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KMID : 1138720080340020010
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Korean Public Health Research
2008 Volume.34 No. 2 p.10 ~ p.18
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Environmental Health
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Lee Jong-Tae
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Abstract
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There is no exception for a human being to interact with environmental factors for maintaining his/her life span. Here we define the domain of the environment and the definition of environmental diseases. Public concerns on the environmental health problems have been increased because of several instances including the increment of mortality and morbidity of a certain disease which may closely related with environmental factors, the frequent reports on the detection of hazardous chemicals in foods, air, and water, etc, and lots of epidemiologic findings suggesting the causal association between environmental factors and health outcomes. Current status of environmental health policy in Korea is also discussed in three aspects. First in covers the precautionary principle as a main principle of environmental health policy. Secondly, a question on disease-only-based environmental health approach without considering a specific environmental issue has been raised in argument. Finally, present state of environmental health researches was reviewed. In conclusion, we need to recognize that the environmental health area be under the domain of the public health, emphasize the importance of the precautionary principle for establishing the environmental health policies and consider the macro factors such as socio-economic status, cultural background, and the climate changes as well.
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KEYWORD
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environmental health, the precautionary principle, environmental diseases
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