Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments: The Contribution of Environmental Health

The physical environment is influential for every person’s health and well-being. A healthy physical environment with clean air, safe drinking water, accessible and safe spaces for recreation and socializing, and adequate housing to maintain a livable temperature, protect food, and ensure safety all contribute to maintaining good health. If the opposite situation exists, human health can be undermined through repeated infections, stress, and exposure to contaminated air and water. Preventative health measures of an environmental nature, such as ensuring essential services and housing, can be beneficial for the residents and also cost-effective when the avoided healthcare costs and shortened lives or productivity are considered. This chapter defines key terminology from the environmental health field and explores the opportunities for environmental health at local, regional, global, and planetary spatial scales. Three case studies are presented to illustrate the health benefits from safe drinking water, clean energy choices, and a functional built environment. In doing so, a strong case is made for preventing disease through ensuring healthy environments.