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 HAT IS an environmental
health hazard? The concept is complicated
(Goldstein, 2002). Pollen
from mountain cedar can be a life-threatening environmental health hazard
to one person, and an occasional nuisance to another. Even
relatively high exposure to a known carcinogen, such as benzene, does
not cause cancer in all individuals. Susceptibility, or your
chances of being affected, varies according to your age, state of
health, your socioeconomic status, genetic makeup and numerous other poorly understood factors,
such as stress (Smith, 2000).
Exposure to multiple contaminants simultaneously is another poorly
understood factor, as is the timing of exposure. For
example, exposure to diesel exhaust has been shown to make
individuals more likely to develop allergic symptoms when
subsequently exposed to pollen or other allergens in the air (Pandya,
2002).
 OR PURPOSES of this website, we are using the definition of
“environmental health” proposed by the World Health Organization
(WHO, 1993):
"Environmental health comprises those aspects of human health,
including quality of life, that are determined by physical,
chemical, biologic, social, and psychosocial factors in the
environment."
 HUS ANY external factor that
negatively affects your health can be considered an environmental
health “hazard." Common environmental health hazards include indoor and outdoor air pollution, and contaminated food
and
water. Less commonly discussed environmental health hazards include
lack of sidewalks, crime, insufficient physical activity, poor
nutrition, social isolation, noise,
stress, and the lack of aesthetically
pleasing living environments.
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