Environmental health- This book covers the entire syllabus of “Community Health Nursing” prescribed by the Universities of Bangladesh- for Basic and diploma nursing students. We tried to accommodate latest information and topics.
This book is examination friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination’s questions. At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourished. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Environmental health
Definition of Environment
All the external factors living and non-living, material and non-material which surround human are collectively termed as environment.
Or
The term environment implies all the external factors living and nonliving material and non- material which surround man.
Good environment
Good environment includes the air we breath, our water, our food and our surroundings are in good condition. The chemicals, radiation and microbes as well as the physical world are well controlled that we contact every day and not causes harm to us.
Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. Environmental health focused on the natural and built environments for the benefit of human health.
Or
Environmental health is the science and practice of preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by
- Identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents and
- limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health.
Classification of environment
Environment may be classified as internal and external –
- Internal environment: Tissues, organs, organ systems of the body.
- External environment or macro-environment: all that which is external to the individual human host, living and non-living, and with which he is in constant interaction. External environment includes air, water, food, housing, etc.
For descriptive purposes, the environment of man can be divided into three components i) Physical environment: air, water, soil, housing, climate, geography, heat, light, noise, debris, radiation etc.
ii ) Biological environment: microorganisms, insects, rodents, animals and plants.
iii) Psychosocial environment: cultural values, customs, habits, income, occupation, religion, education, lifestyles, community life, health services, social and political organization.
Environmental Factors influencing Health
1. Safe water supply
2. Air
3. Ventilation
4. Light
5. Noise
6. Radiation
7. Meteorological factors;
- atmospheric pressure,
- air temperature,
- humidity,
- rainfall,
- direction and speed of wind,
- precipitation: rain, snow, dew, and frost,
- character of weather.
8. Soil
9. Housing
10 .Disposal of wastes and excreta
11. Global warming and climate change (green house effects)
Environmental Health problems in Bangladesh
- Supply of safe and wholesome water
- Pollution of river water by industrial wastes, chemicals and fertilizers used in agricultural lands.
- Air pollution in the big cities
- Noise pollution in the cities
- Effects of climate change: Excess temperature, storm, cyclone, flood etc.
- Problems due to poor housing and urban slum.
- Lack of sanitary disposal of wastes and excreta.
Ways to maintain good environment
- Reduce the usage of electrical appliances
- Reduce the usage of wooden stove
- Maintain a healthy eco system
- Reduce usage of chemicals and pesticides
- Recycle the waste products
- Reduce carbon footprints
- Grow your food locally
- Reduce contaminants
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