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© 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_4
Chapter 4
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
Abstract Environmental health literacy should integrate perceptions from both
environmental and health literacy to ensure informed choices, improve quality of
life, reduce health risks, and protect the environment. In this context, the term “environment” means a space surrounding a microbe, or neighborhood of house, or the
village/city where we live, or the planet earth along with space surrounding it. The
overall human health can be affected due to adverse changes in the different components of the environment and human health. Interaction of biological communities
with their physical environment changes the environment that in turn can affect the
health of the human beings. In addressing the above, this chapter discusses the fundamentals of environmental science and the relation of the environment to human
health.
4.1 Introduction
The word “environment” is new in quite a lot of languages. In French language, its
beginning comes from the verb “environner” terming “Environnement.” Equivalent
words were formed in other languages: “Paryavaranam” in Telugu, “vide” in
Latvian, “Parisara” in Kannada, “Miljö” in Swedish, “Meioambiente” in Portuguese,
“Medioambiente” in Spanish, “Al biah” in Arabic, etc.
The expenditures for environmental management are multitiered and assured
forecasts of future events are difficult. But the risks in the future as well as the
related costs can be minimized and eliminated by selecting suitable preventive measures (Nicholas 2003).
Global environmental issues are related to economic prosperity, human health,
and social well-being. The human behavior has array of impacts on the atmosphere,
biodiversity, water, oceans, and land, resulting in serious irreversible environmental
degradation threatening human health (UN Environment 2019).
Rapid development, though overall continuous reversion, has been the reason for
many of health issues linked with environment. The built environment has an impact
on the prevention and containment of disease.
Cities create job opportunities to survive. With more than half the world’s population living in cities, cities with a high concentration of urban poor are potentially
more vulnerable than those that are better resourced, less crowded, and more equal.
© 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_4
Chapter 4
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
Abstract Environmental health literacy should integrate perceptions from both
environmental and health literacy to ensure informed choices, improve quality of
life, reduce health risks, and protect the environment. In this context, the term “environment” means a space surrounding a microbe, or neighborhood of house, or the
village/city where we live, or the planet earth along with space surrounding it. The
overall human health can be affected due to adverse changes in the different components of the environment and human health. Interaction of biological communities
with their physical environment changes the environment that in turn can affect the
health of the human beings. In addressing the above, this chapter discusses the fundamentals of environmental science and the relation of the environment to human
health.
4.1 Introduction
The word “environment” is new in quite a lot of languages. In French language, its
beginning comes from the verb “environner” terming “Environnement.” Equivalent
words were formed in other languages: “Paryavaranam” in Telugu, “vide” in
Latvian, “Parisara” in Kannada, “Miljö” in Swedish, “Meioambiente” in Portuguese,
“Medioambiente” in Spanish, “Al biah” in Arabic, etc.
The expenditures for environmental management are multitiered and assured
forecasts of future events are difficult. But the risks in the future as well as the
related costs can be minimized and eliminated by selecting suitable preventive measures (Nicholas 2003).
Global environmental issues are related to economic prosperity, human health,
and social well-being. The human behavior has array of impacts on the atmosphere,
biodiversity, water, oceans, and land, resulting in serious irreversible environmental
degradation threatening human health (UN Environment 2019).
Rapid development, though overall continuous reversion, has been the reason for
many of health issues linked with environment. The built environment has an impact
on the prevention and containment of disease.
Cities create job opportunities to survive. With more than half the world’s population living in cities, cities with a high concentration of urban poor are potentially
more vulnerable than those that are better resourced, less crowded, and more equal.