Environmental Hazards to Health

Environmental Hazards to Health

Introduction

Health and our environment are inextricably linked. In recent years, witnessed an increase in citizens' concerns about the possible health implications arising from problems or environmental disasters (the accident Alnazcollar mines, the wreck of the tanker "Prestige"), and other levels, the concern by potentially toxic materials in contact with water or food, the issue of satellite and mobile devices, etc. It also seeks to correct, control and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations.

The environmental problem is deeply related to the relationship that men have with their environment. Thus, the demographic factor and the use and consumption of all natural and industrial resources that humans use throughout our lives, and the infrastructure that this entails, are determining factors in the emission of pollutants to the environment and condition consequently to human health.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the release of chemicals, particulate matter, or other airborne substances into the atmosphere in large enough quantities that they are harmful to humans, animals, or natural ecosystems. It includes a variety of different chemicals with different effects on human health and the ecosystem, and the predominant types of air pollution have varied significantly over time. However, the scientific definition of air pollution does not capture the effects it has had on public opinion or culture. The cultural understanding of air pollution includes the deadly smog events of the 19th and 20th centuries, and it has recently come to include a wider variety of pollutants (William 2003, 90).

Problems

It was found that environmental pollution is at the root of many health problems, from allergies to infertility through cancer and premature death. The accelerated urbanization process brings a number of diseases caused by road congestion, air pollution, the growing accumulation of urban and industrial wastes, to name a few reasons. Elaborating on the above, today there is a number of health effects or is suspected to be attributable to environmental factors (respiratory diseases, allergies, neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer risks for certain physical, chemical and biological immunodeficiency by ultraviolet radiation and pesticides and pesticide, health problems due to noise.

However, establishing a causal link between certain environmental factors and adverse health effects, poses many challenges. Some factors that hinder the approach to the study of these complex relationships are the mobility and bioaccumulation of many contaminants, the multifactorial nature and the possibility of indirect or ...