95
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_3
Chapter 3
Fundamentals of Biology
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Prevention of diseases is better than cure. Achievement of prevention of
diseases requires efforts from anyone starting with the head of a state to social scientists, financial experts, wildlife professionals, people from the media, and other
individuals. Body fluids are known to be mixtures of biochemicals and cells.
Similarly, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans are also complex mixtures of unicellular and multicellular organisms that are unique to each water body, and within
each one of these, the ecological setup is different. Injury or illness to humans disturbs the body’s homeostasis (the state of steady internal conditions conserved by
living things). Alteration or pollution of water body could lead to epidemics, floods,
and other incidents that may affect the health of individuals. Further human activities can alter the quantity of disease causative agents. In other words, anthropogenic
activity can either increase or decrease the quantity of disease causative agents such
as pathogens or toxic substances in the environment. Many of the causative agents
can be prevented from entering the environment by adopting a proper waste management approach and other good practices. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of biology, which forms part of the basis of environmental and medical
sciences.
3.1 Introduction
Prevention of diseases is better than cure. It saves life, money, and time. Instead of
approaching a doctor with ailment and pain, humans themselves can prevent diseases to a great extent, if not completely. Achievement of prevention of diseases
requires efforts from anyone starting with the head of a state to social scientists,
financial experts, wildlife professionals, people from the media, and other
individuals.
Blood is a mixture of biochemicals and cells. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, oceans are
still complex mixture of unicellular and multicellular organisms that are unique to
each water body and within each water body the ecological setup is different.
Injury or illness disturbs the body’s homeostasis (the state of steady internal
conditions conserved by living things).
Optimal functioning for the organism depends on several variables, such as body
temperature and fluid balance; the concentrations of sodium, potassium, and cal-
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_3
Chapter 3
Fundamentals of Biology
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Prevention of diseases is better than cure. Achievement of prevention of
diseases requires efforts from anyone starting with the head of a state to social scientists, financial experts, wildlife professionals, people from the media, and other
individuals. Body fluids are known to be mixtures of biochemicals and cells.
Similarly, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans are also complex mixtures of unicellular and multicellular organisms that are unique to each water body, and within
each one of these, the ecological setup is different. Injury or illness to humans disturbs the body’s homeostasis (the state of steady internal conditions conserved by
living things). Alteration or pollution of water body could lead to epidemics, floods,
and other incidents that may affect the health of individuals. Further human activities can alter the quantity of disease causative agents. In other words, anthropogenic
activity can either increase or decrease the quantity of disease causative agents such
as pathogens or toxic substances in the environment. Many of the causative agents
can be prevented from entering the environment by adopting a proper waste management approach and other good practices. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of biology, which forms part of the basis of environmental and medical
sciences.
3.1 Introduction
Prevention of diseases is better than cure. It saves life, money, and time. Instead of
approaching a doctor with ailment and pain, humans themselves can prevent diseases to a great extent, if not completely. Achievement of prevention of diseases
requires efforts from anyone starting with the head of a state to social scientists,
financial experts, wildlife professionals, people from the media, and other
individuals.
Blood is a mixture of biochemicals and cells. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, oceans are
still complex mixture of unicellular and multicellular organisms that are unique to
each water body and within each water body the ecological setup is different.
Injury or illness disturbs the body’s homeostasis (the state of steady internal
conditions conserved by living things).
Optimal functioning for the organism depends on several variables, such as body
temperature and fluid balance; the concentrations of sodium, potassium, and cal-