
The World Health Organization states that over 24% of all global deaths are linked to the environment in some way. While environmental changes won’t affect you directly and lead to your death right away, they can bring lingering health issues that will get worse in the long run. And these can be anything from pollution to infestations, allergies and many others.
There are many emerging challenges that you have to be aware of, from chemical contamination to a plethora of other concerns. That’s why it’s imperative to stay informed and ensure you get info from the right sources. As someone that works with environmental organizations, I think it’s imperative to only educate yourself from important resources. Otherwise, you can end up with misinformation or even worse, manipulatory actions from those that bend the truth.
Why Staying Informed Matters?
Why should we care about getting the right information from professional sources? As an industry professional, I can tell you that adequate information can actively save your life. Countless times I encountered people that didn’t really care about environmental toxins and how they can affect their health. But if you start focusing on environmental problems, you’ll learn how to improve your lifestyle. And, based on my experience, it becomes easier to stay healthy while preventing health problems as well.
Then we also have to think about the effects that pollution has on the ecosystem and how it affects future generations. It’s very easy to think only about ourselves and how that will impact us. But realistically, it’s not a “me only” world, we have to think about the damage we do to our environment. That’s because future generations will inherit what we leave them, and if we continue down this path, it will not be good. Taking action and being informed is the first step towards a better environmental future for our society and children.
Key Environmental Health Risks to Monitor
Chemical Contaminants
One critical aspect to consider is the type of chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives. A prominent example is AFFF, or aqueous film-forming foam, which poses significant risks and is encountered more frequently than one might expect. Serious AFFF exposure has led to settlements ranging from $200,000 to $500,000, highlighting the severity of its impact. Beyond AFFF, it is also crucial to evaluate exposure to other harmful substances, such as PFAS, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals commonly used in construction or left behind by previous tenants or building owners. Recognizing and addressing these risks is essential for maintaining both health and safety.
Air and Water Quality
Another thing to keep in mind here is the water and air quality. There are various tools that you can use in order to assess water/air quality. Those can be purchased from local or online stores. And it’s a good idea to use them, just to figure out whether the air is breathable and if the water is drinkable or not. Sure, we take these things for granted, but it does make sense to assess and see if we need an air/water purifier, for example.
Climate Change and Health
There are plenty of climate-driven disasters that appear often, from wildfires to floods, erosion, and so on. Addressing those things is important because a lot of these situations can be prevented with adequate monitoring. It’s not simple, but certainly something doable.
Practical Ways to Stay Informed
Follow Reputable Sources
Once you know how important it is to have access to the right information, the main focus is to stay informed from the best sources. When it comes to environmental content, governmental agencies like the CDC, the EPA, and even the WHO are very good sources of information. You should also consider following environmental advocacy groups and non-profits that focus on environmental protection.
Leverage Technology
One of the things I like to do when it comes to environmental info is to sign up for newsletters related to this niche. There are plenty of organizations like those specified above that have monthly or weekly newsletters. You can also use tech for environmental tasks as well, in this case, you can use apps to track air quality, water quality, environmental changes, etc. Those can prove to be extremely useful and very reliable.
Engage with Your Community
It also comes in handy to stay engaged with the community. Most regions have local focus groups related to environmental topics and sustainability. You can also attend town hall meetings and various environmental workshops, too. Staying educated and proactive will help, and if you engage others in this idea, it’s even better.
Stay Updated on Policy Changes
From time to time, governments will focus on establishing new environmental and health regulations. You want to stay up to date with those and also reach out to organizations to share feedback. It helps immensely to do that, and if you share your opinion with others, it can make a huge difference.
Participate in Environmental Advocacy
Always show support for any environmental discussion and raise awareness when it comes to environmental issues in your area. As we said earlier, supporting organizations that try to make a difference in this niche is crucial, and it can help a lot more than you might expect.
Conclusion
It’s more important than ever for us to all make a difference and stay informed. I think it’s imperative to only acquire information from the right sources. Otherwise, if you trust any random, unofficial source, you can end up tricked into believing news that might not be true. That’s why you shouldn’t take any info for granted. If you stay informed, it will be easier to create a safer, healthier future for all of us. The quicker you do that, the better.
At the same time, make sure you double-check the information you find and only trust it if it comes from an official source. I know it’s very important to only trust relevant, documented information with adequate proof. But we need to access the right information, and also raise awareness when it comes to local environmental issues because that’s what will deliver the best outcome!