ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES(ES)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Lesson 31: Environment and human health

Risks due to chemicals in food

Food contamination may occur through environmental pollution of the air, water and soil. Infections associated with beef, pork, chicken, fish etc. and unpasteurized fruit juice, lettuce, sprouts, cheese curd etc. lead to various diseases like abortions, still births, cholera, bloody diarrhea, acute renal failure, blood poisoning and liver cancer.

Cancer and the environment: Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that affect any tissue of the body. Types of cancer include lung, colon, rectal, stomach, oral, pharyngeal, breast and cervical. Cancer is preventable by smoking, providing healthy food and avoiding exposure to carcinogens. Most of the cancers are curable by a combination of surgery, chemotherapy (drugs) and radiotherapy (x-rays).