FINAL BLOG

The Environmental Health class exposed me to the reality of environmental health issues I have never heard before, from chemicals we use daily at home, to food we eat, even on grounds we walk.

One thing I vividly remember is the video of the poor farmers in India who relied on growing their crops and inherited farm lands using pesticides that cost 75% of what they make. They religiously spray chemical pesticides on their crops every day without protective clothing devices. But the pesticides failed them. Rather, pests multiplied on crops, neurotoxins poison their human systems, and suicide claimed many lives.

Although there are individuals, groups, and communities that prompts the call for change, current stakeholders’ efforts and existing policies at national and international levels are not sensitive enough of the environmental issues endangering human lives. I think that environmental health issues should be brought up at every home, classes, and work places. Also, mandates should be in place to require individuals to reasonably contribute to eliminate environmental health risks. Examples of individual contribution could be eradicating use of drinking plastic bottles, use of reusable shopping bags, and composting.

Thank you very much for having me in this class!