ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the different environmental hazards present in the human environment and the toll they take on health. Virtually all such hazards can be greatly reduced or eliminated or their health impact much reduced. Most are only there because of human action (for instance high levels of air pollution from industries, power stations and road vehicles) or human inaction (for instance the failure of governments to ensure residential areas have safe, protected water supplies and drains). Where possible, figures are given for the number of people who are disabled or die each year from each hazard, or are at risk. There is some overlap between this and the next chapter, but while this chapter concentrates on the environmental hazards, Chapter 3 concentrates on the infant and the young and older child and what makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards. *
