Environmental Health Risk Report: Air Quality in Sydney, Australia

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental health risks associated with air quality in Sydney, Australia. It begins with an introduction to environmental risk and the chosen health issue of air pollution in Sydney, highlighting the use of the DPSEEA framework (Driving forces, Pressures, State changes, Exposure, Effects, and Actions) to identify and understand the problem. The report details the driving forces behind air pollution, such as increasing population and lifestyle changes, and the pressures like fossil fuel use. It then explores state changes within the environment and human exposure to pollutants. The study also examines the current management of air quality issues, including the role of health agencies, community groups, and legislative measures. Finally, the report proposes suggestions to address gaps in current policies, regulations, and management strategies, emphasizing the need for awareness and changes in behavior to improve air quality and mitigate environmental risks. The report concludes that a focus on political factors, along with social and economic considerations, is crucial for achieving better outcomes in environmental protection.

Environmental Risk

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
Describe the driving forces, pressures, state changes, exposures and effects relevant to your
chosen region and environmental health issue.......................................................................1
Are there any social, political or economic influences on the issue that aren’t captured by the
DPSEEA framework?.............................................................................................................2
PART 2............................................................................................................................................3
How is the environmental health issue currently being managed? What is the role of existing
health agencies and other agencies, key stakeholders including community groups, critical
infrastructure and legislative and regulatory measures at the federal and state level?...........3
What suggestions do you propose to address gaps in current policy, regulation and
management for this environmental health issue?..................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Environmental Risk is defined as “actual or potential threat of unfavourable effects on
living organisms and the environment by wastes, resource depletion, etc., arising out of an
organisation activities or other natural calamity. It is necessary for every person that they should
take some of the initiatives regarding environmental risk or else it will create huge problem in
upcoming days. In context of the file, the chosen health issue is Air quality in the city named as
Sydney. It is one of the fastest growing city in the world but also faces the problem of air
pollution. Here, in file, DPSEEA framework will be discussed and also how it is being managed
in current situation. At last suggestion will be given for addressing the current gap.
PART 1
Describe the driving forces, pressures, state changes, exposures and effects relevant to your
chosen region and environmental health issue.
DPSEEA Framework is explained as the framework which is commenced by World
Health Organisation. This is one of the framework which help to find the accurate problem so
that adverse effect can be reduced in future While talking about Sydney, it is counted in one of
the biggest city in the work, directly or indirectly it has been suffering from the problem of health
issue because of Air Pollution. Below, there is the detail description about the framework in
context of the Air Pollution in Sydney.
Driving Force: It is one of the element of DPSEEA Framework which has been creating
lots of problem in current scenario for the city like Sydney because different people have
different types of life style and preferences. The population has been increasing day by day due to
which city is directly being affected (Fiorino, 2012). People living here have the trend to adopt
new changes as soon as possible without knowing it’s any of the side effect which is one of the
problem in increasing air pollution in the city.
Pressures: While performing any of the function people do not have the intention that
will harm themselves for personal benefits. For the purpose of personal benefits people are
burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and different gases which has been badly impacting the city.
The pressure on greenhouse gas is very high due to which city has to suffer from environmental
risk in present situation.
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Source:DPSEEA Framework,(2019).
State Change: The society which create pressure intentionally or unintentionally within
the environment direct changes the state of environment and that is one of the bigger problem
which is being found in present scenario. In context of Sydney, ultimate requirement of state
government is development work in any of the situation. For this, government is unable to
distinguish between right and wrong which can harm environment (Davidson and Freudenburg,
2016). For example: every day new vehicles are introduced in the market for increasing the level
of comfort zone for people which is one of the reason for increase in air pollution within the city.
They are not in the condition where they can understand that how impact can be seen within the
air due to excessive use of harmful gases.
Exposure: Human behaviour and lifestyle of human behaviour causes the problem of
exposure in environmental challenges. Anyone easily get influenced with the activity of other
people. It simply says that there is no protection for any of harmful activity which have a effect
on environment. DPSEEA Framework has the responsibility to find the exact factor which
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Illustration: DPSEEA Framework

creates issues and according to that they can help to reduce the problem of air pollution within
Sydney.
This framework clearly indicates that the work which is being done by the people and
different organisation is directly creating problem for their future. As per the current report,
around 3000 premature children are dying every year just because of air pollution within the
country (Climate change, air pollution and human health in Sydney, Australia: A review of the
literature, 2018). Also, one of the problem for decreasing the quality of air within the Sydney is
that the number of vehicle is increasing day by day and that is directly affecting the quality of air
and it is necessary that some of the steps are required to be taken as soon as possible.
Are there any social, political or economic influences on the issue that aren’t captured by the
DPSEEA framework?
Out of the given three different factor political, social, and economic factor, political
factor is not captured by the framework known as DPSEEA. In present scenario, political factor
plays the most crucial role within any of the country as most of the major decisions are being
taken by them. If DPSEEA framework could have focused more on political factor then there
would have been better result as compared to previous one (Marrie, 2016). Focus on political
framework could have resulted into different result as compared to previous one because if
proper rules can be formed such as not allowing any of the firm to use those gases which affect
the greenhouse gases. While talking about social factor, air quality is changing outside because
life style of every people are changing day by day where they just think about the community and
future of upcoming generation.
PART 2
How is the environmental health issue currently being managed? What is the role of existing
health agencies and other agencies, key stakeholders including community groups, critical
infrastructure and legislative and regulatory measures at the federal and state level?
It is very important for country to manage each and every activity in a systematic manner
for that it is necessary that every factors should be focused by the authorised department. While
talking about environment health issues related to Air quality, lots of actions are being taken by
the government as they have signed the agreement named as National Clean Air in the year 2015.
This program is helping them to reduce the air pollution through which the quality of air is
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improving day by day. They had also taken the step for Vehicle Emissions which was also
establish in the year 2015. In this, Euro 6(It is the sixth incarnation of the European Union
directive to reduce harmful pollutants from vehicle exhausts) will be used within the vehicle
through which positive outcomes can be achieved in future (Regulation of Air Pollution:
Australia, 2019).
There are number of stakeholders who are involved for providing the the knowledge
about quality of air within the country. National and state government have been commencing
different laws and regulations through which better outcomes can be taken out. In another side
talking about role of current health agencies and other agencies are explained below:
 They are working for providing knowledge to people about the side effects of harmful
gases.
 Agencies are not allowing to use any of those harmful gases due to which environment
gets affected just for personal benefits (Ellis and et. al., 2014).
 In present situation, there is high percentage of deforestation which is one of the bigger
problem in decreasing the air quality of Sydney.
What suggestions do you propose to address gaps in current policy, regulation and management
for this environmental health issue?
After observing each and every aspect, it can be clearly understood that changes are
required to bring out the better results in current scenario. There are number of laws where
changes are needed so that people get the opportunity to enjoy better quality of air. Local
government of Sydney have the option where they can amend some of the laws due to which
higher problem is being developed day by day (O'Connor, Bard and Fisher, 2015). As air
pollution is directly affecting in the climate change it is necessary to make people aware about
results which they might have to face. It can be one of the reason which can help to obtain better
results. In addition, it is important for people to understand that use of motor vehicle create so
they should try to avoid the use of vehicle where there is not necessary.
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Source: environmental health issue,(2019).
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Illustration: Environmental health issue

CONCLUSION
From the above file, it is concluded that environment risk is one of the major problem
which is increasing day by day and it can create lots of problem in future. For the personal
comfort zone people are not thinking that how important environment is for them. DPSEEA is
one of the framework formed by WHO which helps to find that main factors which has been
affecting the environment so that alternates can be found to resolve the problem. DPSEEA can
focus on political factor as well because if they can able to do so then much and better results can
be achieved in saving the environment.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Fiorino, D. J., 2012. Citizen participation and environmental risk: A survey of institutional
mechanisms. Science, Technology, & Human Values. 15(2). pp.226-243.
Davidson, D. J. and Freudenburg, W. R., 2016. Gender and environmental risk concerns: A
review and analysis of available research. Environment and behavior. 28(3). pp.302-
339.
Ellis, B. J. and et. al., 2014. Fundamental dimensions of environmental risk. Human Nature.
20(2). pp.204-268.
O'Connor, R. E., Bard, R. J. and Fisher, A., 2015. Risk perceptions, general environmental
beliefs, and willingness to address climate change. Risk analysis. 19(3). pp.461-471.
Marrie, R. A., 2016. Environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis aetiology. The Lancet
Neurology. 3(12). pp.709-718.
Online
Climate change, air pollution and human health in Sydney, Australia: A review of the literature.
2018. [Online]. Available Through: <https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-
9326/aac02a/meta>
Regulation of Air Pollution: Australia. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.loc.gov/law/help/air-pollution/australia.php>
DPSEEA Framework. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://archive.epa.gov/ged/tutorial/web/html/slide0004-4.html>.
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