The Three Environmental Determinants Of Health

Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There

Air pollution is the dispersion of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into the atmosphere, causing diseases, allergies and death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as animals and food crops or the natural or built environments (Brunekreef & Holgate, 2002; Nowak, Crane, & Stevens, 2006). Polluted air directly or indirectly may cause or be attributed to an increase in fatality or serious unwellness and decline humans state of health (Kampa & Castanas, 2008). For example, in Canada, the Ontario Medical Association has attributed 9500 premature deaths per year and evaluates increased costs of health care ($506.64 M) and missed productivity ($374.18) as a result of air pollution (Rowe, 2011). Thus, employment

According to 2006 United States' Surgeon General report, secondhand smoke is a cause for premature death and disease in children and non-smokers. In addition, children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, ear problems, acute respiratory infections, and severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children and to adults the secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Finally, the Surgeon General report states, “the scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2006).“Third hand smoke is the name given to the toxic particles from cigarette smoke that settle onto surfaces in your home and remain long after smoking has ceased” (Heidtman, 2010), which means that even if a person smokes in the house when there is no one present the particles that state on the surfaces will still harm the health of the family that resides in the house. According to the Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) by the US Fire Administration,

Generally determinants of health include the physical environment (natural and built), social environment, individual behaviors, genetic and health care. (Evans and Stoddard, 1994).

Five environmental agents that can cause disease in humans are mercury, lead, radiation, air pollution, and pesticides. People are exposed to mercury in different ways. For example, a common way is by eating fish containing mercury or being exposed to broken products that contain mercury (thermometer). People are exposed to lead by exposure to lead-based paint and pipes of older buildings, as well as, ingesting contaminated water. We are exposed to radiation through the sun's UV radiation or x-rays people get when getting checkups in the hospital. As for air pollution, people can be exposed to CO2 emissions from cars, factories, and cities in general. Another way is being exposed while indoors by CO that comes from appliances that have no odor,

Let’s not forget that it’s not just your life you’re putting at risk when you decide to smoke. Second-hand smoke is a real issue that can hurt the people around you. The average smoker only inhales for about thirty seconds, leaving the other eleven and a half minutes it takes to burn the average cigarette out in the open. If you live with your elderly parents, a spouse, or your children, this means they’re being negatively impacted by your decision to

Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable death in the world. In the US, it causes about 480,000 deaths per year, and about 42,000 deaths from secondhand smoke (“Smoking and Tobacco...”). Young children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to secondhand smoke when they live with parents or guardians that smoke. Children that are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke get sick more often, have more lung infections, are more likely to cough, wheeze, and have shortness of breath, and get more ear infections (“Health Risks of...”). It would be a benefit to our society if we banned smoking in the presence of children to help prevent the risk of health problems and death related to secondhand smoke.

A cigarette does not only shorten your life by puff, but also the life of your child. The use of tobacco "remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States” causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in medical expenses, says David Marks in his novel, Overcoming Your Smoking Habits. Nonetheless, what is not discussed is secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, also known as chronic lower respiratory disease. Secondhand smoke can affect a child mentally and physically, from diseases to learning disabilities, and post-traumatic stress. Children from birth to seven years of age are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke because their lungs are not fully developed. (Marks 3)

Children are at greater risk of being exposed to secondhand smoke than adults (CDC, 2004)

Approximately 7,500 infants die due to sudden infant death syndrome due to exposure of secondhand smoke in America (“American Lung Association”). Children all over the United States are unwillingly exposed to parental secondhand smoke in public, in cars, and at home. When children are exposed to secondhand smoke, many develop life threatening diseases later in life as a result of that exposure. In the United States, smoking should be banned while in the presence of children. Children’s lungs are vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke, and this can cause serious problems down the road. Some states have already banned smoking in public and others are in the process. Secondhand smoke exposure has the possibility of causing nicotine

In conclusion, all of the above-mentioned determinants of health have a great impact on every person's life as well as in my life, health and wellness. All determinants of health are interrelated to each other and affects ones' health together. Low income is often associated with many diseases and early death. Education and literacy also, directly and indirectly, affect the health of a person. The lower level of literacy is related to poor health outcomes and poorer use of health services. The poor working condition results in physical injuries and illnesses and makes life stressful. We've learned a lot about what determines health and where we should be concentrating our efforts. Much of the research is telling us that we need to look at the

A major environmentally influenced disease is lung cancer which is caused by smoking cigarettes and cigars. There are some cases of randomly

When power outages occur during emergencies such as hurricanes or winter storms, the use of alternative sources of fuel or electricity for heating, cooling, or cooking can cause CO to build up in a home, garage, or camper and poison the people and animals inside. Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement, garage, or camper - or even outside near an open window or window air conditioner.

Secondhand smoking causes many defects for children as they grow up. As parents of young children smoke in the car, these children are exposed to this secondhand smoke frequently. According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infection, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)." As these children group up, the health problems resulting from the secondhand smoke exposure affects their lifestyle and future.

Forty thousand people die from second-hand smoke every year. That’s more than a hundred people every day. Second-hand smoke comes in two forms: Sidestream smoke, which is smoke from the end of a cigarette, pipe, etc., and mainstream smoke, which is smoke exhaled by the smoker. Second-hand smoke puts people at risk, even if they don’t smoke. It is especially dangerous to children, pregnant woman, and the elderly. Second-hand smoke slows lung growth in children, and when exposed to second-hand smoke when pregnant, is can cause problems with the baby like a miscarriage, stillborn, low birth-weight, and other delivery complications. All of these dangers can be