W3 - The Natural, Built, and Virtual Environments PDF

W3 - The natural, built and virtual environments Sunday, 17 March 2024 11:08 pm Environment condition: What is an environment: Broad meaning. The environment is made up of external elements that surround, can affect and influence out health and wellbeing - Its seen as having 3 interlinked domains of...

W3 - The natural, built and virtual environments Sunday, 17 March 2024 11:08 pm Environment condition: What is an environment: Broad meaning. The environment is made up of external elements that surround, can affect and influence out health and wellbeing - Its seen as having 3 interlinked domains of 'natural', 'built, and 'virtual' according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: ○ Natural environment is classified as the landscape, habitats ( on land, water or air) and species on earth ○ Built environment is everything humans have made ○ Virtual environment covers information and communication technology How does it impact how H&WB: Historically it used to focus on development issues like water quality, sanitation and housing. The contemporary conditions we now work, play and recreate in are quickly becoming undermined by rapid environmental changes eg climate change and globalisation Through temperature, air quality and water quality were seeing more extreme weather conditions impacting our health. Eg severe flooding in Queensland There was hazardous air pollution, resulting from bushfires nation wide. Sea levels rising which increases the risk of damage by storms and impacting directly agriculture and our forests. Natural environments: factors that can affect our natural environment and health and wellbeing are Having safe water and foods, effective sanitation methods, population growth, extreme weather conditions and climate change Air quality: It becomes polluted when it contain to high of amounts of gases, particles dust or fumes considered harmful to humans and animals or damaging to natural materials like plants Pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere are called primary pollutants eg factories and cars. These can undergo chemical change in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants like the ozone It becomes polluted when it contain to high of amounts of gases, particles dust or fumes considered harmful to humans and animals or damaging to natural materials like plants Pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere are called primary pollutants eg factories and cars. These can undergo chemical change in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants like the ozone How does it impact our H&WB: - Long term exposure to air pollution increases risk of morbidity and mortality for CVD and respiratory diseases Extreme weather events: Includes thunderstorms, heatwaves, bushfires and drought These effects can be immediate and physical (death or injury to bushfires), short-term (loss of clean water due to floods) or long-term (mental health problems or chronic injury) Australia is drought-prone and many areas have a dry climate, we also have long periods of below-average rainfall How does it impact our H&WB: - Smoke from bush-fires have a significant effect on respiratory health - Drought, storm and floods impact the physical and financial access to health foods, from its restricted availability increasing it prices. Climate change: Defined as a change in the state of the climate, identified by statistical tests and changes in the mean and variability of its properties, which persist for an extended period of time AIHW explain that climate change effects our health through extreme weather events to infectious and communicable diseases and availability of food and water. This can result in health effects like thermal stress, injury, disease, food security and poor mental health Built environments: including things we've made and modified like our homes, schools and workplaces, recreation and even transport. Also referred to as urban determinates How does it impact our H&WB: - These built environments can directly shape an individuals lifestyle conditions, restricting or promoting our access to health and wellbeing resources - They can promote health behaviours like physical activity or strengthen social interactions Built environment determinants: - Urban form (shape size, layout and population density), indoor air quality, walkability(access to physical activity opportunities) transport, green spaces and noise Virtual environments: referred to the virtual world, it is something built by humans and constantly - Urban form (shape size, layout and population density), indoor air quality, walkability(access to physical activity opportunities) transport, green spaces and noise Virtual environments: referred to the virtual world, it is something built by humans and constantly maintained by us eg when we used to go from in-person teaching to online learning. How it impacts our H&WB: - A lot more health risks leading to obesity due to the increase in sedentary lifestyles - People tend to isolate more due to the increased use of technology impacting their mental health and possibly developing mental health disorders