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Smart Things You Can Do to Improve Environmental Health Today

If you’re like me, you want to feel good about the efforts you make to do your part. Sure, there are plenty of ways that I can help improve environmental health in my day-to-day life, but I’m not always sure what those things are. You might be thinking the same thing. We don’t always have time to either care about or be actively engaged in the environmental issues that surround us — but action is always needed in the world. So, how can you help? Get started with simple things everyone can do to improve environmental health today.

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What Is Environmental Health?

Environmental health is an umbrella term for the health of our environment. It includes the air, water and land that are essential to life on Earth. Environmental health has a huge impact on all of us, directly and indirectly.

There are many different environmental hazards that affect human health.

Some people have more contact with environmental hazards than others, but ultimately no one is completely safe from them.

Environmental health hazards can come in many forms such as: soil contamination, water pollution, noise pollution, chemical exposure, radiation exposure and even climate change.

If environmental health is compromised, then it will be very difficult to have a healthy environment and therefore a healthy population. Environmental health problems can be caused by humans or other factors such as: lightning, wildfires, rainwater runoff, plant life and animal waste.

Elements in the environment like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide are also pollutants that can affect our environment by changing our atmosphere.

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The most dangerous aspect of global warming is rising sea levels which could leave millions of people without homes.

As well as this, the heat could threaten natural species which may cause food shortages and famine across the globe.

Another effect of global warming is drought which causes crops to die and in turn reduces food supplies for humans.

Science has shown that environmental factors can play a role in leading to poor health or disease. In some cases, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what factor or combination of factors led to specific illnesses.

For instance, it is hard to say with certainty whether a certain chemical caused a person’s cancer or if other risk factors were present as well.

While environmental factors are just one part of many risk factors involved in causing disease, they are important ones that scientists and doctors consider every day.

The Three Pillars of Environmental Health

Environmental health refers to the quality of the air, water, and land that surrounds us. It’s also known as environmental stewardship, and it’s a broad term encompassing a variety of concepts related to the environment.

Three main pillars form the foundation of this field: conservation, preservation, and protection. Each is important, but they work best when they work together.

The first pillar of environmental health is conservation. It’s the idea that we can preserve our natural resources by using them responsibly.

For example, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by conserving our use of them and investing in renewable resources instead. We can also take steps to avoid or reduce air and water pollution, another part of this pillar.

The second pillar focuses on preservation. This means respecting and protecting natural resources for future generations.

If you see an endangered species at risk of extinction, this is your opportunity to preserve it for future generations. As part of this pillar, you can also help fight things like deforestation.

You can do all this by working to raise awareness about important environmental issues and making sure that others are doing their part to protect the world around them as well.

The final pillar encourages environmental protection. This means defending our natural resources against harmful human activity.

Our natural resources, such as the air and water and land, are a gift to be preserved and defended against unjust alterations. Protecting the environment is not a matter of politics or money.

At its core it is simply a matter of self-respect. When you take care of your body, it will serve you well. If you take care of your house, it will shelter you from harsh weather and wild animals.

But if you neglect either one—if you smoke or drink too much or leave your house in disrepair—it won’t just fail to protect you; it will actively harm you.

  • Preserve our natural resources
  • Use our resources responsibly
  • Do not exploit our resources

The Environment Is Improving Everyday

In the past, environmental health was a dirty phrase. For many years, industry allowed chemicals and other pollutants to be released into the air, water, and soil without any consideration for who or what would suffer the consequences.

Thankfully, in recent years our environmental health has improved significantly. Toxic waste is no longer being dumped into our waterways and we are finally beginning to acknowledge that humans do influence our environment.

If you take a walk in the park today, you’ll notice that there is less litter lying around than there used to be this is because people are more aware of just how much damage littering can cause.

Further improvements need to be made but at least most Western countries are now making some effort to improve their environmental health.

Environmental concerns have managed to become less of an afterthought in recent years and more of a full-blown issue. The potential hazards posed by the degradation of our environment are becoming more real and palpable as time goes on.

Toxicity is at the top of most people’s minds when it comes to environmental health. However, there are other problems that can arise from our interaction with the natural world.

Air pollution is a major concern, touching every part of the world. It has been linked to lung disease, heart disease, respiratory problems, and even cancer.

Water pollution affects a very high proportion of the earth’s freshwater sources. This is threatening both wildlife and human populations that depend on clean water for survival.

Everywhere you look, it seems like there’s another report about how our planet is in trouble. But that doesn’t mean the world is doomed.

We may be facing some serious environmental issues. But we’re also making a lot of progress in cleaning up our act. And we’re making the planet a better place to live.

What You Can Do to Help the Environment Today

There are so many programs available to help you and your family live greener lives. And the good news is that it’s easier than ever to find them, connect with experts and get support on your eco-friendly journey.

Here are some of the top ways to reduce your carbon footprint:

Set a green goal. Whether it’s to drive less, eat meatless meals or save more energy, setting goals helps you identify which changes will be easiest and have the greatest impact.

Get informed at home. The products we use in our homes can cause serious environmental problems — from energy leaks through windows to toxic cleaning chemicals under the sink.

Get informed on the road. Many of us drive over 25,000 miles per year in cars that use gas and emit carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. Find fuel-efficient vehicles and follow eco-driving tips that can make a big difference in your car’s fuel efficiency.

Be an eco-ambassador in public places. Our everyday activities have impacts beyond our homes, cars, and daily commute.

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The greatest problem that the world faces is the challenge of climate change. Rising global temperatures, droughts, floods, shrinking icecaps and erratic weather patterns. These are all connected to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

This is due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Without a doubt, these are the main culprits behind climate change. The burning of fossil fuels helps drive climate change by emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that not only traps heat within the atmosphere but also contributes to ocean acidification, which is already killing off entire species of marine life.

Climate change has already begun to have devastating effects on our planet and its inhabitants.

Soon, if we fail to make major changes in how we generate our energy, we could see catastrophic consequences such as coastal erosion due to rising sea levels, drought conditions that lead to food shortages and floods that displace millions of people from their homes.

If we don’t make serious changes soon, it’s not too hard to imagine how climate change could wipe out huge chunks of humanity. Climate change could very well be the end of civilisation as we know it.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as Much as Possible

The term “reduce, reuse and recycle” is used to represent a sustainable lifestyle. Many people are familiar with this concept, but the best way to put it into practice may be different from what you think.

The Reduce, Reuse and Recycle mantra is often used interchangeably to mean that you should use less, buy less, and throw away less.

While these tips are good for the environment, reducing your consumption isn’t the only way to reuse things. There are many ways to repurpose items you already have.

One easy example: turn an old t-shirt into a cleaning rag. Reduce, reuse, and recycle in your daily life by thinking about how you can curb unnecessary purchases.

Avoid using disposable items like paper plates and plastic cups as much as possible. Choose reusable water bottles over bottled water. Bring your own bag with you to the grocery store so you don’t need to buy bags every week.

Recycling, reducing, and reusing are easy ways to help the environment.

TIP: Write down your ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling in a notebook or on your computer so you can track your progress.

When it comes to reducing what we use, think about how much you use a particular item and how often. For example, do you really need six pairs of shoes?

Maybe you can find an alternative that doesn’t require so much energy to make. Reusing is another easy way to reduce waste. Instead of buying new items, consider looking for things lying around your house that might have another use.

Can you reuse that plastic bag? How about the wrapping paper? Even if you must fix something up first, it still helps to reduce waste by using it again instead of buying a new one.

Recycling is a great way to reduce the amount of trash we throw away every day. If something can be recycled, take the time to do it instead of throwing it out.

You can even recycle some things that are made from paper or aluminium cans.

A Few Small Changes Each Day

First, it’s important to note that the earth is a big place. In fact, it’s so big that we humans only make up a tiny fraction of its population.

Yet, when it comes to our impact on the environment, we tend to focus on how our own personal actions can help to make the planet a better place.

I am firmly convinced that if each one of us made a few small changes each day, it would go a long way in making this world a healthier place for all living things.

Here are seven simple ways you can lessen your environmental impact:

  • 1. Turn off lights and electronics when they’re not in use
  • 2. Reduce water consumption by taking shorter showers and fixing leaky faucets
  • 3. Compost food waste instead of throwing it away
  • 4. Buy locally grown produce whenever possible
  • 5. Say no to disposable products whenever possible—use reusable bags and containers instead
  • 6. Bring your own shopping bag with you wherever you go
  • 7. Buy recycled products whenever possible

Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of some bad habits that are slowly destroying our planet. But if we all made a few small changes each day it would help our environmental health and make it a better place to live.

After reading the above article and hearing about the effects of things you do and use every day, will you make changes to help save the planet. You can and should make some changes that will positively affect our environment.

Let me tell you, it is SO easy to just flick on a light when you need some light in a room. I think we could all take this simple step each day and lower our carbon footprint by eliminating the light that we simply don’t need.

It’s one thing you can do to help, so why not?

Better environmental health delivers a healthier planet. Just by avoiding using plastic packaging and making eco-friendly choices you’re helping.


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