A relationship between environmental degradation and mental health in

rural Western Australia

Abstract
Australia is currently experiencing a process of escalating ecosystem degradation. This
landscape degradation is associated with many outcomes that may directly or indirectly
impact on human health. This study used a Bayesian spatial method to examine the
effects of environmental degradation (measured as dryland salinity) on the mental
health of the resident rural population. An association was detected between dryland
salinity and depression, indicating that environmental processes may be driving the
degree of psychological ill-health in these populations.

Keywords

Salinity;
Depression;
Ecosystem health;
Environmental degradation;
Bayesian statistics
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829209000215

Causes and health consequences of environmental

degradation and social injustice
Abstract
Worldwide the greatest effects on the health of individuals and populations results from
environmental degradation and social injustice, operating in consort. This paper
describes the national and global causes and health consequences of these
phenomena. Causes include overpopulation, pollution, deforestation, global warming,
unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices, overconsumption, maldistribution of
wealth, the rise of the corporation, the Third World debt crisis, and militarization and
wars. Consequences include increased poverty, overcrowding, famine, weather
extremes, species loss, acute and chronic medical illnesses, war and human rights
abuses, and an increasingly unstable global situation that portends Malthusian chaos
and disaster.

Because of their scientific training, and due to their privileged socioeconomic status,
physicians are in a unique position to recognize these phenomena and to act at all
levels, from interactions with their patients, to volunteerism, to service and intervention
in areas of great need, to direct political activism and involvement. Specific suggestions
for action are discussed.

Keywords

Environmental degradation;

Social injustice;

Pollution;

Poverty;

Activism
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953602000552

Trade integration, environmental degradation, and public health in Chile: assessing

the linkages
Abstract

We use an empirical simulation model to examine links between trade integration, pollution,
and public health in Chile. We synthesize economic, engineering, and health data to
elucidate this complex relationship and support more coherent policy. Trade integration
scenarios examined include Chile's accession to the NAFTA, MERCOSUR, and unilateral
opening to world markets. The latter scenario induces substantial worsening of pollution,
partly because it facilitates access to cheaper and dirty energy, and has a significant
negative effect on urban morbidity and mortality. Damages caused by rising morbidity and
mortality are of similar magnitude and substantial. Emissions of small particulates, SO 2, and
NO2, have the strongest impact on local mortality and morbidity. These three pollutants
appear to be complementary in economic activity. Unilateral trade integration combined
with a tax on small particulates brings welfare gains, which are 16 per cent higher than
those obtained under unilateral trade reform alone.

Ref: John C. Beghin, Bradley J. Bowland, Sbastien Dessus, David Roland-Holst and
Dominique van der Mensbrugghe (2002). Trade integration, environmental
degradation, and public health in Chile: assessing the linkages. Environment and
Development Economics, , pp 241-267. doi:10.1017/S1355770X02000165.
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?
fromPage=online&aid=101607&fileId=S1355770X02000165

Ecology of Increasing Diseases: Population Growth and Environmental

Degradation
Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations report that the
prevalence of human diseases during the past decade is rapidly increasing.
Population growth and the pollution of water, air, and soil are contributing to
the increasing number of human diseases worldwide. Currently an estimated
40% of world deaths are due to environmental degradation. The ecology of
increasing diseases has complex factors of environmental degradation,
population growth, and the current malnutrition of about 3.7 billion people in
the world.
Key words
Ecology environmental degradation increasing disease malnutrition pollution population
growth

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10745-007-9128-3

Environmental degradation and happiness

Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonella, , ,
John M. Gowdyb

Abstract
The focus of this paper is the relationship between subjective measures of well-being
and individual environmental attitudes. We use an ordered probit model to examine the
relationship between measures of subjective well-being and attitudes regarding ozone
pollution and species extinction. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey
we find a negative coefficient for concern about ozone pollution on individual's wellbeing and a positive one for concern about species extinction. These results hold when

explanatory variables are included indicating whether or not the person lives in a
polluted environment, whether or not the person engages in outdoor leisure activities,
and the region where an individual lives. These results also hold when we control for
individual psychological traits.

JEL classification

A13;

D60

Keywords

Biodiversity;

Environmental attitudes;

Well-being;

Pollution
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800905005835

A proposed framework for developing

indicators of ecosystem health

John CairnsJr.
, Paul V. McCormick
, B. R. Niederlehner

Abstract

Considerations involved in developing a suite of indicators to monitor

regional environmental health, similar in conception to management use of
leading economic indicators, are described. Linkages between human
activities and well being and the state of the environment are considered
essential to the evaluation of general environmental health. Biogeochemical
and socioeconomic indicators are mutually affected by environmental
degradation and examples of both categories of indicators are described.
Desirable properties in indicators of environmental health vary with their
specific management use. Different indicators are called for when collecting
data to assess the adequacy of the environment, monitor trends over time,
provide early warning of environmental degradation, or diagnose the cause

of an existing problem. Tradeoffs between desirable characteristics, costs,

and quality of information are inevitable when choosing indicators for
management use. Decisions about what information to collect for which
purpose can be made more rationally when available indicators are
characterized and matched to management goals.
Key words
biological indicator environmental health linkages socioeconomic indicato

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00006084