Health and the environment

A compilation of research evidence on how human health can be positively and negatively influenced by the environment was released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report synthesises research findings on 15 selected environmental factors that can influence people’s health - temperature, walkability, extreme weather events, ultraviolet radiation, indoor and outdoor air quality, water fluoridation, transport, food and water safety, green space, vector populations, environmental noise, housing condition, and overcrowding and hazards in/around the home. Health and the environment: a compilation of evidence shows that the effects of the environment on humans can be either physical (such as respiratory problems due to air pollution) or mental (such as poor mental health during drought conditions). The effects can also be direct, such as injury or death, or indirect, such as when environmental factors influence lifestyle or behavioural choices.