ABSTRACT
Peace and social stability is clearly an underlying condition, the importance of which was brought into sharp focus by the British Medical Association report on the medical and health impacts of nuclear war. Human health and well-being have had a central position in the interpretation of the concept of sustainability. The sustainability of policies, programmes and projects can only be assured if the full range of potential impacts is appraised in a timely fashion and if actions proceed from that appraisal. Many impacts on human health ore mediated through, or influenced by, the biophysical environment. The nature of potential environmental threats to health varies between countries and is often linked to economic circumstances. Responsibilities for managing the environment to safeguard human health have derived from legislation on public health, occupational and environmental health, the regulation of industrial activity and the planning of new development.
