Public health and environment
Proper environmental management is the key to avoiding a quarter of all preventable illnesses that are directly caused by environmental factors. The environment influences our health in many ways – due to exposures to physical, chemical and biological risk factors, or through related changes in our behaviour in response to those factors. Each year, thirteen million deaths are due to preventable environmental causes. Preventing environmental risk can save as many as four million lives a year, predominantly in developing countries, among children aged less than 15 years.
fact buffet
Global disease burden
23%of the global disease burden is attributable to the environment
Preventing disease through healthy environmentsHousehold air pollution burden
2 milliondeaths every year as a result of exposure to indoor smoke from cooking fuels
Mortality and burden of disease from household air pollutionWater and sanitation burden
88%of the diarrhoal deaths are due to unsafe water, inappropriate sanitation and lack of hygiene
Mortality and burden of disease from water and sanitation
