CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND HEALTH: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PAST CENTURIES

Abstract

The relationship between overall environment - social and physical - and human health status is not new.  As Galvao et al. (2009) said that climate change, urbanization, rural development, agriculture and food security are intertwined determinants of population health and health equity.  Since the existence of human civilization both of these have been proven to have a very close relationship and mutual influence.  History of the cholera outbreak in mid 19th century discovered in London by John Snow is one proof that environment affects the health of mankind.  Likewise, human behavior is also crucial circumstances surrounding environment, both locally and globally.

People experiences the genesis interaction between nature and human beings that are not favorable either direct or indirect more often today. Direct incidence of natural disasters eg floods, landslides is a few of the many events that are not desired by anyone.  Genesis indirectly eg changes in the nature of disease vectors because of changes in the physical environment that complicate its eradication.

This paper will critically discuss the relationship between the environment and human health from the beginning of human civilization until now hoped to remind us all to always pay attention to the environment when people will make innovations to meet their needs.