An unhealthy environment is unpleasant to look at and live in. It can also endanger the health and lives of people. An unhealthy environment is responsible for killing millions of people every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
An estimated one in every four of the total deaths in the world is caused by unhealthy environment, UN News Centre reports. More than 100 diseases and other health conditions are caused by risk factors in an unhealthy environment such as pollution of the air, water and soil; toxic chemical exposure; climate change and dangerous ultraviolet radiation. These diseases caused by an unhealthy environment include stroke, cardiovascular disease, different forms of cancer and chronic respiratory disorder.
In a press release, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said that millions more will continue to get sick and die at a younger age if countries do not make any initiatives to make living and work environments healthier for its people.
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However, there is also good news from the World Health Organization. Deaths that are caused by infectious diseases from dirty water, poor sanitation and improper waste management such as diarrhea and malaria have been reduced in recent years.
This is due to the increase in accessible safe water and sanitation for poor communities. People nowadays also have better access to vaccinations and medicine which help reduce the number of deaths from infectious diseases.
"There's an urgent need for investment in strategies to reduce environmental risks in our cities, homes and workplaces," Dr. Maria Neira of WHO said via UN News Centre. "Such investments can significantly reduce the rising worldwide burden of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, injuries, and cancers, and lead to immediate savings in healthcare costs."
There are different ways to have a healthy environment at home. Having lots of plants, preventing insect infestation, testing the house for radon and carbon monoxide levels, eliminating mold growth and other allergens, and removing poisonous and toxic chemicals are effective ways to prevent having an unhealthy environment at home, according to Parents.com.
