We don’t always notice it, but our environment impacts our health every day. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the chemicals we come into contact with all affect us. Below are some of the key environmental health factors impacting the US today and how we can prevent them from causing us harm.
Air Pollution
Like the weather, our air quality changes day by day and can affect how we breathe. Poor quality air can cause immediate issues to those with existing lung or respiratory issues like asthma. Over a longer period of time, polluted air can cause reduced lung function and even trigger heart attacks and strokes.
While we can’t control the air around us, we can reduce the impacts of pollution on our health. You can find up-to-date reports and forecasts of air quality via The SLO County APCD to stay informed. If air pollution in your area is high, it’s best to limit your time outdoors, avoid outdoor exercise, keep your windows closed and run your AC on recirculate, if available, with a clean filter.
Water Pollution
Water pollution can occur in many ways; the most common way in the US is through agriculture. Chemicals and fertilizers used in farming often contain high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. These contaminants will sometimes make their way into waterways via rainfall and encourage algal blooms, which produce toxins that kill fish, birds, and marine mammals and harm humans.
Contaminated water can cause a plethora of medical problems, including rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin.
A person who ingests chemical toxins in their water can also be at risk of:
- Cardiovascular problems
- Cancer
- Kidney problems
- Hormonal issues
- Damage to immune and reproductive systems
Signs that your water may be contaminated include:
- A color change – once you’ve set your water down for a moment, it should be clear. If it looks milky, cloudy, or foamy, you may need to get it tested.
- A change in taste – many contaminants don’t have a distinct flavor, but if you do notice a specific difference in taste, it’s best to have your water checked.
- A change in smell – if you notice a change in smell, this could be due to something generally harmless like higher levels of chlorine, but it’s still worth getting your water tested.
If you suspect something is wrong with your water, contact your public water utility immediately. You may also wish to have your household water tested. The EPA provides a list of certified laboratories. If you’d like to protect yourself from water contamination in your home, you can also buy carbon filter jugs or faucet extensions to filter your water.
Global Warming
When temperatures rise, so do the number of fatalities and hospital visits due to heat related illnesses and climate change is causing a rise in heatwaves and their temperatures. Currently, on average in the USA, we see 65,574 emergency room visits each year due to heat, with small children, the elderly, and people with certain chronic diseases and outdoor workers being the most at risk.
However, high temperatures also raise the levels of pollutants in the air that exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory disease. These can trigger asthma, which affects around 300 million people.
Some effective ways to stay safe in extreme heat include:
- Monitoring the weather and watching for heat alerts
- Staying somewhere with air conditioning, particularly if you are part of a more vulnerable group
- Staying hydrated and avoiding strenuous outdoor exercise