Health check

Outdoor air pollution also plays its part in asthma and other respiratory diseases, while noise pollution, a growing feature of high density living, remains largely ignored as an instigator of ill-health. And how many road traffic accidents, or falls among elderly people are caused by poor urban or housing design?

Finally, the continuing persistence of vector-borne infections like Ross River Virus and the threat of new infections, indicates just how vulnerable we remain to the biophysical environment and how our behaviour in modifying the natural environment has greatly increased the risk of disease.

It would also appear that some of us are more vulnerable to environmental exposures than others. Young, old and poor people and certain racial-ethnic minorities, would seem to be particularly at risk and bear a disproportionate share of the toll in terms of injury, illness and death.

The WHO report is a timely reminder of the important role the environment plays in our lives. Better management of our environment could prevent death, injury and disease. If only we would take heed.