33
2.3 Impact Prediction
The underlying principle of HIA is that several risk factors with respect to health are
influenced by development projects. HIA is used to integrate health considerations
into the decision-making process of such projects (Watterson et al. 2008) and aims
to estimate the health effects of programmes, projects, and policies to minimize
significant negative impacts and maximize significant positive impacts (Dannenberg
2016; Pereira et al. 2017).
Different projects pose different impacts on the environment and health. Table 2.2
provides typical examples of key stresses on the environment as well as counterstress by the environment due to various activities along with impacts of health.
It is often difficult to predict health impact considering emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and evolving toxic substances introduced to environment. EIDs are a
considerable burden on global economies as well as public health and their emergence is considered to be driven by ecological, socio-economic and environmental
factors.
Table 2.2 Example of stress on environment and counter-stress by environment
Sl.
No. Stress
Counter stress
Impact on health
1. Migration and
urbanization
Increase in weight on the earth resulting in
change in pressure on soil and underground
rock which may lead to earthquake
Injury, communicable
diseases
2. Deforestation
Decrease in oxygen content in atmosphere
and soil erosion
Non-communicable
diseases
3. Mining and depletion
of non-renewable
resource from earth
Decrease in soil stability
Injury, noncommunicable diseases
4. Hindrance to natural
water flow
Increase in vector-borne diseases, stability
of earth
Communicable
diseases
5. Loss of biodiversity Impact on health due to destruction of
predators of vectors; loss of pollinating
insects; unchecked dominance of
destructive species
Communicable
diseases
6. Depletion of water in
forest
Forest fire, extinction of fauna
Injury, noncommunicable diseases
7. Pollution and poor
waste management
Impact on health
Injury, communicable
diseases, noncommunicable diseases
8. Increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs)
Climate change and increase in sea level
Injury, communicable
diseases, noncommunicable diseases
9. Land degradation
Reduction in crop
Non-communicable
diseases
10. Depletion of ground
water resources
Loss of trees/forest and change in soil
stability
Non-communicable
diseases
2.3 Impact Prediction
2.3 Impact Prediction
The underlying principle of HIA is that several risk factors with respect to health are
influenced by development projects. HIA is used to integrate health considerations
into the decision-making process of such projects (Watterson et al. 2008) and aims
to estimate the health effects of programmes, projects, and policies to minimize
significant negative impacts and maximize significant positive impacts (Dannenberg
2016; Pereira et al. 2017).
Different projects pose different impacts on the environment and health. Table 2.2
provides typical examples of key stresses on the environment as well as counterstress by the environment due to various activities along with impacts of health.
It is often difficult to predict health impact considering emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and evolving toxic substances introduced to environment. EIDs are a
considerable burden on global economies as well as public health and their emergence is considered to be driven by ecological, socio-economic and environmental
factors.
Table 2.2 Example of stress on environment and counter-stress by environment
Sl.
No. Stress
Counter stress
Impact on health
1. Migration and
urbanization
Increase in weight on the earth resulting in
change in pressure on soil and underground
rock which may lead to earthquake
Injury, communicable
diseases
2. Deforestation
Decrease in oxygen content in atmosphere
and soil erosion
Non-communicable
diseases
3. Mining and depletion
of non-renewable
resource from earth
Decrease in soil stability
Injury, noncommunicable diseases
4. Hindrance to natural
water flow
Increase in vector-borne diseases, stability
of earth
Communicable
diseases
5. Loss of biodiversity Impact on health due to destruction of
predators of vectors; loss of pollinating
insects; unchecked dominance of
destructive species
Communicable
diseases
6. Depletion of water in
forest
Forest fire, extinction of fauna
Injury, noncommunicable diseases
7. Pollution and poor
waste management
Impact on health
Injury, communicable
diseases, noncommunicable diseases
8. Increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs)
Climate change and increase in sea level
Injury, communicable
diseases, noncommunicable diseases
9. Land degradation
Reduction in crop
Non-communicable
diseases
10. Depletion of ground
water resources
Loss of trees/forest and change in soil
stability
Non-communicable
diseases
2.3 Impact Prediction