Life Support : The Environment and Human Health

by Michael McCally (Ed.)

• ISBN13: 9780262632577
• ISBN10: 0262632578
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-16
• Publisher: Mit Pr

Summary

Life Supportbrings together the best medical information available on the implications for human health of the global environmental crisis. Written by prominent physicians and public health experts who see environmental degradation as a serious threat to public health, it provides essential information for health professionals, policymakers, concerned citizens, and environmental activists. The book, which is a sequel to the 1993 Critical Condition, covers a broad range of topics, including air and water pollution, population and consumption, climate change, ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, war, and vulnerable populations (workers and children). It also discusses such controversial topics as environmental endocrine disruption and risk assessment. The focus is on solutions. Each chapter ends with specific recommendations for actions to solve particular environmental health problems. Underlying the book are three major themes: that the habitat is an important determinant of human health, that prevention of human illness must involve protection of the environment, and that well-informed physicians can and should communicate with the public and policymakers about environmental hazards.

Author Biography

Michael McCally is Professor, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Contributors	xi
Environment, Health, and Risk	1	(14)
Michael McCally
Urban and Transboundary Air Pollution	15	(24)
David C. Christiani
Mark A. Woodin
Water Quality and Water Resources	39	(26)
John M. Balbus
Human Health and Heavy Metals Exposure	65	(18)
Howard Hu
Population, Consumption, and Human Health	83	(16)
J. Joseph Speidel
Global Climate Change and Health	99	(20)
Andrew Haines
Anthony J. McMichael
Paul R. Epstein
Species Loss and Ecosystem Disruption	119	(16)
Eric Chivian
Ozone Depletion and Ultraviolet Radiation	135	(12)
Frank R. de Gruijl
Jan C. van der Leun
Environmental Endocrine Disruption	147	(16)
Gina M. Solomon
Ted Schettler
Body Burdens of Industrial Chemicals in the General Population	163	(38)
Joe Thornton
Michael McCally
Jeff Howard
Cancer and the Environment	201	(10)
Richard W. Clapp
Radiation and Health	211	(20)
Maureen Hatch
Michael McCally
The Science of Risk Assessment	231	(8)
John C. Bailar III
A. John Bailer
The Precautionary Principle	239	(18)
Ted Schettler
Katherine Barrett
Carolyn Raffensperger
Vulnerable Populations	257	(16)
Philip Landrigan
Anjali Garg
War and the Environment	273	(12)
Jennifer Leaning
Sustainable Health Care and Emerging Ethical Responsibilities	285	(12)
Andrew Jameton
Jessica Pierce
Index	297