Microorganisms for Sustainable Environment and Health covers hazardous pollutants released from natural as well as anthropogenic activities and implications on environmental and human health. This book serves as a valuable source of basic knowledge and recent developments in the clean technologies and pollution-associated diseases and abnormalities in the context of microorganisms. Focused on current solutions to various environmental problems in the field of bioremediation, it provides a detailed knowledge on the various types of toxic environmental pollutants discharged from different sources, their toxicological effects in environments, humans, animals and plants as well as their biodegradation and bioremediation approaches. This book helps environmental scientists and microbiologists learn about existing environmental problems and suggests ways to control or contain their effects by employing various treatment approaches. - Provides information on waste treatment approaches using microbes - Includes applications in biofuel and bioenergy production - Covers green belt development, hydroponics, phytoremediation, wetland treatment technology, and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) - Discusses dissemination of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microbes and strategies to combat multi-drug resistance (MDR)

This book examines the underlying concepts, the history of environmental health, and the key factors that affect public health including air pollution, water contamination, industrial hazards and agricultural hazards.The increasing impact of global environmental issues is explored as they affect countries throughout the world.

Longstanding evidence of the links between the environment, development and human health has led to a recognition of the need for public health policy to address sustainable development in low, middle and high income countries. One of the great challenges for public health practitioners is to understand and try to modify the relationship between the environment and health. This book examines the underlying concepts and history of environmental public health including the key factors: • Air pollution • Chemical contamination • Climate hazards • Housing and the built environment This book has been fully revised to discuss recent international environmental conventions and legislation in the fast-moving world of global environmental health. UK and global issues are covered, such as urbanization and the impact of transport on air pollution, housing and indoor air quality, and the impact of environmental change on high and low income countries. Understanding Public Health is an innovative series published by Open University Press in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where it is used as a key learning resource for postgraduate programmes. It provides self-directed learning covering the major issues in public health affecting low, middle and high income countries. "The fully revised second edition presents the wide range of environmental issues that are relevant to public health with academic rigour, but loses none of the ease of use for self-directed study of the first edition, with several new activities and feedback within each chapter." Dr. Sotiris Vardoulakis, Head of Environmental Change Department, Public Health England, UK “The broadening of the traditional scope of environmental health is clearly presented in this book. The 19th century view of this branch of public health still prevalent among public health practitioners has finally been updated, with a change to a global perspective. Energy choices, climate change, ecosystem services, waste are now appropriately included as environmental factors affecting health, and through this lens traditional topics of air, water and soil can be re-interpreted. This overview provides a solid foundation for all public health practitioners intending to include environmental health as part of a renewed mainstream public health capable of engaging with the full range of environmental challenges to sustainable health and wellbeing in contemporary societies.” Giovanni Leonardi, Head of the Environmental Epidemiology Group, Public Health England, UK

Environmental Nutrition: Connecting Health and Nutrition with Environmentally Sustainable Diets explores the connection between diet, environmental sustainability and human health. Current food systems are a major contributor to our most pressing health and environmental issues, including climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity and chronic diseases. This book not only seeks to increase our understanding of the interrelatedness of these major global issues, but also aids in the creation of new solutions. Sections discuss the diet, the health and environment trilemma, food systems and their trends, environmental nutrition as an all-encompassing discipline, and the environmental nutrition model.

Pollution has been a developing problem for quite some time in the modern world, and it is no secret how these chemicals negatively affect the environment. With these contaminants penetrating the earth’s water supply, affecting weather patterns, and threatening human health, it is critical to study the interaction between commercially produced chemicals and the overall ecosystem. Understanding the nature of these pollutants, the extent in which they are harmful to humans, and quantifying the total risks are a necessity in protecting the future of our world. The Handbook of Research on Emerging Developments and Environmental Impacts of Ecological Chemistry is an essential reference source that discusses the process of chemical contributions and their behavior within the environment. Featuring research on topics such as organic pollution, biochemical technology, and food quality assurance, this book is ideally designed for environmental professionals, researchers, scientists, graduate students, academicians, and policymakers seeking coverage on the main concerns, approaches, and solutions of ecological chemistry in the environment.

Sustainable Healthcare sets out a vision for medical care of high quality, manageable cost and low impact on the planetary systems which sustain us. In tackling the major challenges of our age, such as resource depletion, loss of biodiversity and climate change, health services can play a central role, moving from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution. Sustainable Healthcare explores questions such as: What is the relevance of sustainability in healthcare? How does climate change threaten human health? How can we create low carbon care pathways? How can healthcare organizations deal better with their waste? How can death and dying become more sustainable? How can we engage ourselves and others with this agenda? Written by an international team combining clinical, educational, practical and policy expertise in sustainability and health, this book provides a synopsis of our current predicaments, and explores some of the emerging solutions. Containing case studies and resources for further information and action, Sustainable Healthcare is a practical guide to making healthcare more sustainable for all healthcare professionals, managers and students. "Once in a while one comes across a book that makes a deep impact. Sustainable Healthcare is such a book and very timely in the context of modern healthcare and developing green policies.... The book is clear in ideas of critical thinking, scientific evidence and practical suggestions for transformative action.... An additional strength in this book are the summary key papers and reports including key points from the chapters. In addition, there is a comprehensive list of references in each chapter.... The authors cut through the jargon and challenge the rhetoric of both fear and denial.... The authors give examples of how we can engage with sustainability such as, diet and exercise, prescription management, contraception management and family planning and end of life care.... The book provides useful sources, references and key actions for individuals, healthcare organisations and policy making departments." —A review by Prof Davinder Sandhu, Postgraduate Dean, Health Education South West, Severn Deanery, UK

Green Healthcare Institutions : Health, Environment, and Economics, Workshop Summary is based on the ninth workshop in a series of workshops sponsored by the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine since the roundtable began meeting in 1998. When choosing workshops and activities, the roundtable looks for areas of mutual concern and also areas that need further research to develop a strong environmental science background. This workshop focused on the environmental and health impacts related to the design, construction, and operations of healthcare facilities, which are part of one of the largest service industries in the United States. Healthcare institutions are major employers with a considerable role in the community, and it is important to analyze this significant industry. The environment of healthcare facilities is unique; it has multiple stakeholders on both sides, as the givers and the receivers of care. In order to provide optimal care, more research is needed to determine the impacts of the built environment on human health. The scientific evidence for embarking on a green building agenda is not complete, and at present, scientists have limited information. Green Healthcare Institutions : Health, Environment, and Economics, Workshop Summary captures the discussions and presentations by the speakers and participants; they identified the areas in which additional research is needed, the processes by which change can occur, and the gaps in knowledge.

The United Nations describes sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It encompasses the need to incorporate growing concerns about a range of environmental and public health issues with socio-economic affairs. This new book focuses on the goal of implementing greener environment approaches while considering public health and human well-being and economies. The volume presents and examines advances, developments, and the underlying concepts of a healthy urban environment in the areas of water and wastewater treatment, food supply under sustainable development, and chemical contamination.

The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

This volume examines the intersections of health care and environmental health, both in terms of traditional failures and the revolution underway to fix them. Authored by one of the pioneers in health care's green movement, it presents practical solutions for health care organizations and clinicians to improve their environments and the health of their communities.