whether at work or elsewhere. Environmental health officials work to detect individuals who are at higher risks of consuming air pollution, work to decrease their exposure, and detect risk factors present in communities.{{Cite journal |last1=Manisalidis |first1=Ioannis |last2=Stavropoulou |first2=Elisavet |last3=Stavropoulos |first3=Agathangelos |last4=Bezirtzoglou |first4=Eugenia |date=2020-02-20 |title=Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review |journal=Frontiers in Public Health |language=English |volume=8 |page=14 |doi=10.3389/fpubh.2020.00014 |doi-access=free |pmid=32154200 |pmc=7044178 |issn=2296-2565}}

However, as shown in research by Ernesto, Sánchez-Triana in the case of Pakistan. After identifying the main sources of air pollution, such as mobile sources, such as heavy-duty vehicles and motorized 2–3 wheelers; stationary sources, such as power plants and burning of waste; and natural dust. The country implemented a clean air policy to reduce the road transport sector, which is responsible for 85% of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) total emissions and 72% of particulate matter of less than 10 microns (PM10){{Cite book |last=Sánchez-Triana |first=Ernesto |title=Cleaning Pakistan's Air: Policy Options to Address the Cost of Outdoor Air Pollution |date=2014 |publisher=Publishing and Knowledge Division, The World Bank |isbn=978-1-4648-0235-5 |edition=2nd |location=Washington |language=en}} 50px Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO)] license. Most successful policies were:

• Improving fuel quality by reducing the sulfur content in diesel
• Converting diesel minibuses and city delivery vans to compressed natural gas (CNG)
• Installing diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) on existing large buses and trucks
• Converting existing two-stroke rickshaws to four-stroke CNG engines
• Introducing low-sulfur fuel oil (1% sulfur) to major users located in Karachi

{{further|Indoor air quality}}

Household air pollution contributes to diseases that kill almost 4.3 million people every year.{{Cite journal |date=2014-12-01 |title=Public health round-up |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=92 |issue=12 |pages=852–853 |doi=10.2471/BLT.14.011214 |issn=0042-9686 |pmc=4264387}} Indoor air pollution contributes to risk factors for diseases like heart disease, pulmonary disease, stroke, pneumonia, and other associated illnesses. For vulnerable populations, such as children and elderly populations, who spend large amounts of their time indoors or indoor air quality can be dangerous.{{Cite journal |last1=Cincinelli |first1=Alessandra |last2=Martellini |first2=Tania |date=2017-10-25 |title=Indoor Air Quality and Health |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=14 |issue=11 |pages=1286 |doi=10.3390/ijerph14111286 |doi-access=free |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=5707925 |pmid=29068361}}

Burning fuels like coal or kerosene inside homes can cause dangerous chemicals to be released into the air. Dampness and mold in houses can cause diseases, but few studies have been performed on mold in schools and workplaces.{{Cite journal |last1=Lanthier-Veilleux |first1=Mathieu |last2=Baron |first2=Geneviève |last3=Généreux |first3=Mélissa |date=2016-11-18 |title=Respiratory Diseases in University Students Associated with Exposure to Residential Dampness or Mold |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=13 |issue=11 |page=1154 |doi=10.3390/ijerph13111154 |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=5129364 |pmid=27869727 |doi-access=free}} Environmental tobacco smoke is considered to be a leading contributor to indoor air pollution since exposure to second and third-hand smoke is a common risk factor.{{Cite journal |last1=Mueller |first1=Daniel |last2=Uibel |first2=Stefanie |last3=Braun |first3=Markus |last4=Klingelhoefer |first4=Doris |last5=Takemura |first5=Masaya |last6=Groneberg |first6=David A |year=2011 |title=Tobacco smoke particles and indoor air quality (ToPIQ) - the protocol of a new study |journal=Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=35 |doi=10.1186/1745-6673-6-35 |issn=1745-6673 |pmc=3260229 |pmid=22188808 |doi-access=free}} Tobacco smoke contains over 60 carcinogens, where 18% are known human carcinogens.{{Cite book |last1=Hoffmann |first1=Dietrich |url=https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/m13_complete.pdf |title=Risks Associated with Smoking Cigarettes with Low Machine-Measured Yields of Tar and Nicotine |last2=Hoffmann |first2=Ilse |date=October 2001 |publisher=National Cancer Institute |editor-last=Shopland |editor-first=Donald |edition=13 |pages=160–170 |chapter=The Changing Cigarette: Chemical Studies and Bioassays |chapter-url=https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/m13_5.pdf}} Exposure to these chemicals can lead to exacerbation of asthma, the development of cardiovascular diseases and cardiopulmonary diseases, and an increase in the likelihood of cancer development.{{Cite journal |last1=Vidale |first1=Simone |last2=Bonanomi |first2=A. |last3=Guidotti |first3=M. |last4=Arnaboldi |first4=M. |last5=Sterzi |first5=R. |date=2010-04-30 |title=Air pollution positively correlates with daily stroke admission and in hospital mortality: a study in the urban area of Como, Italy |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20119741 |journal=Neurological Sciences|volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=179–182 |doi=10.1007/s10072-009-0206-8 |issn=1590-3478 |pmid=20119741}}

{{See also|Effects of climate change on human health}}

Climate change makes extreme weather events more likely, including ozone smog events, dust storms, and elevated aerosol levels, all due to extreme heat, drought, winds, and rainfall.{{Cite journal |last1=Paton-Walsh |first1=Clare |last2=Rayner |first2=Peter |last3=Simmons |first3=Jack |last4=Fiddes |first4=Sonya L. |last5=Schofield |first5=Robyn |last6=Bridgman |first6=Howard |last7=Beaupark |first7=Stephanie |last8=Broome |first8=Richard |last9=Chambers |first9=Scott D. |last10=Chang |first10=Lisa Tzu-Chi |last11=Cope |first11=Martin |last12=Cowie |first12=Christine T. |last13=Desservettaz |first13=Maximilien |last14=Dominick |first14=Doreena |last15=Emmerson |first15=Kathryn |date=2019-12-04 |title=A Clean Air Plan for Sydney: An Overview of the Special Issue on Air Quality in New South Wales |journal=Atmosphere |volume=10 |issue=12 |page=774 |doi=10.3390/atmos10120774 |issn=2073-4433 |doi-access=free |last16=Forehead |first16=Hugh |last17=Galbally |first17=Ian E. |last18=Griffiths |first18=Alan |last19=Guérette |first19=Élise-Andrée |last20=Haynes |first20=Alison |last21=Heyworth |first21=Jane |last22=Jalaludin |first22=Bin |last23=Kan |first23=Ruby |last24=Keywood |first24=Melita |last25=Monk |first25=Khalia |last26=Morgan |first26=Geoffrey G. |last27=Nguyen Duc |first27=Hiep |last28=Phillips |first28=Frances |last29=Popek |first29=Robert |last30=Scorgie |first30=Yvonne |last31=Silver |first31=Jeremy D. |last32=Utembe |first32=Steve |last33=Wadlow |first33=Imogen |last34=Wilson |first34=Stephen R. |last35=Zhang |first35=Yang|bibcode=2019Atmos..10..774P }}{{Cite journal |last1=Keywood |first1=Melita |last2=Cope |first2=Martin |last3=Meyer |first3=C.P. Mick |last4=Iinuma |first4=Yoshi |last5=Emmerson |first5=Kathryn |year=2015 |title=When smoke comes to town: The impact of biomass burning smoke on air quality |journal=Atmospheric Environment |volume=121 |pages=13–21 |doi=10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.03.050|bibcode=2015AtmEn.121...13K }} These extreme weather events can increase the likelihood of undernutrition, mortality, food insecurity, and climate-sensitive infectious diseases in vulnerable populations.{{Cite journal |last1=Romanello |first1=Marina |last2=McGushin |first2=Alice |last3=Di Napoli |first3=Claudia |last4=Drummond |first4=Paul |last5=Hughes |first5=Nick |last6=Jamart |first6=Louis |last7=Kennard |first7=Harry |last8=Lampard |first8=Pete |last9=Solano Rodriguez |first9=Baltazar |last10=Arnell |first10=Nigel |last11=Ayeb-Karlsson |first11=Sonja |last12=Belesova |first12=Kristine |last13=Cai |first13=Wenjia |last14=Campbell-Lendrum |first14=Diarmid |last15=Capstick |first15=Stuart |date=2021-10-30 |title=The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future |journal=The Lancet |language=en |volume=398 |issue=10311 |pages=1619–1662 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01787-6 |last16=Chambers |first16=Jonathan |last17=Chu |first17=Lingzhi |last18=Ciampi |first18=Luisa |last19=Dalin |first19=Carole |last20=Dasandi |first20=Niheer |last21=Dasgupta |first21=Shouro |last22=Davies |first22=Michael |last23=Dominguez-Salas |first23=Paula |last24=Dubrow |first24=Robert |last25=Ebi |first25=Kristie L |last26=Eckelman |first26=Matthew |last27=Ekins |first27=Paul |last28=Escobar |first28=Luis E |last29=Georgeson |first29=Lucien |last30=Grace |first30=Delia |last31=Graham |first31=Hilary |last32=Gunther |first32=Samuel H |last33=Hartinger |first33=Stella |last34=He |first34=Kehan |last35=Heaviside |first35=Clare |last36=Hess |first36=Jeremy |last37=Hsu |first37=Shih-Che |last38=Jankin |first38=Slava |last39=Jimenez |first39=Marcia P |last40=Kelman |first40=Ilan |last41=Kiesewetter |first41=Gregor |last42=Kinney |first42=Patrick L |last43=Kjellstrom |first43=Tord |last44=Kniveton |first44=Dominic |last45=Lee |first45=Jason K W |last46=Lemke |first46=Bruno |last47=Liu |first47=Yang |last48=Liu |first48=Zhao |last49=Lott |first49=Melissa |last50=Lowe |first50=Rachel |last51=Martinez-Urtaza |first51=Jaime |last52=Maslin |first52=Mark |last53=McAllister |first53=Lucy |last54=McMichael |first54=Celia |last55=Mi |first55=Zhifu |last56=Milner |first56=James |last57=Minor |first57=Kelton |last58=Mohajeri |first58=Nahid |last59=Moradi-Lakeh |first59=Maziar |last60=Morrissey |first60=Karyn |last61=Munzert |first61=Simon |last62=Murray |first62=Kris A |last63=Neville |first63=Tara |last64=Nilsson |first64=Maria |last65=Obradovich |first65=Nick |last66=Sewe |first66=Maquins Odhiambo |last67=Oreszczyn |first67=Tadj |last68=Otto |first68=Matthias |last69=Owfi |first69=Fereidoon |last70=Pearman |first70=Olivia |last71=Pencheon |first71=David |last72=Rabbaniha |first72=Mahnaz |last73=Robinson |first73=Elizabeth |last74=Rocklöv |first74=Joacim |last75=Salas |first75=Renee N |last76=Semenza |first76=Jan C |last77=Sherman |first77=Jodi |last78=Shi |first78=Liuhua |last79=Springmann |first79=Marco |last80=Tabatabaei |first80=Meisam |last81=Taylor |first81=Jonathon |last82=Trinanes |first82=Joaquin |last83=Shumake-Guillemot |first83=Joy |last84=Vu |first84=Bryan |last85=Wagner |first85=Fabian |last86=Wilkinson |first86=Paul |last87=Winning |first87=Matthew |last88=Yglesias |first88=Marisol |last89=Zhang |first89=Shihui |last90=Gong |first90=Peng |last91=Montgomery |first91=Hugh |last92=Costello |first92=Anthony |last93=Hamilton |first93=Ian|pmid=34687662 |pmc=7616807 |hdl=10278/3746207 |hdl-access=free }} The effects of climate change are felt by the whole world, but disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations who are subject to climate change vulnerability.{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Ang |last2=Toll |first2=Mathew |last3=Martino |first3=Erika |last4=Wiesel |first4=Ilan |last5=Botha |first5=Ferdi |last6=Bentley |first6=Rebecca |year=2023 |title=Vulnerability and recovery: Long-term mental and physical health trajectories following climate-related disasters |journal=Social Science & Medicine |volume=320 |page=115681 |doi=10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115681|pmid=36731303 |doi-access=free }}

File:Runoff 179 (14412166837).jpg

Climate impacts can affect exposure to water-borne pathogens through increased rates of runoff, frequent heavy rains, and the effects of severe storms.{{Cite web |title=Climate Impacts on Human Health |url=https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-human-health |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=climatechange.chicago.gov |language=en}} Extreme weather events and storm surges can also exceed the capacity of water infrastructure, which can increase the likelihood that populations will be exposed to these contaminants.{{Cite report |title=The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment |last1=Crimmins |first1=A. |last2=Balbus |first2=J. |year=2016 |doi=10.7930/j0r49nqx |last3=Gamble |first3=J.L. |last4=Beard |first4=C.B. |last5=Bell |first5=J.E. |last6=Dodgen |first6=D. |last7=Eisen |first7=R.J. |last8=Fann |first8=N. |last9=Hawkins |first9=M.D. |last10=Herring |first10=S.C. |last11=Jantarasami |first11=L. |last12=Mills |first12=D.M. |last13=Saha |first13=S. |last14=Sarofim |first14=M.C. |last15=Trtanj |first15=J. |last16=Ziska |first16=L.}} Exposure to these contaminants are more likely in low-income communities, where they have inadequate infrastructure to respond to climate disasters and are less likely to recover from infrastructure damage as quickly.{{Cite web |title=Creating The Healthiest Nation: Water and Health Equity |url=https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/factsheets/waterhealthequity_factsheet2022_finalversion.pdf |access-date=2024-08-12}}

Problems like the loss of homes, loved ones, and previous ways of life, are often what people face after a climate disaster occurs. These events can lead to vulnerability in the form of housing affordability stress, lower household income, lack of community attachment, grief, and anxiety around another disaster occurring.

{{further|Environmental racism}}

Certain groups of people can be put at a higher risk for environmental hazards like air, soil and water pollution. This often happens due to marginalization, economic and political processes, and racism. Environmental racism uniquely affects different groups globally, however generally the most marginalized groups of any region are affected. These marginalized groups are frequently put next to pollution sources like major roadways, toxic waste sites, landfills, and chemical plants.{{Cite journal |last1=Kaufman |first1=Joel D. |last2=Hajat |first2=Anjum |date=2021-05-20 |title=Confronting Environmental Racism |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |language=en |volume=129 |issue=5 |doi=10.1289/EHP9511 |issn=0091-6765 |pmc=8137098 |pmid=34014764|bibcode=2021EnvHP.129e1001K }} In a 2021 study, it was found that racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States are exposed to disproportionately high levels of particulate air pollution.{{Cite journal |last1=Tessum |first1=Christopher W. |last2=Paolella |first2=David A. |last3=Chambliss |first3=Sarah E. |last4=Apte |first4=Joshua S. |last5=Hill |first5=Jason D. |last6=Marshall |first6=Julian D. |date=2021-04-28 |title=PM2.5 polluters disproportionately and systemically affect people of color in the United States |journal=Science Advances |volume=7 |issue=18 |pages=eabf4491 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abf4491 |issn=2375-2548 |pmid=33910895|pmc=11426197 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.4491T }} Racial housing policies that exist in the United States continue to exacerbate racial minority exposure to air pollution at a disproportionate rate, even as overall pollution levels have declined. Likewise, in a 2022 study, it was shown that implementing policy changes that favor wealth redistribution could double as climate change mitigation measures.{{Cite journal |last=Adua |first=Lazarus |date=2022-03-01 |title=Super polluters and carbon emissions: Spotlighting how higher-income and wealthier households disproportionately despoil our atmospheric commons |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421521006340 |journal=Energy Policy |volume=162 |pages=112768 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112768 |bibcode=2022EnPol.16212768A |issn=0301-4215}} For populations who are not subject to wealth redistribution measures, this means more money will flow into their communities while climate effects are mitigated.

File:Qantas b747 over houses arp.jpg

Noise pollution is usually environmental, machine-created sound that can disrupt activities or communication between humans and other forms of life.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} Exposure to persistent noise pollution can cause numerous ailments like hearing impairment, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular problems, annoyance, problems with communication and other diseases.{{Cite journal |last1=Basner |first1=Mathias |last2=Babisch |first2=Wolfgang |last3=Davis |first3=Adrian |last4=Brink |first4=Mark |last5=Clark |first5=Charlotte |last6=Janssen |first6=Sabine |last7=Stansfeld |first7=Stephen |date=2014-04-12 |title=Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health |journal=Lancet |volume=383 |issue=9925 |pages=1325–1332 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X |issn=1474-547X |pmc=3988259 |pmid=24183105}} For American minorities that live in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status, they often experience higher levels of noise pollution compared to their higher socioeconomic counterparts.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-07 |title=Urban noise pollution is worst in poor and minority neighborhoods and segregated cities |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/urban-noise-pollution-worst-poor-minority-neighborhoods-segregated-cities |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}

Noise pollution can cause or exacerbate cardiovascular diseases, which can further attribute to a larger range of diseases, increase stress levels, and cause sleep disturbances. Noise pollution is also responsible for many reported cases of hearing loss, tinnitus, and other forms of hypersensitivity(stress/irritability) or lack thereof to sound(present or subconscious from continuous exposure). These conditions can be dangerous to children and young adults who consistently experience noise pollution, as many of these conditions can develop into long-term problems, including physical and mental health issues.

Children who attend school in noisy traffic zones have shown to have 15% lower memory development compared to other students who attended schools in quiet traffic zones, according to a Barcelona study.{{Cite journal |last1=Foraster |first1=Maria |last2=Esnaola |first2=Mikel |last3=López-Vicente |first3=Mónica |last4=Rivas |first4=Ioar |last5=Álvarez-Pedrerol |first5=Mar |last6=Persavento |first6=Cecilia |last7=Sebastian-Galles |first7=Nuria |last8=Pujol |first8=Jesus |last9=Dadvand |first9=Payam |last10=Sunyer |first10=Jordi |date=2022-06-02 |title=Exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive development in schoolchildren in Barcelona, Spain: A population-based cohort study |journal=PLOS Medicine |volume=19 |issue=6 |page=e1004001 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004001 |issn=1549-1676 |pmc=9162347 |pmid=35653430 |doi-access=free}} This is consistent with research that suggests that children who are exposed to regular aircraft noise "have inadequate performance on standardised achievement tests."{{Cite journal |last1=Basner |first1=Mathias |last2=Clark |first2=Charlotte |last3=Hansell |first3=Anna |last4=Hileman |first4=James I. |last5=Janssen |first5=Sabine |last6=Shepherd |first6=Kevin |last7=Sparrow |first7=Victor |year=2017 |title=Aviation Noise Impacts: State of the Science |journal=Noise & Health |volume=19 |issue=87 |pages=41–50 |doi=10.4103/nah.NAH_104_16 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |doi-access=free |issn=1463-1741 |pmc=5437751 |pmid=29192612}}

Exposure to persistent noise pollution can cause one to develop hearing impairments, like tinnitus or impaired speech discrimination.{{Cite journal |last1=Passchier-Vermeer |first1=W |last2=Passchier |first2=W F |date=March 2000 |title=Noise exposure and public health. |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=108 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=123–131 |doi=10.1289/ehp.00108s1123 |issn=0091-6765 |pmc=1637786 |pmid=10698728|bibcode=2000EnvHP.108S.123P }} One of the largest factors in worsened mental health due to noise pollution is annoyance.{{Cite journal |last1=Hammersen |first1=Friederike |last2=Niemann |first2=Hildegard |last3=Hoebel |first3=Jens |date=2016-09-26 |title=Environmental Noise Annoyance and Mental Health in Adults: Findings from the Cross-Sectional German Health Update (GEDA) Study 2012 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=13 |issue=10 |page=954 |doi=10.3390/ijerph13100954 |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=5086693 |pmid=27681736 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal |last1=Basner |first1=Mathias |last2=Babisch |first2=Wolfgang |last3=Davis |first3=Adrian |last4=Brink |first4=Mark |last5=Clark |first5=Charlotte |last6=Janssen |first6=Sabine |last7=Stansfeld |first7=Stephen |year=2014 |title=Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health |journal=The Lancet |volume=383 |issue=9925 |pages=1325–1332 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X |pmc=3988259 |pmid=24183105}} Annoyance due to environmental factors has been found to increase stress reactions and overall feelings of stress among adults. The level of annoyance felt by an individual varies, but contributes to worsened mental health significantly.

Noise exposure also contributes to sleep disturbances, which can cause daytime sleepiness and an overall lack of sleep, which contributes to worsened health. Daytime sleepiness has been linked to several reports of declining mental health and other health issues, job insecurities and further social and environmental factors declining.

File:Tube well installation project for safe drinking water supply by Needy Foundation 04.jpg

Access to safe drinking water is considered a "basic human need for health and well-being" by the United Nations.{{Cite web |last=Martin |title=Water and Sanitation |url=https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=United Nations Sustainable Development |language=en-US}} According to their reports, over 2 billion people worldwide live without access to safe drinking water.{{Cite web |title=SDG Indicators — SDG Indicators |url=https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |publisher=United Nations}} In 2017, almost 22 million Americans drank from water systems that were in violation of public health standards.{{Cite web |title=Drinking Water and Public Health in the United States |url=https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2020/01/13/drinking-water-and-public-health-in-the-united-states |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=apha.org}} Globally, over 2 billion people drink feces-contaminated water, which poses the greatest threat to drinking water safety.{{Cite web |title=Drinking-water |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water |access-date=2024-08-12 |publisher=World Health Organization |language=en}} Contaminated drinking water could transmit diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, diarrhea and polio.

Harmful chemicals in drinking water can negatively affect health. Unsafe water management practices can increase the prevalence of water-borne diseases and sanitation-related illnesses.{{Cite journal |last1=Omole |first1=David |last2=Ndambuki |first2=Julius |date=2014-08-12 |title=Sustainable Living in Africa: Case of Water, Sanitation, Air Pollution and Energy |journal=Sustainability |volume=6 |issue=8 |pages=5187–5202 |doi=10.3390/su6085187 |issn=2071-1050 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2014Sust....6.5187O }}{{Cite journal |last1=Emenike |first1=C. P. |last2=Tenebe |first2=I. T. |last3=Omole |first3=D. O. |last4=Ngene |first4=B. U. |last5=Oniemayin |first5=B. I. |last6=Maxwell |first6=O. |last7=Onoka |first7=B. I. |date=2017-04-01 |title=Accessing safe drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa: Issues and challenges in South–West Nigeria |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670716301500 |journal=Sustainable Cities and Society |volume=30 |pages=263–272 |doi=10.1016/j.scs.2017.01.005 |bibcode=2017SusCS..30..263E |issn=2210-6707}} Inadequate disinfecting of wastewater in industrial and agricultural centers can also infect hundreds of millions of people with contaminated water. Chemicals like fluoride and arsenic can benefit humans when the levels of these chemicals are controlled;but other, more dangerous chemicals like lead and metals can be harmful to humans.

In America, communities of color can be subject to poor-quality water.{{Cite journal |last1=Switzer |first1=David |last2=Teodoro |first2=Manuel P. |date=September 2017 |title=The Color of Drinking Water: Class, Race, Ethnicity, and Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance |url=https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5942/jawwa.2017.109.0128 |journal=Journal AWWA |language=en |volume=109 |issue=9 |pages=40–45 |doi=10.5942/jawwa.2017.109.0128 |bibcode=2017JAWWA.109i..40S |issn=0003-150X}} In communities in America with large Hispanic and black populations, there is a correlated rise in SDWA health violations. Populations who have experienced lack of safe drinking water, like populations in Flint, Michigan, are more likely to distrust tap water in their communities. Populations to experience this are commonly low-income, communities of color.{{Cite journal |last1=Patel |first1=Anisha I. |last2=Schmidt |first2=Laura A. |year=2017 |title=Water Access in the United States: Health Disparities Abound and Solutions Are Urgently Needed |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=107 |issue=9 |pages=1354–1356 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2017.303972 |issn=0090-0036 |pmc=5551618 |pmid=28787195}}

Hazardous materials management, including hazardous waste management, contaminated site remediation, the prevention of leaks from underground storage tanks and the prevention of hazardous materials releases to the environment and responses to emergency situations resulting from such releases. When hazardous materials are not managed properly, waste can pollute nearby water sources and reduce air quality.{{Cite journal |last=Shen |first=Thomas T. |year=1985 |title=Air pollution assessment of toxic emissions from hazardous waste lagoons and landfills |journal=Environment International |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=71–76 |doi=10.1016/0160-4120(85)90104-7|bibcode=1985EnInt..11...71S }}

According to a study done in Austria, people who live near industrial sites are "more often unemployed, have lower educations levels, and are twice as likely to be immigrants.{{Cite journal |last1=Glatter-Götz |first1=Helene |last2=Mohai |first2=Paul |last3=Haas |first3=Willi |last4=Plutzar |first4=Christoph |date=2019-07-01 |title=Environmental inequality in Austria: do inhabitants' socioeconomic characteristics differ depending on their proximity to industrial polluters? |journal=Environmental Research Letters |volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=074007 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/ab1611 |bibcode=2019ERL....14g4007G |issn=1748-9326|doi-access=free }} With the interest of environmental health in mind, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was passed in the United States in 1976 that covered how to properly manage hazardous waste.{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-11-25 |title=Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste |url=https://www.epa.gov/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=epa.gov |language=en}}

There are a variety of occupations that work with hazardous materials and help manage them so that everything is disposed of correctly. These professionals work in various sectors, including government agencies, private industry, consulting firms, and non-profit organizations, all with the common goal of ensuring the safe handling of hazardous materials and waste. These positions include but are not limited to Environmental Health and Safety Specialists, Waste collectors, Medical Professionals, and Emergency Responders.{{Cite journal |last=Atlas |first=Mark K. |date=October 2001 |title=Safe and Sorry: Risk, Environmental Equity, and Hazardous Waste Management Facilities |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/0272-4332.215163 |journal=Risk Analysis |language=en |volume=21 |issue=5 |pages=939–954 |bibcode=2001RiskA..21..939A |doi=10.1111/0272-4332.215163 |issn=0272-4332 |pmid=11798128 |s2cid=43028408}} Handling waste, especially hazardous materials is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the world.{{Cite journal |last1=Fazzo |first1=L. |last2=Minichilli |first2=F. |last3=Santoro |first3=M. |last4=Ceccarini |first4=A. |last5=Della Seta |first5=M. |last6=Bianchi |first6=F. |last7=Comba |first7=P. |last8=Martuzzi |first8=M. |date=2017-10-11 |title=Hazardous waste and health impact: a systematic review of the scientific literature |journal=Environmental Health |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=107 |bibcode=2017EnvHe..16..107F |doi=10.1186/s12940-017-0311-8 |issn=1476-069X |pmc=5637250 |pmid=29020961 |doi-access=free}} Often, these workers may not have all of information about the specific hazardous materials they encounter, making their jobs even more dangerous. The sudden exposure to materials they are not properly prepared to handle can lead to severe consequences.{{Cite journal |last1=Tshivhase |first1=Shonisani E. |last2=Mashau |first2=Ntsieni S. |last3=Ngobeni |first3=Takalani |last4=Ramathuba |first4=Dorah U. |date=2022-12-09 |title=Occupational health and safety hazards among solid waste handlers at a selected municipality South Africa |url=https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/1978 |journal=Health SA Gesondheid |language=English |volume=27 |pages=8 |doi=10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1978 |issn=2071-9736 |pmc=9772716 |pmid=36570087}} This emphasizes the importance of training, safety protocols, and the use of personal protective equipment for those working with hazardous waste.

{{excerpt|Microplastics and human health}}

{{excerpt|Soil contamination|Exposure pathways}}

The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP){{Cite web |title=TEHIP |url=http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901172235/https://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro.html |archive-date=2018-09-01 |access-date=2006-11-28 |publisher=United States National Library of Medicine}} is a comprehensive toxicology and environmental health web site, that includes open access to resources produced by US government agencies and organizations, and is maintained under the umbrella of the Specialized Information Service at the United States National Library of Medicine. TEHIP includes links to technical databases, bibliographies, tutorials, and consumer-oriented resources. TEHIP is responsible for the Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET),{{Cite web |title=TOXNET |url=http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611080606/https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ |archive-date=2019-06-11 |access-date=2010-03-09 |publisher=United States National Library of Medicine}} an integrated system of toxicology and environmental health databases including the Hazardous Substances Data Bank, that are open access, i.e. available free of charge. TOXNET was retired in 2019.{{Cite web |title=TOXNET Update: New Locations for TOXNET Content |url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/tb.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=nlm.nih.gov}}

There are many environmental health mapping tools. TOXMAP is a geographic information system (GIS) from the Division of Specialized Information Services{{Cite web |title=sis.nlm.nih.gov |url=http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321193634/http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/ |archive-date=2019-03-21 |access-date=2006-11-28}} of the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) that uses maps of the United States to help users visually explore data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory and Superfund Basic Research Programs. TOXMAP is a resource funded by the US federal government. TOXMAP's chemical and environmental health information is taken from the NLM's Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET){{Cite web |title=toxnet.nlm.nih.gov |url=http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611080606/https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ |archive-date=2019-06-11 |access-date=2010-03-09}} and PubMed, and from other authoritative sources.

Environmental health professionals may be known as environmental health officers, public health inspectors, environmental health specialists or environmental health practitioners. Researchers and policy-makers also play important roles in how environmental health is practiced in the field. In many European countries, physicians and veterinarians are involved in environmental health.{{Cite journal |last1=Ferri |first1=Maurizio |last2=Lloyd-Evans |first2=Meredith |date=2021-02-27 |title=The contribution of veterinary public health to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic from a One Health perspective |journal=One Health |volume=12 |pages=100230 |doi=10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100230 |issn=2352-7714 |pmc=7912361 |pmid=33681446}} In the United Kingdom, practitioners must have a graduate degree in environmental health and be certified and registered with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health or the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.{{Cite web |title=Job Profiles: Environmental health officer |url=https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/environmentalhealthofficer.aspx |access-date=17 August 2014 |publisher=National Careers Service (UK)}} In Canada, practitioners in environmental health are required to obtain an approved bachelor's degree in environmental health along with the national professional certificate, the Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada), CPHI(C).{{Cite web |title=Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors |url=http://www.ciphi.ca |access-date=4 February 2015}} Many states in the United States also require that individuals have a bachelor's degree and professional licenses to practice environmental health.{{Citation |last=States |first=Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Assess Training Needs for Occupational Safety and Health Personnel in the United |title=Occupational Safety and Health Professionals |year=2000 |work=Safe Work in the 21st Century: Education and Training Needs for the Next Decade's Occupational Safety and Health Personnel |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK225528/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |language=en}} California state law defines the scope of practice of environmental health as follows:{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=California Code, Health and Safety Code |url=https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/health-and-safety-code/hsc-sect-106615/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Findlaw}}

:"Scope of practice in environmental health" means the practice of environmental health by registered environmental health specialists in the public and private sector within the meaning of this article and includes, but is not limited to, organization, management, education, enforcement, consultation, and emergency response for the purpose of prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in the following areas: food protection; housing; institutional environmental health; land use; community noise control; recreational swimming areas and waters; electromagnetic radiation control; solid, liquid, and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; onsite septic systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation; emergency preparedness; and milk and dairy sanitation pursuant to Section 33113 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

The environmental health profession had its modern-day roots in the sanitary and public health movement of the United Kingdom. This was epitomized by Sir Edwin Chadwick, who was instrumental in the repeal of the poor laws, and in 1884 was the founding president of the Association of Public Sanitary Inspectors, now called the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.{{Cite web |title=History of CIEH |url=https://www.cieh.org/about-us/history-of-cieh/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=CIEH |language=en}}

{{Portal|Environment|Medicine}}

{{Div col|colwidth=}}

• EcoHealth
• Environmental disease
• Environmental medicine
• Environmental toxicology
• Epigenetics
• Exposure science
• Healing environments
• Health effects from noise
• Heavy metals
• Indoor air quality
• Industrial and organizational psychology
• Livability
• NIEHS
• Nightingale's environmental theory
• One Health
• Pollution
• Volatile organic compound

Journals:

• List of environmental health journals

{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Andrew M. Pope |url=http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4795 |title=Environmental Medicine – Integrating a Missing Element into Medical Education |last2=David P. Rall |publisher=National Academies Press |year=1995 |isbn=0309051401 |editor-last=Committee on Curriculum Development in Environmental Medicine at the Institute of Medicine |ref=none}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kate Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/riseofusenvironm0000davi |title=The Rise of the U.S. Environmental Health Movement |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2013 |isbn=978-1442221376 |ref=none |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book |last1=White |first1=Franklin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iE8SXPGGbeMC |title=Global Public Health: Ecological Foundations |last2=Stallones |first2=Lorann |last3=Last |first3=John M. |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-19-975190-7 |ref=none}}
• {{Cite web |last=Jouko Tuomisto |year=2005 |title=Arsenic to zoonoses – One hundred questions about the environment and health |url=http://en.opasnet.org/w/Arsenic_to_zoonoses/Contents |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150115125321/http://en.opasnet.org/w/Arsenic_to_zoonoses/Contents |archive-date=2015-01-15 |access-date=10 January 2015 |publisher=Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland) |ref=none}}
• {{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Environment and Health A to Z |url=http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/environment_and_health_a_to_z_508.pdf |publisher=NIEHS |ref=none}}
• Patrick Sogno, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Claudia Kuenzer: Earth Observation Data Supporting Non-Communicable Disease Research: A Review. Remote Sensing (12), 2020, P. 1-34. doi: 10.3390/rs12162541. ISSN 2072-4292.

• [http://www.niehs.nih.gov NIEHS]

{{Public health}}

{{Occupational safety and health}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Environmental Health}}

Category:Environmental social science

Category:Environmental science