The issue I chose to write about is health and the significant impact that it has on millions across the world in our society. In relation to the environment, there are certain types of health risks that can play a major part such as: cancer, mortality, certain disabilities, and how all of these things are managed on a consistent basis. These environmental issues affect everyone, not just one particular person or type of group amongst us all. For this reason alone, it is imperative to bring light to each individual situation and develop some sort of change to create a basic balance throughout the world.
There are many causes that make these issues prevalent such as toxins that pollute the air, the overall affect of death in our society, low birth weights, and the lack of consistent care for infants, which result in neonatal mortality. There are several regulations in process by the government to prevent these type of issues such as avoiding the use of certain medicines, getting the proper care when necessary, and following certain procedures when it comes to death to prevent negative affects on the environment. One of the main issues in the environment with my surrounding location is cancer.
There are many forms of cancer such as: brain cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, and the most popular type of cancer, which is breast cancer. Breast cancer happens to be the leading type and has caused a significant amount of death within our communities throughout the world. Studies have shown that almost all of these types of cancers result from air pollutants and chemical exposures that are harmful and disrupt hormones. “When breasts are exposed to hormone-like substances during those sensitive times, it could influence susceptibility of the tissue to carcinogens or other hormonal stimuli that could increase cancer risk later on” (Konkel, 2013).
There are things that we may use on a daily basis to help contribute to the pollutants as well, such as food, beverages, the use of containers, and even cosmetics. Mortality happens to be another issue that can significantly affect our environment in substantial ways. The fact of the matter is that if there was a well-tested environment and proper health interventions then we could reduce the total amount of deaths that are happening throughout many countries. This not only affects our adults but also many infants as well.
There are many contributors to infant death such as low birth weights, severe birth defects, and more however, carbon monoxide, constant exposure to other chemicals, and inadequate care have also affected these numbers in extreme ways. A few other types of chemicals that are harmful include: sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These chemicals have been associated with increases in neonatal mortality, and post-neonatal mortality for many infants. The very first environmental protection law introduced was the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and was also known as, NEPA.
This pollution prevention act is one that was established and put in place to prevent overall pollution and reduce the use of the source as much as possible. It helps to offer economic benefits and help with waste management and clean up. There have been several other laws passed since this one that has branched off and covered every aspect of the environmental issues at hand. Some of those include: the clean air act (CAA), Clean water act (CWA), the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA), the toxic substance control act (TSCA), the oil pollution prevention act (OPP), and substance and the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA). These laws have helped to control certain materials that can and have been harmful to others. It will overall prevent the use of harm in our environment and that will affect everyone. All on all, in order to change the causes of environmental issues, we have to acknowledge that there is a problem and then change the use of certain substances and chemicals to prevent any harm amongst us. Cleaner air, awareness of what we are using on a daily basis, and reduced exposure to certain things can help change the effect of our future.
The prevention of environmental pollution begins and ends with reducing or eliminating waste at the actual source, modifying the production and its processes, utilizing less toxic substances, creating new techniques, and sticking with that plan in the future.
References EPA. (2015). My Health Envirnoment. Retrieved from: http://www. epa. gov/myenv/MyHealth. html? minx=-79. 86477&miny=36. 03661&maxx=-79. 67422&maxy=36. 10737&ve=12,36. 07189,- 79. 76935&cLat=&cLon=&pSearch=27401,%20NC Konkel, L. (2013). Breast cancer and the environment: Women exposes early in life could unlock mysteries.
Retrieved from: http://www.environmentalhealthnews. org/ehs/news/2013/breast- cancer-part-1 News wise. (2015). Environmental Policy to Prevent Cancer Causing Pollutants. Retrieved from: http://www. newswise. com/articles/malta-backs-action-on-environmental-pollutants-to-close-gap- in-cancer-prevention3 Benjamin, D. K. (2006). Air Pollution and Infant Mortality. Retrieved from: http://www. perc. org/articles/air-pollution-and-infant-mortality Pollution Issues. (2015) Laws and Regulations, United States. Retrieved from: http://www. pollutionissues. com/Ho-Li/Laws-and-Regulations-United-States. html.