Name(s):
Environmental human diseases
Environmental influences in ill health
Nature
The continuing degradation of the environment increases the risks to the health and well-being of populations everywhere. Pollution reaches drinking water sources, foods and air in both developed and developing countries. In the former, mainly rural areas are affected; in the latter, cities, towns and villages are exposed, in addition to the rural areas. As well as human wastes, livestock wastes add to the production of contaminants. Convection by water is augmented by soil-borne, air-borne and directly contacted bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Food may be contaminated as well. Inadequate sanitary and hydraulic engineering remains the greatest threat to preserving large numbers of the world's population from communicable diseases.