ABSTRACT
The environmental aspects of health and disease basically involve pollutants delivered to the body through air, foods, and water and how the body deals with it. Pollens, dust and molds are considered to be part of the total environmental pollutant load and will eventually influence the total body load. The primary outdoor air pollutants associated with environmental changes that are of particular relevance to health are black carbon, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides, herbicides and particulate matter (PM). Heat waves have well-documented adverse health effects. Extreme heat events are associated with exacerbations of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. PM emissions tend to increase during heat waves in regions where electricity is supplied by coal-fired power plants, as a consequence of increased electrical energy use for cooling. Sulfur dioxide emissions have lessened in the United States since antipollution devices have been placed on cars.
