The Impact of Urbanization on Health and Environment
URBANIZATION
AND
HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
In the
past,
the
emphasis
of
environmental
action has
often
been
on
wilderness,
wildlife,
endangered
species
and the
impact
of
pollution
on
natural landscapes outside
cities.
Now
the
focus
of
attenttion
is
to
the
city
environments
.
City
dwellers
are
at
the
center
of some of the
most
important
environmental
issues
.
Urbanization is
an
inevitable
phenomenon
that
accompanies
the
development
of a
country.
Worldwide
are
becoming
an
increasingly
urbanized
species.
The
rapid urbanization of the
world’s
population
over
the
twentieth
century
is
described
in
the 2005
Revision
of the UN
World
Urbanization
Prospects
report.
Urbanization is
defined
as
the
process
of
human
movement
and centralization
towards
and
into
cities and urban
areas
,
with the
associated
industrialization,
urban
sprawl
and
lifestyle
that
brings.
Urbanization
does
not
only
involve
the
movement
of
people
from
rural
to
urban
areas
but
also comes about as a result
of
natural increases
in
the urban
areas.
The global
proportion
of urban
population
rose
dramatically
from
13%
(220
million)
in 1900,
to
29%
(732
million)
in
1950,
to
49% (3.2
billion) in
2005. It
is
projected
that
62% of the population
,
6.5 billion
people will
live
in
cities
by
2025
.
According
to
the UN
State
of the
World
Population
2007
report,
the
majority
of
people
worldwide
will be
living
in
towns
or
cities,
for
the
first time in
history; this
is
referred
to
as the
arrival
of
the
"Urban Millennium"
or the
'tipping
point'.
In
regard
to
future trends, it is
estimated
93% of urban
growth
will
occur in
developing
nations, with 80%
of
urban
growth
occurring
in
Asia
and
Africa
.
It
is
estimated
that
by
2015
there
will
be
36
megacities (more
than
8
million residents),
23 of
them in
Asia
.
According
to
a
new
report,
humans are building
the
equivalent
of a
city
the size
of
Vancouver
(shown
above)
every
week.
(Credit:
iStockphoto/Dan
Barnes)
With the
growing
human
populations,
we
can
imagine
two
futures
.
In
one
,
cities
are
pleasing
and
liveable,
use
resources
from
outside
the
city in
a
sustainable
way,
minimize
pollution
of the
country
and
allow
room
for
wilderness,
agriculture and
forestry.
In the
other
future,
cities
continue
to
be
seen as
environmental
negatives
and
are
allowed
to
decay
from
the
inside.
People
flee
them
to
grander
and
more
expansive
suburbs
that
occupy
much land,
and
the
poor
who remain in
the
city
live
in
an
unhealthy
and
unpleasant
environment
.
Although
such
a
city
appears
to
its
inhabitants
to grow
stronger and more
independent,
it
actually
becomes
more
fragile
.
Ironically,
without
care
for
the
city,
it
pollute
even
more
than in the
past.
A city
grows
at
the
expense
of surrounding
countryside,
destroying surrounding
landscape on
which it
depends. A
nearby
areas are
ruined
for
agriculture
and the
transportation
network extends,
the
use,
misuse and
destruction of
the
environment
increase
.
THE
CITY
AS AN
ENVIROMENT
A
city
changes the landscape and
because it
does,
it
also changes
the
relationship
between
biological
and
physical
aspects of
environment.
A
city
creates
an
environment
that
is
different
from
surrounding
areas.
City
change
local
climate; they
are
commonly
cloudier
,
warmer
and
rainier
than
surrounding
areas.
In a
city,
everything
is
concentrated,
including
pollutants.
City
dwellers
are
exposed
to
more
kinds
of
toxic
chemicals in higher
concentrations
and
to
more
human-
produced
noise, heat and particulates
than are their
rural
neighbors.
In
general,
life
in
a city
is
riskier
because
of
higher concentrations
of
pollutants
and
pollutant-related
diseases.
For
example,
lives
are
shortened
by
an
average
of
one
to
two
years
in
the
most
polluted
cities
in
the
United
States
.
The city with
greatest
number of
early
deaths
is
Los Angeles,
with
an
estimated
5,
973
early
deaths
per
year,
followed
by
New
York
with
4,024,
Chicago with
3,479
and
Philadelphia with
2,590.
URBAN
CHARACTERISTIC
Urban area are
characterised
by
their
high
density population
, who are
accomodated
by
the
development
of
extensive
road
networks,
housing schemes,
service
and
production
industries
and
recreational
facilities.
However,
in
low
and
middle
income
countries
with
rapid urbanisation,
there
are areas which
large
increases in
population
density
,
an
uncontrolled
increase in
pollution
(air and
water)
and a
lack
of
basic infrastructure
(health care,
water,
sewerage
and
waste
disposal).
The increasing concentration
of
people in urban
centers
has strained
the
capacity of most
governments
to
provide
basic
services
.
Illegal
slums
and
settlements
are
common. The
number
of
people living in slums
and
shanty
towns
represent
about
one-third
of the
people
living
in
cities in
developing
countries.
In such areas,
people
are usually
deprived
of
access
to
the basic
facilities
of drinking
water
and
waste
disposal.
Resources
are
not
adequate
for
removal
or disposal of
waste.
Residents
have
little access
to
facilities
which
make
for
a reasonable
quality
of
life
and
human
development.
\
Thus
they
often
suffer
from
greater exposure
to
dust,
unpleasant
smells, chemicals
and
noise
pollution,
and the
nature
of
dwelling
makes
them
less able
to
withstand
such
hazards.
There
is
direct link
between
people
dwelling
in
such conditions
and
cholera, viral hepatitis,
typhoid
fever,
schistomiasis,
diarrhea
and
parasitic
diseases
that are
carried
by
water
or poor
sanitation,
overcrowding
and
poor
diet.
These circumstances
have
meant
a rise
in
these areas of
communicable diseases
,
known
as the ‘
diseases of
poverty
’
including malaria,
respiratory diseases, nutritional deficiency
and
drug-related
illness.
For
example,
in
Zambia
, the most
urbanized
country
in
the
African region,
water-borne
diseases
such
as
cholera
and
dysentery are
prevalent
due
to
lack
of
access
to
clean
water
and
bad
sanitation.
More
than
half
of
the
Mozambican
urban
population
lives
in
unsanitary and
unhealthy
conditions and
the
levels
of
urban
unemployment
are
extremely
high. The
unhealthy
conditions
are
putting
a
huge strain
on the
country’s
health
system.
They
are
also
exposed
to
health
risks
of modern
cities
–
traffic,
pollution etc., and suffer
the
consequences
of social and
psychological
instability
as the
traditional
support
structures
of
rural
areas
steadily
disappear.
Writing
in
the
"Anatolian
Journal
of Psychiatry"
in
2008, M.
Tayfun
Turan
and Asli
Besirli
found
that
the
social
problems associated
with urban
societies,
the
traffic
problems
and
the
general
anxiety
about the
future
contributed
to
an
increase
in
mental health
disorders
.
URBANIZATION
AND
HEALTH
Urbanity and
health
involves
the
connection
between urban
life
and the
living conditions
affecting human
health.
Urbanization
affects
human
health in
several
ways,
from
dietary
patterns
to
the
physical envir
onment
.
The
concentration
of people
in urban areas, with
a
multitude
of
economic
activity
including
industrial
production
and
extensive
transportation,
contributes
to
air
pollution, which is
a
major
health
hazard.
Figure
1 Health effects
of environmental
pollution
Although
urbanization
allows
more
accessibility
to
health
services,
it
also
creates
health
hazards.
In
poor
parts
of the
cities
,
health
problems
include
inadequate
water
and sanitation,
limited
or
no
waste
disposal and
poor air
quality,
as
well
as
crowded
living conditions
and
general
poverty.
Urbanization
affects
human
health
in
several
ways
,
from
dietary
patterns
to
the
physical
environment
.
The
concentration
of
people in urban
areas, with a
multitude of
economic
activity
including industrial production and
extensive
transportation,
contributes
to
air
pollution,
which
is a major
health
hazard.
In
such urban areas
the
air,
land and
water
are
often
contaminated,
spreading
disease
.
In
cities in
the
more
affluent
parts
of the
world,
health
hazards
resulting
from
urbanization
are
mainly
connected
to
air
pollution,
as
well
as
crime,
traffic
and
lifestyle
.
Some
problems connected
to
the
urban
physical
environment
affect
virtually
everyone,
particularly
air
pollution. The
burning
of
fossil
fuels
from
transportation,
industry
and
energy
production
is
the
main culprit
regarding
outdoor
urban
air
pollution. Another health
hazard
common
in, but
not
exclusive to,
the
cities is
connected
to
lifestyle
and
consumption patterns, including
dietary
changes
and
obesity
.
CONCLUSION
Cities offer
the
lure
of
better
employment,
education, health care,
and culture; and
they
contribute
disproportionately
to
national
economies.
However,
rapid,
unplanned and
unsustainable
patterns
of
urban
development
are
making
developing
cities
focal
points
for
many
emerging
environment
and
health
hazards
.
To
make
cities
healthy,
we
must,
all
those
who
deal
with aspects
of the
urban
system
that directly
or
indirectly
affect health
,
involve
themselves
in
urban health
planning.
Urban
planning
can
promote
healthy
behavior
and
safety
through
investment
in
active
transport,
designing areas
to
promote
physical
activity
and
passing
regulatory
control
on
pollution
and
safety.
Improving
urban
living conditions
in
the
areas
of
housing,
water
and
sanitation
will go
a
long
way
to
mitigate
health
risks
.
Building
inclusive
cities
that are
accessible
and
age-friendly will benefit
all urban residents. Such actions
do
not
require
additional funding,
but
commitment
to
redirect
resources
to
priority
interventions, thereby
achieving
greater
efficiency.
Urbanization is a growing trend with significant implications for health and the environment. The shift towards city living is creating challenges such as pollution, lifestyle changes, and urban sprawl. The rapid increase in urban populations is projected to continue, particularly in developing nations. This urbanization trend poses both opportunities and risks that need to be addressed for sustainable development.
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Presentation Transcript
URBANIZATION URBANIZATION AND HEALTH HEALTH AND
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION In the past, the emphasis of environmental action has often been on wilderness, wildlife, endangered species and the impact of pollution on natural landscapes outside cities. Now the focus of attenttion is to the city city environments environments. City the center of some of the most important important environmental environmental issues City dwellers dwellers areat most issues.
Urbanization is an inevitable phenomenon phenomenon that accompanies the development of a country. inevitable Worldwide are becoming an increasingly increasingly urbanized species. The rapid urbanization of the world s population over the twentieth century is described in the 2005 Revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects report.
Urbanization is defined as the human human movement movement and centralization towards towards and and into into cities and urban cities and urban areas with the associated industrialization, urban sprawl and lifestyle that brings. the process process of and centralization of areas, Urbanization does not only involve the movement of people from rural areas but also comes about as a result of natural increases natural increases in the urban areas. rural to to urban urban
The global proportion of urban population rose dramatically from 13% (220 million) in 1900, to29% (732 million) in 1950, to 49% (3.2 billion) in 2005. It is projected that 62% of the population 62% of the population, 6.5 billion people will live in cities by 2025 6.5 billion 2025.
According to the UN State of the World Population 2007 report, the majority of people worldwide will be living in towns or cities, for the first time in history; this is referred to as the arrival of the "Urban Millennium" or the 'tipping point'. In regard to future trends, it is estimated 93% of urban growth will occur in developing nations, with 80% of urban growth occurring in Asia and Africa. It is estimated that by 2015 there will be 36 megacities (more than 8 million residents), 23 of Asia Asia. 2015 23 of them in them in
According to a new report, humans are building the equivalent of a city the size the size of of Vancouver Vancouver (shown above) everyweek. (Credit: iStockphoto/Dan Barnes)
With the growing human populations, we can imagine two futures futures. two In one liveable, use resources from outside the city in a sustainable way, minimize pollution of the country and allow room for wilderness, agriculture and forestry. one, cities are pleasing and
In the other future, cities continue to be seen as environmental environmental negatives negatives and are allowed to from the inside. to decay decay People flee them to grander and more expansive suburbs that occupy much land, and the poor who remain in the city live in an unhealthy unhealthy and and unpleasant unpleasant environment environment. poor
Although Although such inhabitants inhabitants to grow independent, independent, it it actually fragile fragile. . such a a city to grow stronger and more stronger and more actually becomes becomes more city appears appears to to its its more Ironically, Ironically, without pollute pollute even even more without care more than in the than in the past. care for for the the city, city,it past. it A city A city grows countryside, countryside, destroying surrounding destroying surrounding landscape on landscape on which it which it depends. A areas are areas are ruined ruined for for agriculture transportation transportation network extends, network extends, the misuse and misuse and destruction of destruction of the environment environment increase increase. . grows at at the the expense expense of surrounding of surrounding depends. A nearby agriculture and the nearby and the the use, use, the
THE THE CITY CITY AS AN AS AN ENVIROMENT ENVIROMENT A city changes the landscape and because it does, it also changes the relationship between biological and physical aspects of environment. A city creates an environment that is different different from surrounding areas. City change local climate; they are commonly cloudier cloudier, warmer rainier rainier than surrounding areas. warmer and
In a city, everything is concentrated, including pollutants. City dwellers are exposed kinds kinds of toxic chemicals in higher concentrations and to more human- produced noise, heat and particulates than are their rural neighbors. exposed to to more more In general, life in a city is riskier because of higher concentrations higher concentrations of pollutants and pollutant-related diseases. riskier
For example, lives are shortened by an average of one one to the most most polluted polluted cities United United States States. to two two years cities in the years in The city with greatest number of early deaths is Los Angeles, with an estimated 5, 973 early deaths per year, followed by New York with 4,024, Chicago with 3,479and Philadelphia with 2,590.
URBAN URBAN CHARACTERISTIC CHARACTERISTIC Urban area are Urban area are characterised density population density population, who are the the development development of housing schemes, housing schemes, service industries industries and and recreational characterised by , who are accomodated accomodated by of extensive extensive road roadnetworks, service and and production recreationalfacilities. facilities. by their their high high by networks, production
However, However, in rapid urbanisation, rapid urbanisation, there increases in increases in population increase in increase in pollution pollution (air and basic infrastructure basic infrastructure (health care, and and waste waste disposal). disposal). in low low and and middle middle income there are areas which are areas which large population density density, , an (air and water) water) and a (health care, water, income countries countries with with large an uncontrolled uncontrolled and a lack water, sewerage sewerage lack of of The increasing concentration of people in urban centers has strained the capacity of most governments governments to to provide provide basic slums and settlements are common. The number of people living in slums and shanty towns represent about one one- -third third of the people living in cities in developing countries. capacity of most basic services services. Illegal
In such areas, people are usually deprived access access to to the basic the basic facilities facilities of drinking water and waste disposal. Resources are not adequate for removal or disposal of waste. Residents have little access little access to make for a reasonable quality of life and human development. deprived of of to facilities facilities which
\ Thus they often suffer from greater exposure dust, unpleasant smells, chemicals and noise pollution, and the nature of dwelling makes them less able less able to withstand such hazards. greater exposure to There is direct link between people dwelling in such conditions and cholera, viral hepatitis, typhoid fever, schistomiasis, diarrhea and parasitic diseases that are carried by water or poor sanitation, overcrowding and poor diet.
These circumstances These circumstances have these areas of these areas of communicable diseases communicable diseases, , known as the as the diseases of diseases of poverty poverty including malaria, respiratory diseases, nutritional deficiency respiratory diseases, nutritional deficiency and drug drug- -related related illness. illness. have meant meant a rise a rise in in known including malaria, and
For example, in Zambia country in the African region, water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery are prevalent due to lack of access to clean water and bad sanitation. Zambia, the most urbanized More than half of the Mozambican population lives in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions and the levels of urban unemployment are extremely high. The unhealthy conditions are putting a huge strain on the country s health system. Mozambican urban
They are also exposed cities cities traffic, pollution etc., and suffer the consequences of social and psychological instability as the traditional support structures of rural areas steadily disappear. exposed to to health health risks risks of modern of modern Writing in the "Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry" in 2008, M. Tayfun Turan and Asli Besirli found that the social problems associated with urban societies, the traffic problems and the general anxiety about the future contributed to an increase in mental health mental health disorders disorders. increase
URBANIZATION URBANIZATION AND AND HEALTH HEALTH Urbanity Urbanity and between urban life and the living conditions affecting human health. and health health involves the connection Urbanization affects human health in several ways, from dietary dietary patterns patterns to the physical The concentration concentration of people in urban areas, with a multitude of economic economic activity activity including industrial production and extensive transportation, contributes to air pollution, which is a major health hazard. physical envir environment.
Although Although urbanization urbanization allows health health services, services, it it also poor poor parts parts of the of the cities inadequate inadequate water water and sanitation, waste waste disposal and disposal and poor air crowded crowded living conditions living conditions and allows more also creates creates health cities, , health health problems and sanitation, limited poor air quality, quality, as and general more accessibility accessibility to health hazards. hazards. In problems include limited or as well well as generalpoverty. poverty. to In include or no no as Urbanization Urbanization affects ways ways, , from from dietary environment environment. . The areas, with a areas, with a multitude of including industrial production and including industrial production and extensive transportation, transportation, contributes contributes to is a major is a major health health hazard. hazard. affects human human health dietary patterns patterns to The concentration concentration of multitude of economic health in to the the physical physical of people in urban people in urban economic activity activity extensive to air air pollution, pollution, which in several several which
In such urban areas the air, land and water are often contaminated, contaminated, spreading spreading disease the more affluent parts of the world, health hazards resulting from urbanization are mainly connected to air pollution, as well as crime, and and lifestyle lifestyle. disease. In cities in crime, traffic traffic Some problems connected to the urban physical environment affect virtually everyone, particularly air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels from transportation, industry and energy production is the main culprit regarding outdoor urban air pollution. Another health hazard common in, but not exclusive to, the cities is connected to lifestyle and consumption patterns, including dietary changes changes and and obesity obesity. dietary
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION Cities offer the lure of better employment, education, health care, and culture; and they contribute disproportionately to national economies. better However, rapid, unsustainable unsustainable patterns of urban development are making developing cities focal points for many emerging environment environment and and health health hazards rapid, unplanned and unplanned and emerging hazards.
To make cities healthy, we must, all those who deal deal with aspects with aspects of the urban urban system system that directly that directly or affect health affect health, involve themselves in urban health planning. of the or indirectly indirectly Urban planning can promote healthy behavior and safety through investment in active transport, designing areas to promote physical activity and passing regulatory control on pollution and safety.
Improving Improving urban areas of housing, water and sanitation will go a long way to to mitigate risks risks. urban living conditions living conditions in the mitigate health health Building inclusive cities that are accessible and age-friendly will benefit all urban residents. Such actions do not require additional funding, but commitment to redirect resources to priority interventions, thereby achieving greater efficiency.
![slide21](https://data1.slideorbit.com/236182/slide21-n.jpg "\")
