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New country-by-country data show in detail the impact of environmental

factors on health

 

 

 

13 JUNE 2007 | GENEVA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is today

releasing the first ever country-by-country analysis of the impact

environmental factors have on health. The data show huge inequalities

but also demonstrate that in every country, people's health could be

improved by reducing environmental risks including pollution, hazards

in the work environment, UV radiation, noise, agricultural risks,

climate and ecosystem change.

 

The new data show that 13 million deaths worldwide could be prevented

every year by making environments healthier. In some countries, more

than one third of the disease burden could be prevented through

environmental improvements. The worst affected countries include

Angola, Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as Afghanistan.

 

In 23 countries worldwide, more than 10% of deaths are due to just two

environmental risk factors: unsafe water, including poor sanitation

and hygiene; and indoor air pollution due to solid fuel use for

cooking. Around the world, children under five are the main victims

and make up 74% of deaths due to diarrhoeal disease and lower

respiratory infections.

 

Low income countries suffer the most from environmental health

factors, losing about 20 times more healthy years of life per person

per year than high income countries. However, the data show that no

country is immune from the environmental impact on health. Even in

countries with better environmental conditions, almost one sixth of

the disease burden could be prevented, and efficient environmental

interventions could significantly reduce cardiovascular disease and

road traffic injuries.

 

" These country estimates are a first step towards assisting national

decision-makers in the sectors of health and environment to set

priorities for preventive action, " said Susanne Weber-Mosdorf, WHO

Assistant Director-General for Sustainable Development and Healthy

Environments. " It is important to quantify the burden of disease from

unhealthy environments. This information is key to help countries

select the appropriate interventions. "

 

The country profiles provide a preliminary estimate of health impacts

caused by environmental risks. Countries can use these figures to

refine their own estimates. Despite the uncertainties involved in

these estimates, they indicated opportunities for targeted action to

prevent disease.

 

For the purposes of this assessment, environmental factors include

pollution, occupational factors, UV radiation, noise, agricultural

methods, climate and ecosystem change, the built environment and

people's behaviour.

 

The data show that household interventions could dramatically reduce

the death rate. Using cleaner fuel such as gas or electricity, using

better cooking devices, improving the ventilation or modifying

people's behaviour (such as keeping children away from smoke) could

have a major impact on respiratory infections and diseases among women

and children.

 

Interventions at the community or national level would involve

promoting household water treatment and safe storage, and introducing

energy policies which favour development and health. For example,

reducing levels of air pollution (measured by PM10) as set out in

WHO's Air Quality Guidelines would save an estimated 865 000 lives per

year.

 

For media information, journalists may contact:

 

Nada Osseiran

Advocacy & Communications Officer

Public Health and Environment

WHO, Geneva

Tel.: +41 22 791 4475

Fax: +41 22 791 4127

E-mail: osseirann

 

Gregory Hartl

Communications Advisor

Health and Sustainable Development

WHO, Geneva

Mobile: +41 79 203 6715

E-mail: hartlg

 

For further information and interviews, contact:

 

Africa

Dr L. Manga

Health and Environment

Focal Point, Division of Healthy Environments and Sustainable

Development

WHO Regional Office for Africa

Brazzaville, Congo

Tel.: +47 241 39338

E-mail: mangal

 

The Americas

Dr Luiz Augusto Cassanha Galvão

Manager, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health Area

WHO Regional Office for the Americas

Washington, DC, USA

Tel.: +1 202 974 3156

E-mail: galvaolu

 

Eastern Mediterranean Region

Dr Houssain Abouzaid

Coordinator, Healthy Environments

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

Cairo, Egypt

Tel.: +202 279 5362

E-mail: she

 

Europe

Dr Roberto Bertollini, Special Programme on Health and Environment (DHE)

WHO Regional Office for Europe

Tel.: + 39 06 477 7560

E-mail: rbe

 

South East Asia and the Western Pacific

Dr Sattar A. Yoosuf, Department of Sustainable Development, and Healthy

Environments (SDE)

WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia

New Delhi, India

Tel.: +91 11 2337 0804

E-mail: yoosufa

 

Dr Hisashi Ogawa

Regional Adviser, Healthy Settings and Environment (RA/HSE)

WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Manila, Philippines

Tel.: +63 2 52 89886

E-mail: ogawah

 

 

 

When I see the price that you pay

I don't wanna grow up

I don't ever want to be that way

I don't wanna grow up

Seems that folks turn into things

that they never want

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