If you have a general sense that there is a link between health and the environment, but you are not sure what it is, today’s show is just for you! In this episode, I look at the connection between the environment and health and share some fascinating findings. There is even an entire discipline, called environmental health, dedicated to exploring this relationship. You will hear about different definitions of environment and health and why these concepts need to include a range of factors. I also walk through the ways pollutants impact our health and shed light on the reasons we are all differently affected by these contaminants. There is irrefutable evidence illustrating the benefits of spending time in nature. So, when we preserve our environment, we inherently protect our health.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Discover more about the intersectional discipline, environmental health.
• The environment can impact our health and wellbeing both directly and indirectly.
• Definitions of environment from reputable sources like the Canadian government and Environment Canada.
• How we may think about our environment as ripples in water.
• Definitions of health, according to the World Health Organization and the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.
• There are numerous factors that influence our health status.
• An example of how different kinds of pollution impact our health.
• Hear some of the many benefits of spending time in nature.
• Three basic ways that contaminants in the environment can get into our bodies. 
• Various ways we can be proactive in preventing harm and ensuring environmental health for all.
• The links between Sustainable Development Goals and health.

Key Messages: 

1. Environment and health (environmental health) is a discipline in science.
2. We can define the environment quite broadly when we think about the physical, biological, and social environments.
3. When we think about health, we should really include wellbeing, not just the absence of disease.
4. Pollutants can negatively affect human health. The effect they have on us can vary depending on factors such as age, other diseases, and our immune systems.
5. There are real, tangible benefits to spending time in nature.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Kristina Hunter Flourishing Resources

The Unexpected Giftbox

Live.Well.Green Podcast

Sustainable Development Goal 3

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Environment Canada