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WiRED International Modules Stress the Importance of Environmental Impacts on Health

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN

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nvironmental health hazards hit underserved populations hardest, especially children under age five and adults between 50 and 75 years old.

 

WiRED International emphasizes disease prevention through healthy environments in many of its modules such as asthma, clean water, smoking and cancer.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 23% of all global deaths are linked to the environment — that is approximately 12.6 million deaths a year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 23% of all global deaths are linked to the environment — that is approximately 12.6 million deaths a year. Of these, WHO reports that 8.2 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease and cancer are caused by exposure to harmful environmental conditions.

 

Environmental risk factors for these diseases include indoor and outdoor air pollution, unclean water and lack of sanitation, exposure to chemical and biological agents, food safety and nutrition deficits, poor agricultural practices and climate change. Health organizations and governments need to adopt global measures to reduce adverse effects on the environment. These actions must involve carbon reduction strategies, clean fuels, decreased occupational exposures, smoking bans and access to safe water.

 

Meanwhile, there are actions individuals can take — even in their own homes and lifestyles — to minimize environmental risks to their health. WiRED’s modules point to ways everyone can address hazards from the environment that threaten them and their families.

 

WiRED believes that education and prevention ensure healthier environments and healthier people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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