Describe How Exercise Can Positively Affect Your Environmental Health?

09.05.2023 Grady A. Lowry 0 Comments

How can our exercise habits help protect the environment and how does nature affect our physical activity? While there are numerous ways the world of sport can help address environmental challenges, including linking sport to environmental education, greening major sport events, and using the popularity of athletes to advocate for policy changes, what has not been discussed enough is the relationship between physical activity, healthy bodies and a healthy planet.

Exercising to save the planet Perhaps the most obvious link is how we move around. Walking or biking instead of driving or even taking public transport decreases greenhouse gas emissions and makes us healthier and happier. Innovative technology is also finding ways of transforming human energy. For example, pedal-powered generators convert the energy spent while pedalling a bike into electricity that can be used to power small gadgets.

On average, one hour of pedalling produces about 100 watt-hours, enough energy to power a 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb for more than six hours or a laptop for two. At the micro level, Researchers at MIT have developed a new method for harnessing the energy generated by very small bending motions.

This technology would allow a range of natural human activities, including walking, to power cell phones, audio players or other small devices.
Exercising and playing sport outdoors has also been linked to a greater appreciation of nature in both participants and spectators.
This is particularly important given the general decline in connectedness to nature, especially in children and adolescents, a phenomenon known as the ‘nature deficit disorder ‘.

Healthy planet, happy humans Numerous studies show that participating in physical activity in greenspaces – ‘green exercise’- is positively related to mental, physical and emotional health, with the first five minutes having the biggest impact on mood and self-esteem.

Moreover, the quality of the green space matters. For example, greater biodiversity (i.e. range of plants and animals present in the environment) enhances the psychological health benefits. Similarly, another study found that while exercising in pleasant outdoor environments was more beneficial than exercise alone, the psychological benefits of exercise and being outdoors were reduced in unpleasant environments.

An unpleasant environment not only compromises the emotional benefits of physical activity, but air pollution also negatively impacts the physical health of people who exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic exercising increases the health problems related to air pollution, especially for those who have a heart or lung condition, asthma, or diabetes.

Contents

1 What is a positive example of environmental health?
2 What physical factors that affect environmental health?
3 What are 5 ways human activity affects environment?
4 Does environment affect exercise?
5 What are 5 environmental examples?
- 5.1 What are 3 benefits of good environmental health?

What is a positive example of environmental health?

WHO / Diego Rodriguez A man collects water from the Ganges, Varanasi, India © Credits Healthier environments could prevent almost one quarter of the global burden of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic is a further reminder of the delicate relationship between people and our planet.

Clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built environments, and a preserved nature are all prerequisites for good health.13.7 million of deaths per year in 2016, amounting to 24% of the global deaths, are due to modifiable environmental risks.

This means that almost 1 in 4 of total global deaths are linked to environment conditions. Disease agents and exposure pathways are numerous and unhealthy environmental conditions are common, with the result that most disease and injury categories are being impacted.

providing leadership on guiding important transitions such as in energy and transport, and stimulating good governance in health and environment;ensuring knowledge generation and dissemination for evidence-based norms and efficient solutions, steering research and monitoring change in risks to health and implementation of solutions;supporting capacity building and mechanisms for scaling up action in countries, andbuilding capacity for emergency preparedness and response in case of environment-related incidents, and provide related guidance on environmental health services and occupational health and safety.

Within the framework of scaling up action for health and the environment in countries, this checklist assists in rapidly assessing a country’s policies. This summary is an introduction to support World Health Organization (WHO) representatives and other country staff in their leadership and operational. In March 2018, the Secretary-General of the United Nations launched a global call to action for WASH in all health care facilities, noting that health. This sourcebook aims to detail why health needs to be part of urban and territorial planning and how to make this happen. It brings together two vital. Country profiles

What other environmental factors affect exercise?

The Effects of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on Exercising Children and Youth Exercise is beneficial for maintaining health across the lifespan, including reducing incidence rates of chronic disease. Whilst the benefits of exercise are well-established, environmental factors (e.g., heat, light, pollution, hypoxia) can significantly impact one’s physiological response to exercise.

High, Exercise is beneficial for maintaining health across the lifespan, including reducing incidence rates of chronic disease.
Whilst the benefits of exercise are well-established, environmental factors (e.g., heat, light, pollution, hypoxia) can significantly impact one’s physiological response to exercise.

High ambient temperature, humidity, particulate matter present in the air, reduced oxygen availability and acclimation status of an individual can each independently (and additively) affect training adaptations. This is especially concerning considering the rapid rate at which our global environment is changing (i.e., climate change, global warming, technology, industrialization).

Most studies reporting the independent and combined impact of environmental factors on physiological responses to exercise have been conducted in adults.
However, a recent medical review has suggested that climate change will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our populations, including the very young, the very old, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Unfortunately, there has been relatively little research conducted on how environmental factors will affect these exercising persons, either acutely or with chronic exposures, and particularly amongst children. Perhaps, one reason for this data gap is because our society (especially in higher socio-economic status countries) is struggling to balance the idea of keeping children healthy and active, and protecting them from serious harm.

Especially regarding outdoor physical activity and active play, we often place too many rules on what children can and cannot do, and where they can and cannot play. In this way, we may be hindering their natural ability to develop and learn, especially with regards to our outdoor environments. On the other hand, the risk of serious individual harm to exercising children not only refers to the environment (where the possibility of immediate physical harm may exist), but also as an independent stressor to the underlying physiology and chronic health status of the exercising child.

The paucity of systematic environmental physiology studies in the pediatric exercise physiology arena is particularly worrisome when considering this population will be the one most affected by climate changes forecast over the next 10-20 years. The goal of this Research Topic is to collate research investigating how the physiology of exercising children is affected by both acute and chronic exposure(s) to environmental factors (heat, light, pollution, hypoxia), both in the short and long-term. Keywords : Climate Change, Physiology, Physical Fitness, Children, Population Health, Chronic Disease Important Note : All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. : The Effects of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on Exercising Children and Youth

How can exercise help the environment?

When you exercise outdoors, you reduce your carbon footprint because you are minimizing the use of energy-consuming machines. Exercising in your home is a good way to start the reduction process, as it does not require any travel in your vehicle.

Why is it important to have a positive environment for exercising?

Green exercise, perception of effort, motivation and behaviour change – Although green exercise is perceived to boost health and this can be used as a powerful extrinsic motivation for exercise, not everyone will be motivated by this. People are motivated to exercise for many different reasons,

Some are extrinsically driven by external factors including what others may think of them, whilst others are intrinsically driven, maybe due to the enjoyment or the excitement of the challenge. Others engage for health benefits, whereas some may take part for the social aspect. The promotion of the social and entertainment benefits of physical activity appear to be more successful than those promoting health benefits to persuade individuals to partake in physical activity,

Green exercise may help motivation to undertake physical activity by increasing enjoyment and escapism from everyday life, with both a social and entertainment value. There is even some evidence to suggest that exercise may feel easier when performed in the natural environment.

When allowed to self-select walking speed, participants tend actually to walk faster outdoors, compared to indoors. Paradoxically, they report a lower rating of perceived exertion, When asked to reproduce a given level of perceived exertion indoors and outdoors, individuals tend to walk faster at a greater physiological effort (verified by heart rate and blood lactate), suggesting they perceive exercise to be less demanding when performed in the natural environment,

A recent paper by members of our research group explored the impact of colour in a video which simulated cycling within a natural environment. Participants cycled for 5 min in three different conditions: an unedited video (predominantly showing green foliage), the same video but with a red filter, and the same video with no colour.

Interestingly, despite the video images all being the same apart from the colour, the rate of perceived exertion was decreased in the normal image compared to the other two conditions. Furthermore, total positive mood was increased (as mentioned later in the green exercise and health section). This potentially provides support for the first time that ‘greenness’ is an important component of alterations that are seen.

There were no differences in physiological markers, e.g. heart rate and oxygen consumption. Perception of effort is highly complex, comprising multiple components, Perception of effort during exercise comprises input from the brain and integration of information from the feed-forward centre.

The latter, particularly, may be influenced by mood and anxiety.
There is also feedback from the various different sensors within the body, including central receptors, e.g.
Baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and those within the muscles, e.g.
Metaboreceptors and mechanoreceptors.
These provide physiological and biomechanical information.

Input also arises from auditory and visual information. In addition, there will also be the input of cognitive factors like prior experience at a given effort and context of the exercise, e.g. is it training or competition? All of these are integrated pre-consciously and will determine what a participant perceives the effort of exercise to be.

In the case of green exercise, the inputs from the visual system, the feed-forward centre as well as cognitive input may be able to act as a distractive stimulus, reducing the perception of exertion.
Indeed this has been suggested for other distractive stimuli e.g. music,
It is likely that promoting attention to an external pleasant and green environment reduces awareness of physiologic sensations and negative emotions, thus minimizing the perception of effort.

As discussed, mood is enhanced and perception of effort appears to be reduced with greenness, Further evidence is shown, with real and simulated nature, in comparison to other environments (built or indoor) the increasing cognitive components including mood,

This suggests that green exercise reduces perceived effort and allows individuals to work at higher workloads, which may help to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken and motivation to continue. However, there is a dearth of studies that have investigated whether physical activity levels (duration and frequency) are altered by the exercise environment.

The restorative properties of an environment appear to mediate the frequency of physical activity, but most studies focus simply on the relationship between percentage of green space (usually surrounding housing) and physical activity levels. While one European study reported that individuals living in a greener environment were three times more likely to be physically active with a 40% lower chance of being overweight or obese, other authors have reported no association between the quantity of immediate green space and self-reported levels of physical activity,

The limitation of the majority of studies is the paucity of information regarding participants’ actual use of local green space, the perceived quality or even access to green space.
Access to green space has been shown to be important for mental health and is associated with longevity and decreased risk of mental illness in Japan, Scandinavia and the Netherlands,

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Access also improves perception of general health and quality of life in ageing populations, The quality of the green space may also be associated with health as the biodiversity (i.e. range of species of plants and animals that are present in the environment) enhances the psychological health benefits,

What are 5 examples of good impact of healthy environment?

Environmental Health Resources – To find out more about the importance of environmental health, take a look at the following resources:

World Health Organization, Environmental Health — An overview of some of the issues that relate to environmental health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health — A range of resources related to environmental health.

It’s not only important to strive for optimal environmental health. It’s also beneficial, both for individuals and their surrounding communities. Some of the benefits include: cleaner air quality, cleaner water, reduced hazardous waste, increased access to healthy foods, safer outdoor environments for adults and children, improved population health, and improved health equity.

What are 4 environmental factors that can make exercise challenging?

Environmental barriers – The environment in which we live has a great influence on our level of physical activity. Many factors in our environment affect us. Obvious factors include the accessibility of walking paths, cycling trails, and recreation facilities.

What are 4 of the environmental influences on physical activity?

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What physical factors that affect environmental health?

Importance of Physical and Chemical Attributes – Physical and chemical attributes influence and sustain ecological systems. They have driven the evolutionary history of species, and they continue to drive ecological processes, shape the conditions in which species live, and govern the very nature of ecological systems.

Critical chemical attributes include levels of oxygen, nutrients, pH, salinity, and other chemicals in the environment.1 Critical physical attributes include temperature, light, and hydrology (such as rainfall, soil moisture, flow rates, and sea level), as well as infrequent events that reshape ecological systems, such as fires, floods, and storms.

Physical attributes reflect, in part, the influence of solar radiation. Solar radiation warms land and water masses, drives hydrologic cycles, and supports photosynthesis (which is essential to support biological systems). Physical, chemical, and biological processes that are influenced by the amount and timing of light include temperature and weather conditions, photoactivation of chemicals, mutations, and the timing of reproductive cycles.

Solar radiation can have potentially harmful effects on some species. Physical and chemical attributes vary across the nation, and species have evolved with specific physical and chemical requirements that reflect the particular physical and chemical states of the ecological systems in which they live.

For this reason, a species that has evolved in tropical waters where the annual temperature range is relatively small is less able to tolerate temperature fluctuations than a species that has evolved in temperate waters where the temperature range is relatively large and more variable.

What are 5 ways human activity affects environment?

Human Impacts on the Environment Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water.

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Does environment affect exercise?

Neighborhoods – Where we live affects how we live. Sidewalks, protected bike lanes, street designs that slow traffic and make it safe to cross, parks, gyms, shops and other destinations within walking distance-all of these neighborhood features can make a difference in how active we are.

Research on exactly how neighborhood characteristics affect physical activity is growing.
But the field is still in its early stages, with limited data from long-term studies.
31 ) So-called “self-selection bias” remains a concern: Do active people move to neighborhoods with sidewalks and parks, or does living in a neighborhood with sidewalks and parks make it more likely that people will be active? Also, most studies have been carried out in the United States and other developed nations, so results may differ in rural areas and developing countries.

Access to physical activity facilities Low-income and minority neighborhoods have fewer recreational facilities than wealthier and predominantly white communities, ( 32 – 34 ) a factor that may contribute to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in obesity rates.

4 ) One study, for example, looked at access to recreation facilities in neighborhoods across Manhattan and the Bronx, greater Baltimore, and Forsyth County, North Carolina.
It found that minority and low-income neighborhoods were three to eight times more likely to lack high-quality recreational facilities than predominantly white or wealthier neighborhoods.

( 33 ) There have been mixed findings, however, as to whether simply living in neighborhoods with more recreation facilities actually leads to more active lifestyles. ( 1, 35 ) It’s possible that other factors, such as cost, may be a barrier to working out, even when people have gyms nearby. A number of studies have looked at whether living in a “walkable” neighborhood-one that has sidewalks, crosswalks, stores, and leisure destinations-has a positive effect on physical activity, and in turn, body weight. Conversely, researchers have looked at whether living in communities that “sprawl” -those with pedestrian-unfriendly streets, spread-out populations, and larger distances between homes and business areas-makes people more likely to drive rather than walk or bike for transportation or leisure.

Some studies have found that living in more walkable neighborhoods, or in communities with less sprawl, is linked to higher rates of physical activity ( 1, 36, 37 ) and lower body mass index (BMI) levels ( 38 – 40 ). However, some studies with stronger research designs don’t find a strong relationship between walkability or sprawl and physical activity; ( 41 ) the relationship may vary by age, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and other factors.

( 35, 42 ) Neighborhood Safety and Social Cohesion Risks to safety can run the gamut from reckless drivers and “stranger danger” to bullies in the playground. ( 44 ) And there’s evidence that if people believe their neighborhoods are unsafe, children are less likely to play outside, and adults are more wary about walking or taking part in other physical activities.

( 4, 45, 46 ) A recent report found that Los Angeles residents who perceived their neighborhoods as dangerous had significantly higher BMIs than those who considered their communities safe. ( 47 ) Studies that used objective measures of neighborhood crime have found that higher levels reduce walking or physical activity, especially among women and young children.

( 48 – 50 ) Conversely, those who live in areas with more trust or “social cohesion” tend to have higher levels of physical activity. ( 51, 52 )

What makes a positive physical environment?

The environment has an important role in supporting the learning and development and well-being of children and young people. A child or young person’s environment influences their well-being and development. The term ‘environment’ refers not only to the physical environment but also the emotional environment.

welcoming stimulating and interesting comfortable good natural lighting appropriate temperature and ventilation clean and well-maintained variety of activities using indoor and outdoor environments opportunities to experience risk and challenge inclusive and accessible to all children, including adaptations for children with additional needs supportive and non-threatening reflecting diversity safe – children need to feel safe and secure in their environment to develop positive and encouraging participative – encouraging children and young people to interact with their surroundings encouraging independence e.g. children and young people able to access resources, hang coats up, help with snack time, help tidy up consistent space indoors and outdoors to move safely and freely.

Mae gan yr amgylchedd ran bwysig i’w chwarae wrth helpu plant a phobl ifanc i ddysgu a datblygu a chefnogi eu llesiant. Mae amgylchedd plentyn neu berson ifanc yn dylanwadu ar ei lesiant a’i ddatblygiad. Nid yw’r term ‘amgylchedd’ yn cyfeirio at yr amgylchedd ffisegol yn unig, ond mae hefyd yn cyfeirio at yr amgylchedd emosiynol.

croesawgar ysgogol a diddorol cyfforddus golau naturiol da tymheredd ac awyru priodol glân ac wedi’i gynnal a’i gadw’n dda amrywiaeth o weithgareddau gan ddefnyddio amgylcheddau dan do ac awyr agored cyfleoedd i brofi risg a her cynhwysol a hygyrch i bob plentyn, gan gynnwys addasiadau ar gyfer plant ag anghenion ychwanegol cefnogol ac nid yn fygythiol adlewyrchu amrywiaeth diogel – mae angen i blant deimlo’n ddiogel yn eu hamgylchedd er mwyn datblygu cadarnhaol a chalonogol cyfranogol – annog plant a phobl ifanc i ryngweithio â’r hyn o’u cwmpas annog annibyniaeth, e.e. gall plant a phobl ifanc gael gafael ar adnoddau, hongian eu cotiau, helpu amser byrbryd, helpu i dacluso cyson lle dan do ac yn yr awyr agored i symud yn ddiogel ac yn rhydd.

Warning! This resource is not optimised for use on mobile devices. Rhybudd! Ni ellir defnyddio’r adnodd yma ar ffonau symudol neu dabled.

What are 3 ways in which you positively impact the environment?

Based on recent trends in reportage, it’s hard to imagine that humans can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. That’s because we are all aware of the harm done to the planet by humans, whereas the good news gets less attention. But what human activity has had the most positive impact on the environment? The most positive human impact on the environment is the reversal of environmental destruction through remedial actions.

What are the 3 main impacts on the environment?

Three Environmental Issues and Ways to Combat Them – For years now, humans have mistreated and contaminated the very environment that sustains them. But the broad concern for the environment can be so overwhelming that people don’t know what to do or where to start making a difference.

For years now, humans have mistreated and contaminated the very environment that sustains them. But the broad concern for the environment can be so overwhelming that people don’t know what to do or where to start making a difference. The list of issues surrounding our environment go on, but there are three major ones that affect the majority of them overall: global warming and climate change; water pollution and ocean acidification; and loss of biodiversity.

These three issues need immediate attention and proactive action on our part to ensure conservation of the only habitable planet which we call our home. And, focusing attention on these three major topics will have a ripple effect on a number of smaller environmental issues like inefficient recycling systems and food waste.

Let’s look at three major environmental issues and some solutions which can help combat them: Global Warming and Climate Change Human activities have made global warming and climate change a global threat. The rising levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have caused an increase in average global temperatures, extreme weather events, rising sea levels and other negative changes.

These changes are directly and indirectly affecting all life forms. Pollution of air, land and water through excessive deforestation, industrialization and overfilling landfills which emits CO2 and adds to greenhouse gas emissions are all topmost causes of these environmental issues.

Invest in and encourage production of sustainable technology Commercial and residential buildings should aim to achieve zero-emission or zero-waste Improve waste compaction in landfills with smart technology like stationary compactors which helps free up space for other constructive uses. It comes in varying capacities and configurations for handling different volumes of trash Increase forest cover, restore sea grasses and boost use of agricultural cover crops to reduce the amount of CO2 in atmosphere.

Water Pollution and Ocean Acidification Rapid urban development, improper sewage disposal by industries, oil spills, disposal of chemical and radioactive wastes, and plastic pollution are some of the major causes of water pollution. Today, water scarcity and polluted water are posing a big threat to the human existence across many nations of the world.

Ocean waters absorb around 30 percent of the carbon dioxide that is released in the atmosphere.
Ocean acidification occurs when the CO2 absorbed by the seawater undergoes a series of chemical reactions which leads to increased concentration of hydrogen ions, thus making the seawater more acidic.
This decreases the carbonate ions in the seawater which makes it difficult for clams, deep sea corals, oysters etc.

to build and maintain their shells and other calcium carbonate structures. These changes in the ocean water chemistry can affect the behavior of other organisms also. This puts the entire ocean food web at risk. Listed below are some measures which can help prevent water pollution and ocean acidification :

Practice more effective measures to contain spills Curtail storm water runoff and plant trees near water bodies to reduce soil erosion Expand the network which monitors the measuring of acidity levels to provide researchers and shellfish farmers with long-term and real-time pH data Incorporate ocean acidification threats into the coastal zone management plans of states Increase marine protection measures

Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem and provides biological resources which are crucial for our existence. Habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, secondary extinction and introduced species are a few ways in which humans are wreaking havoc on the biodiversity of this planet. Loss of biodiversity can be countered in a number of ways:

Government should create and implement stricter policies and laws related to conservation of biodiversity Stop habitat destruction and encourage its restoration Practice sustainable living Reduce invasive species Research innovative ways to preserve biodiversity and educate the populace about it

Awareness and adaption are two key steps towards conserving this boon called environment. Each one of us can and should do their bit to curb the effects of these environmental issues and ensure that our future generations have a healthy planet to live.

What are 3 benefits of good environmental health?

Investing in environmental sustainability can serve as an insurance policy for health and human well-being The degradation of the environment – the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the ecosystems which sustain us – is estimated to be responsible for at least a quarter of the global total burden of disease, according to a new UNEP report entitled Healthy Environment, Healthy People The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflect the common understanding that a healthy environment is integral to the full enjoyment of basic human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation, and quality of life.

Directly tackling the inter-linkages between environment and human health presents new and interwoven opportunities to meet the SDGs in a more cost-effective and beneficial manner.
To “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG3) – which includes a specific target related to air quality – cannot be achieved over the long term without explicit action on terrestrial ecosystems (SDG15), oceans (SDG14), cities (SDG11), water and sanitation (SDG6).

Air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental risk to health (some 7 million people across the world die each year due to everyday exposure to poor air quality), but it cannot be viewed in isolation. Environmental degradation is costly Environmental degradation is estimated to cause 174-234 times as many premature deaths as occur in conflicts annually.

Disproportionate impacts of environmental harms are evident on specific groups: the poor, the young, the elderly, women and migrant workers, the report says. Zika, Ebola, MERS, SARS, Marburg new zoonotic diseases (spread from animals to humans) are currently emerging every four months, with the main drivers being exponential population growth, intensive livestock breeding, (there are 36 billion domestic animals on the planet) and concomitant disturbed environments and biodiversity loss.

Strengthening healthy ecosystems is key to preventing or slowing the emergence of these costly diseases. A key need is for greater investment in integrated surveillance of wildlife, livestock and human health. The financial costs of environmentally related health risks are generally in the range of 5-10 per cent of GDP, with air pollution taking the highest toll.

Evidence exists, however, of the catalytic and multiple benefits of investing in environmental quality in terms of development, poverty reduction, resource security, reduced inequities and reduced risks to human health and well-being.
A 2012 UNEP report entitled The Role and Contribution of Montane Forests and Related Ecosystem Services to the Kenyan Economy showed that well-managed montane forest cover reduced malarial disease prevalence, and that malaria resulted in additional health costs to the Government as well as labour productivity losses.

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The montane forests of Kenya, better known as Kenya’s `Water Towers’, produce direct economic value for its citizens. This value accrues not only from the production of various timber- and non-timber forest products, but also from a range of regulating ecosystem services that provide an insurance value to several key economic sectors.

There is also a secondary or indirect multiplier effect associated with the direct economic value of the Water Towers.
Montane forests have consistently been undervalued in conventional national accounting, says the abstract of the report.
The UNEP Healthy Environment, Healthy People report indicates that lack of access to clean water and sanitation causes 58 per cent of cases of diarrhoeal diseases in low and middle-income countries.

Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene result in 3.5 million deaths worldwide, representing 25 per cent of the premature deaths of children younger than 14, it says. Mental health There is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits.

Clean air and water, sanitation and green spaces, safe workplaces can enhance people’s quality of life: reduced mortality and morbidity, healthier lifestyles, improved productivity of workers and their families, improve lives of women, children and elderly and are crucial to mental health. Mental health issues rank among the 10 largest non-fatal threats in most countries, according to the report.

There is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits. Proximity to greenspace has been associated with lower levels of stress and reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety, while interacting with nature can improve cognition for children with attention deficits and individuals with depression.

A 2014 epidemiological study has shown that people who move to greener urban areas benefit from sustained improvements in their mental health.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the 2.2 million years our genus has spent in natural environments are consequential to modern mental health The accumulating strength of research from multiple disciplines makes it difficult to dismiss the clinical relevancy of natural environments in 21st century mental health care,” says another report,

An integrated approach Based on evidence of the linkages between poor environmental quality and health, the report identifies several priority problem areas for urgent policy attention, including:

Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene which cause mortality, morbidity and lost economic productivity; Nutritionally poor diet composition and quality, as well as increased physical inactivity, which has increased the growth of non-communicable diseases throughout the world; and Degraded ecosystems and stresses to the Earth’s natural systems, which reduce ecosystem services that support human health, enhance exposure to natural disasters, food security, and at times give rise to disease outbreaks.

Climate change is exacerbating the scale and intensity of these environment-related health risks, and is acknowledged as a major health risk multiplier, with existing impacts that are expected to increasingly affect human health including through negative changes to land, oceans, biodiversity and access to freshwater, and the increasing frequency and higher impact of natural disasters.

The report’s findings provide a strong basis for adopting an integrated approach for improving human health and well-being through increased engagement by the health sector in ecosystem management and decision-making.
They also identify integrated actions and strategies, such as: DECOUPLE RESOURCE USE AND CHANGE LIFESTYLES: Use fewer resources per unit of economic output produced and reduce the environmental impact of any resources used in production and consumption activities through more efficient practices.

ENHANCE ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE AND PROTECTION OF THE PLANET’S NATURAL SYSTEMS: Build capacity of the environment, economies and societies to anticipate, respond to and recover from disturbances and shocks through: agro-ecosystem restoration and sustainable farming systems; strengthening ecosystem restoration, in particular wetlands, dryland vegetation, coastal zones and watersheds, including through reforestation; reducing livestock and logging pressures to increase resilience and mitigate extreme weather conditions of storms, drought and floods.

What are 5 environmental examples?

The major five environmental factors which affect human health – An Overview In simple words, the environment can be defined as everything around us. Our environment is composed of both living and non-living things, and is referred to as the biotic and abiotic components of the environment.

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Biotic components
Biotic components comprise all living things, including animals, birds, microbes, plants, reptiles, and insects.
Abiotic components
Abiotic components comprise all non-living things, including the soil, air, temperature, water, sunlight, nutrients, rocks, mountains, etc.
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Environmental Factors
The environmental factors can be defined as the identifiable element within the environment that affects an organism’s survival, operations, and growth.

Environmental factors involve everything that changes the natural environment. Some elements are visible, while others cannot be seen. Air, water,, soil, natural vegetation and landforms are all environmental factors. By definition, the environmental factors affect everyday living, and play a key role in bringing health differences across the geographic areas.

What are 3 benefits of good environmental health?

Directly tackling the inter-linkages between environment and human health presents new and interwoven opportunities to meet the SDGs in a more cost-effective and beneficial manner. To “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG3) – which includes a specific target related to air quality – cannot be achieved over the long term without explicit action on terrestrial ecosystems (SDG15), oceans (SDG14), cities (SDG11), water and sanitation (SDG6).

Evidence exists, however, of the catalytic and multiple benefits of investing in environmental quality in terms of development, poverty reduction, resource security, reduced inequities and reduced risks to human health and well-being.
A 2012 UNEP report entitled The Role and Contribution of Montane Forests and Related Ecosystem Services to the Kenyan Economy showed that well-managed montane forest cover reduced malarial disease prevalence, and that malaria resulted in additional health costs to the Government as well as labour productivity losses.

There is also a secondary or indirect multiplier effect associated with the direct economic value of the Water Towers.
Montane forests have consistently been undervalued in conventional national accounting, says the abstract of the report.
The UNEP Healthy Environment, Healthy People report indicates that lack of access to clean water and sanitation causes 58 per cent of cases of diarrhoeal diseases in low and middle-income countries.

A 2014 epidemiological study has shown that people who move to greener urban areas benefit from sustained improvements in their mental health.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the 2.2 million years our genus has spent in natural environments are consequential to modern mental health The accumulating strength of research from multiple disciplines makes it difficult to dismiss the clinical relevancy of natural environments in 21st century mental health care,” says another report,

An integrated approach Based on evidence of the linkages between poor environmental quality and health, the report identifies several priority problem areas for urgent policy attention, including:

The report’s findings provide a strong basis for adopting an integrated approach for improving human health and well-being through increased engagement by the health sector in ecosystem management and decision-making.
They also identify integrated actions and strategies, such as: DECOUPLE RESOURCE USE AND CHANGE LIFESTYLES: Use fewer resources per unit of economic output produced and reduce the environmental impact of any resources used in production and consumption activities through more efficient practices.

How is environmental health good?

1. Reduces risk of diseases – Over the past two years, we have seen the severe damage that harmful microbes and pathogens (such as the coronavirus pandemic) can cause. Environmental health awareness can prevent disease outbreaks and reduce the burden of disease.

What would have a positive impact on the environment?

3. Recycle When You Can – While not every item is recyclable (although you can choose to purchase or reuse recyclable items), you should opt to recycle as much as you can. Items like glass, plastic and aluminum can all be recycled. Recycling these items helps the environment by keeping things like glass or plastic bottles and aluminum cans out of landfills.

What are the positives of the environment?

The natural environment gives us a wealth of services that are difficult to measure in dollars. Natural areas help clean our air, purify our water, produce food and medicines, reduce chemical and noise pollution, slow floodwaters, and cool our streets. We call this work ‘ecosystem services’.

Grady A. Lowry