Environmental health

An array of motorbikes crossing Long Bien Bridge on the Red River in Hanoi, Viet Nam
UN Photo/Kibae Park
An array of motorbikes crossing Long Bien Bridge on the Red River in Hanoi, Viet Nam

Environmental health deals with water, air and soil pollution, healthcare waste, chemical safety, the health impact of development projects in terms of the associated agents, pollutants and other factors affecting human health. Activities in environmental health are targeted towards preventing disease and creating a health-supportive environment.

Urban outdoor air pollution is estimated to cause 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year. Those living in middle-income countries disproportionately experience this burden. Indoor air pollution is estimated to cause approximately 2 million premature deaths, mostly in developing countries. Almost half of these deaths are due to pneumonia in children under 5 years of age.

General information

Partners and links

Highlighted publications

World health statistics 2013
  • World Health Statistics 2013
    World Health Statistics 2013 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.
Global report on the status of road safety 2013
  • Global status report on road safety 2013
    The Global status report on road safety 2013 presents information on road safety from 182 countries, accounting for almost 99% of the world’s population. The report indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths remains unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year.
  • Atlas of health and climate
    The Atlas of health and climate is a product of this unique collaboration between the meteorological and public health communities. It provides sound scientific information on the connections between weather and climate and major health challenges.
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