The Environment Matters 2005 cluster around the theme of environmental health, focusing on subjects such as: economic valuation of health impacts of environmental risks; an overview of what we know about the effectiveness of interventions in water and sanitation; an indoor air pollution study from Guatemala; how the Bank’s Clean Air Initiative works in several regions; and an article on the risks chemicals pose to human health.

This guidance note examines the conditions which determine whether an environmental hazard is responsible for a substantial amount of disease, and whether feasible measures are available to prevent it. It considers three problems which account for nearly three quarters of the environmental burden of disease: water, sanitation and hygiene, indoor air pollution, and injuries.

The project aims to pilot a community-based approach to forest land rehabilitation for agent orange-affected areas to support local water supply improvement and reduce health risks. The project also seeks to improve rural income generation and forest resources management.

View project information. (www.adb.org)

This analytical study seeks to explore the state of knowledge on the links between poverty, health, and environment, and better understand issues of governance, rights, and responsibilities as fundamental links between conservation and human well-being.

View project information. (www.adb.org)

Without proper medical care, continued exposure of the developing world's poor to a deteriorating environment creates health concerns that become major issues in proper environmental management. Global evidence reveals that lack of access to safe water and sanitation and air pollution are the primary causes of illness and death among poor families, affecting women and children mostly.

This feature introduces articles and documents related to poverty and environmental health added to the PE Net index:

"The toll environmental degradation exacts on human health is heavy, especially for children in the poor regions of the world. In the poorest countries, one out of every five children dies before reaching his or her fifth birthday, usually because of an environmentally related -- and largely preventable -- diseases," the World Resources Institute mentions in their publication "Improving health through environmental action."

Air and water pollution contribute significantly to the health problems of the poor. "Persons with lower socioeconomic status may face higher risk from polluted air. This disproportionate burden may result from elevated exposure, due to proximity to roadways or indoor air pollution from burning of biomass, and from differences in nutrition and access to health care, among other factors," according to "Challenges and recommendations for the study of socioeconomic factors and air pollution health effects" a paper published in Environmental Science & Policy.

As climate change effects are felt all over the world, it becomes increasingly important to prepare for its effects on the poorest communities as well. The Climate and Health Fact Sheet (WHO) provides basic information, in line with the World Health Organization's programs that "combat infectious disease, improve water sanitation and services, and respond to natural disasters to help reduce health vulnerability to future climate change."

Deforestation, when left unchecked, also raises concerns. A recent publication, "Poverty, Health and Ecosystems: Experience from Asia" (ADB/IUCN), contains the case study "Deforestation and the Nipah Virus in Malaysia", which is part of a chapter that explores the effects of ecosystem events on the health of the poor. The book contains 16 case studies that document relationships between poverty, health, and natural resources management in Asia. The launch version was featured here, and the final publication will be released soon.

Publications focusing on solutions include the Environmental Health Project's "Advancing Environmental Health for Disease Prevention: Past Experiences and Future Priorities," a collection of lessons learned from five years of work on hygiene improvement and the control and prevention of malaria. "Health, Environment and Sustainable Development. Identifying Links and Indicators to Promote Action" (Epidemiology Resources Inc.) presents a framework that extends to the policy domain and recommends acting on the driving forces that generate environmental pressures.

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Photos: Near a national highway in India (Richard Abrina), collecting waste in drums (ADB's Poverty and Environment Program), and women cooking in Bangladesh (Raul Del Rosario)