Our Global Environment: A Health Perspective

by Anne Nadakavukaren

Human beings may be the dominant form of life on Earth today, but our health, well-being, and, indeed, survival are dependent on the health and integrity of the environment in which we live. Anne Nadakavukaren explores and clarifies this web of interdependency and interrelationships with uncommon insight into the functioning of the natural environment and the impact of human activities. She provides a comprehensive, up-to-date survey of the major environmental issues facing the world today within a dual framework of ecological concerns combined with specific issues of personal and community health. With the same clear, compelling writing that has made this text a perennial favorite among students and faculty alike, the author imparts to readers a sense of how today’s environmental issues affect their own lives. Moreover, Our Global Environment provides the understanding they need to participate in the decision-making processes that will influence health and environmental quality in the decades ahead. The Sixth Edition has been extensively updated and incorporates new issues of concern, including nuclear terrorism, genetically modified crop plants, mad cow disease, the obesity epidemic, and many others. Moreover, the text reviews the latest developments in international efforts to negotiate binding treaties on issues of global concern, such as climate change, ozone-layer depletion, and tobacco use, and incorporates numerous examples of environmental problems and solutions from other nations. Abundant photos and illustrations illuminate the discussion and also help clarify information and identify trends. The text contains 72 boxed features within chapters that highlight relevant, current, and illustrative issues and examples. These Environmental Boon or Bane?, Seeking Greener International Migration, The "Urban Penalty," Population Pressures Spur Mideast Tension, The Perils of Pregnancy, Supersized The Other Face of Malnutrition, Eco-Certification of Coffee, Slaughter in the Jungle, International Initiative to Fight Tobacco, Deadly Dust, The Dark Side of Beautiful Blossoms, International Initiative to Fight Tobacco, Beware of Mad Cows, "Loose Nukes" and "Dirty Bombs," Brown Cloud Over Asia, Watch Where You Recreational Water Illnesses May Be Lurking, and Plants vs. Pollution. <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {"Cambria Math"; 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face { "Times New Roman"; 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { ""; "Centaur","serif"; "Times New Roman"; "Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault { } @page Section1 { 11.0in; 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; } div.Section1 {} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {"Table Normal"; ""; 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; "Calibri","sans-serif"; "Times New Roman"; "Times New Roman"; } <![endif]--> Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact publisher directly.
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {"Cambria Math"; 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face { "Times New Roman"; 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { ""; "Centaur","serif"; "Times New Roman"; "Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault { } @page Section1 { 11.0in; 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; } div.Section1 {} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {"Table Normal"; ""; 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; "Calibri","sans-serif"; "Times New Roman"; "Times New Roman"; } <![endif]-->

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Health, Textbooks

616 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my daughter who bought this book as a textbook for a 100-level environmental health class she is taking next semester. Overall an excellent survey book on environmental topics with a focus on impacts to health. I especially enjoyed it data-driven approach that allowed the reader to form his/her own opinion on a given topic. For example, it did a great job showing the global benefits and detriments of DDT usage as opposed to solely vilifying it as many environmental books do. The case studies were entertaining and informative. It read like a news magazine as opposed to a textbook, so it was a quick read and held my attention all the way to the end. (I read it cover to cover in an afternoon.)

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this textbook. I found the information to be interesting and it would hold my attention, throughout the chapters. My favorite chapter focused on family planning, and I feel like I learned new information that was very helpful and thought-provoking. I've had to read the majority of this textbook for my Environmental Health class, because I am taking it online, so it is based primarily out of the text. It is easy to navigate the text when I'm looking for answers and I enjoyed the layout.
My only complaint is there are some sections that were a bit over my head, especially in the air pollution chapter. It was hard to keep track of the different abbreviations, for anyone studying that specific chapter, I would suggest writing a cheat sheet about the different abbreviations and their meanings. Maybe also writing a cheat sheet for which pollutants qualified under which classifications would be helpful as well.
Overall a great textbook. I haven't really enjoyed taking an online class, but it was necessary so I had time to complete my practicum. The textbook really helped make the class easier to understand.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

So dry....

[Aasheeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fairly engaging for a textbook.

[Funny You Should Say That · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the 7th edition of this for a university course in Environmental Health and just finished it. While it had some interesting topics and insightful information it felt slightly disorganized. Each chapter covered a separate topic but sometimes the paragraphs within each would feel repetitive. You would read through, get a few paragraphs further, but then feel like you just read the same information two sections ago. At times the information seemed wordier than necessary as well. But there are small nuggets of surprising detail mixed within. And I can't help but feel that, in many of the environmental dilemmas presented, there is little to be accomplished from the recommended changes. It seems, rather, that any solution taken will lead to more complex or new environmental issues to combat.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good as far as textbooks go.

[Tara Basavanhally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting and educational. Although this book was a required read for my environmental health class, I found myself fascinated by the information in this book and yearning to learn more.