Environmental Health

Environmental health comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations.

Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development, and that they are entitled to a healthy and productive life, in harmony with nature. The Goals of Sustainable development can only be achieved in the absence of a high prevalence of debilitating diseases, while obtaining health gains for the whole population requires poverty eradication.

There is an urgent need to address the causes of ill health, including environmental causes, and their impact on development, with particular em phasis on women and children, as well as vulnerable groups of society, such as people with disabilities, elderly persons and indigenous people”.

“Integrate the health concerns into strategies, policies and programmes for poverty eradication and sustainable development, reduce respiratory diseases and other health impacts resulting from air pollution, with particular attention to women and children, by Strengthening regional and national programmes including through public-private partnerships; Strengthening and supporting efforts for the reduction of emissions through the use of cleaner fuels and modern pollution control techniques; and assisting developing countries in providing affordable energy to rural communities for the use of which affect the health of women and children”.

Pace of development in today's world has led to rapid urbanization, deforestation, industrial pollution etc, the adverse impacts of which are increasingly being observed among communities worldwide in the form of water born diseases, vector born and reemerging infectious diseases , chemical toxicities , cancers etc. The mechanisms for managing these such as Environmental Impact Assessments, often leave human health impacts and risks due to lack of expertise in Health Impact Assessment .In regard to the same, Indian Environmental Society provides Target oriented, issue based health awareness and training programs on all areas of Environmental health.