BTEC L3: Environmental Health - Environmental Impact on Human Health

This report assesses the impact of environmental factors on human health, focusing on the effects of air, water, and soil pollution, as well as the consequences of global climate change and urbanization. It highlights the risks faced by populations, particularly in developing countries, due to environmental changes affecting land use, food security, and disease vulnerability. The report also addresses the measurement of population health through indicators like years of life lost (YLL) and years of life lived with disability (YLD). It concludes by emphasizing the diverse impacts of environmental pollution, ranging from common ailments to severe health risks, and references various scientific studies and assessments to support its findings. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

BTEC LEVEL 3 Extended
DIPLOMA IN
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (QCF)
Unit 38: Environmental Health (T/600/8996)
Task 2 (LO2) P2, M1,

Introduction
 Environmental impacts on the human health
com either form of hazards and its causative
associations. Hazards present itself in the
form of air, water, soil and contact forms. This
influenced caused has tremendous effects on
health
 Environmental health refers to the effects on
the human health due to the specific physical
and chemical agents on the local
environment.

The global environment health hazards include;
 global climate change as a result of
greenhouse gases which lowers the
atmosphere
 Stratospheric depletion of the ozone layer. Its
associated possible effects include the rate of
ultraviolet radiation on human health;
 These affect the skin which its effects can
cause skin cancer through the formation of
malignant cells which are the sources of cancer
 Effects on the eye, affecting the visual process
and can lead to cancers of the cornea
 Lowered immunity and high infection rates
leading to increased susceptibility to

Population measurement of health
 Measures have been described and formulated
to measure and describe the population health.
The effect of diseases burden often entails the
number of premature deaths in the populations.
Two parameters are often used
 Years of life lost due to premature
death(YLL)
 Years of life lived with disability (YLD)

Environmental impacts on health
 Environmental changes impacted heavily on
the management of land use, utilization and
its effects are felt widely by the inhabitants
 Changes in the frequency and drought
severity pose challenges to farmers and
threaten overall the food security aspect
 High levels of carbon dioxide can lead to an
increase in crop yields and even plant growth
 Livestock impact leads to heat stress which
increases the vulnerability to diseases and
leads to reduced fertility rate

Effects of urbanization on human health
 The process of urbanization entails the global
scale changes and effects on the
environmental landscape.
 With the increase in urban population growth,
the quality of global and local ecosystems are
hampered.

Effects of environment on human health
 Environmental impacts on human health are
diverse
 Populations based in developing countries are
often at most risks and are vulnerable to
health risks
 but also threats are posed to those in

Conclusion
 Environmental pollution is broadly categorized
into four forms which are air, water, soil, and
noise.
 The pollutants emitted have huge impacts on
health. Some of the common ailments an
include a headache, nausea, dizziness and
skin irritations.

References
 Mani S, Bharagava RN. Exposure to crystal violet, it's toxic, genotoxic and
carcinogenic effects on the environment and its degradation and detoxification
for environmental safety. interviews of Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology Volume 237 2016 (pp. 71-104). Springer, Cham.
 Marambio-Jones C, Hoek EM. A review of the antibacterial effects of silver
nanomaterials and potential implications for human health and the environment.
Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 2010 Jun 1;12(5):1531-51.
 Kim EJ. The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A
Scientific Assessment, by the US Global Change Research Program: (2016).
Washington, DC: Author. 312 pages. Available online at https://health2016. global
change. gov/downloads.
 Melillo JM, Richmond TT, Yohe G. Climate change impacts in the United States.
Third national climate assessment. 2014;52.
 Luick S. Small-Scale Maine Farmers’ Perceptions and Adaptations to Climate
Change.
 Doney S, Rosenberg AA, Alexander M, Chavez F, Harvell CD, Hofmann G,
Ruckelshaus M. Oceans and marine resources. Climate change impacts in the
United States: the third national climate assessment. 2014:557-78.
 Luber G, Knowlton K, Balbus J, Frumkin H, Hayden M, Hess J, McGeehin M, Sheats
N, Backer L, Beard CB, Ebi KL. Human health. Climate change impacts in the
United States: the third National Climate Assessment. 2014:220-56.