Fitness and How the Work Envi-ronment Affects Health

Human Variation and Adaption in Living Populations

Shayla McCaffery

Winter 2015

ANTH 314 1

Fitness and How the Work Envi-ronment Affects Health

Human Variation and Adaptation in Living Populations

Abstract:

There are many factors that influence ones health that a person is exposed to in dif-

ferent work environments. Stressors in the environment can cause a wide range of

health problems. Some environments have more environmental risk than others.

Among these environmental factors include one’s fitness, physical environment,

air or water hazards and exposures. In addition, electromagnetic exposure, chemi-

cal, biological, social, financial, climate, and politics may have a large influence on

the healthiness of an environment.

ANTH 314 2

“In Britain in 1995 it was estimated that 2 million people suffered from work

related illnesses with around 20 million working days being lost to ill health (DoH,

1999)” (Fitness Through Exercise). There are many factors that influence one’s

health that a person is exposed to in different work environments.These factors can

cause a range of health complications and problems. There are also different medi-

ums in which the environment can affect a person. For instance, personal fitness

condition, physical environment, social, finical, climate, politics, and maternity.

All of these cause the employee to go through stress and our bodies respond in dif-

ferent ways depending on the stressor. Stress causes the body to go through a series

of different reactions as a response. These reactions are different based on the

stress, but one’s body will have an increased heart rate, muscle tension, etc when

under stress. When stress is over our body returns to homeostasis. During chronic

stress one’s body is unable to return to homeostasis. Chronic stress is harmful to

the body in a variety of ways, many of which make a personal more susceptible to

illness. According to The Built Environment and Health: Introducing Individual

Space- Time Behavior, “Human behavior depends on the environment in which it

takes place, while in turn people also influence the environment by their presence

and activities. As a part of the environment, people behave in response to both

physical and social settings. In fact, every individual not only adapts to his or her

physical and social environment but also makes up part of the social environment

ANTH 314 3

of other individuals. Obviously, there are more forces affecting both individuals

and the environment. For instance, businesses and organizations located in the en-

vironment will influence where people travel, while governments and institutions

exercise rules and mechanisms that affect the behavior of individuals, households,

businesses, and organizations. An understanding of this multi-layered network of

interactions is required when environmental design is intended as an instrument to

established desired behavior, e.g.., to encourage walking and cycling, or to create

safer places” (Kim, Searloos, Timmermans. 2009).

Physical hazards also include exposures to gas and other harmful substances.

Health risk associated with these environmental factors include a variety of cancers

and respiratory diseases. Health problems arise on two levels: first the individual

and secondly environmental which slowly shape a species and the changes in the

species slow evolve (agius.com). The first environmental factor that can influence

one’s health is the individuals current health state. One’s current health is impor-

tant to assess, because there are some environmental factors that can increase the

risk of certain health complications. For instance, a person with asthma can have

more difficulty in jobs with poor air quality and high physical demand. According

to agius.com, “Health effects of concern are asthma, bronchitis and similar lung

diseases, and there is good evidence relating an increased risk of symptoms of

these diseases with increasing concentration of sulphur dioxide, ozone, and other

ANTH 314 4

pollutants” (angis.com). Another example of the importance of the person’s cur-

rent health is important when considering a person who has obesity. Obesity can

cause many additional help problems that make them susceptible to harmful envi-

ronmental factors. For instance, the physical demand and the environments size.

Diet, adequate sleep, and adequate housing can also impact the way environmental

factors affect one’s health. Humans function properly and are able to adapt to stress

better when in ideal health. Being in a better physical shape allows people to

adapt to the changes in their environment better. For instance, in high stress situa-

tions (Weir, 2011).

Next, there are many environmental factors that cause health problems. En-

vironmental problems include air quality, water quality, chemical exposure, UV

exposure, and radiation exposure. According to the journal; Indoor Environments

and Health: Moving into the 21st century, “The quality of our indoor environments

affects well-being and productivity, and risk for diverse diseases are increased by

indoor air pollutants, surface contamination with toxins and microbes, and contact

among people at home, work, in transportation, and in many other pubic and pri-

vate places” (Kim, Samet, Spengler. 2003). There are many work environments

that increase the risk of health problems due to air quality. For example, tobacco

smoke, mold, dust, polyvinyl chloride from construction material, and formalde-

hyde which is also used in construction. According to To the Center for Spirituality

ANTH 314 5

and Healing, “Mold and dust can exacerbate and contribute to the development of

chronic conditions like asthma and allergies. Secondhand smoke in homes and

workplaces poses a significant risk; in fact, the National Cancer Institute states that

of the chemicals identified in secondhand smoke, more than 50 have been found to

cause cancer. Poorly ventilated fireplaces and stoves contribute to your pulmonary

disease risk. Common construction materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can

cause asthma, and formaldehyde (also employed in homebuilding) can cause eye,

nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; serve aller-

gic reactions, and possibly cancer” (Meadows). According to aguish.com, “Impor-

tant issues concerning physical hazards include those relating to health effects of

electromagnetic radiation and ionizing radiation. If one excludes the occupational

environment, than nice and other physical hazards may present a nuisance to many

inhabitants, and impair general well being” (agius.com). All air pollutants are

harmful to humans. “Undoubtedly tens of thousands of deaths have resulted from

acute pollution episodes (e.g. the smogs in large cities in early 1950s). Nowadays

some people e.g. asthmatics can be adversely affected by excursions in levels of

urban air pollution (notably ozone) in some major cities” (agius.com). Places

where pollution is more common, inner city areas and large cities; the more expo-

sure to pollution in the environment. According to the journal; Indoor Environ-

ments and Health: Moving into the 21st century, over time there have been

ANTH 314 6

changed to reduce the risk of health problems by changing building ventilation and

such. (Samet, Spangler. 2003). There have also been laws that have been put into

place by the Environmental Protection Agency, to try and improve the horrible

condition of pollution in the United States. For instance, the Clean Air Act, which

has put emission regulations on businesses, cars, plant, essentially anything that re-

leases toxins into the air by creating smoke, smog, and other air borne chemicals

(EPA).

In addition to pollution, there have been recent scares with the spread of air-

borne infections. Since the 2001 bioterrorism episode with Anthrax. This has in-

creased the awareness that is crucial for improvement.(Samet, Spengler. 2003).

Samet and Spengler’s study that is described in their journal: Indoor Environ-

ments and Health: Moving into the 21st century, “This study yielded the then star-

tling conclusion that indoor pollution sources are generally a far more significant

contributor to total personal exposures to toxic volatile organic compounds than

are releases by some industrial sources into outdoor air” (Samet, Spengler. 2003).

In addition, Samet and Spengler state “The single most pervasive and harmful in-

door air problem worldwide is the oldest: smoke from fires. Domestic cooking and

heating with biomass fuels of wood, crop residues, dried animal dung, or charcoal

and coal can produce substantial indoor concentrations of particles, carbon monox-

ide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. According to the World Health Organi-

ANTH 314 7

zation’s 2002 report on global burden of disease, the almost daily exposure to

smoke among billions of people, primarily women and young children, is the 8th

leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost, accounting for nearly 3% of the

world’s total burden of disease… The current concern about intentionally intro-

duced viruses and other infections organisms was acts of bioterrorism will advance

research on the role of building ventilation and air cleaning in the transmission of

pathogenic organisms” (Samet, Spengler. 2003).

As we know the climate in which you live in also changes your environment

greatly both with the physical atmosphere one lives in but also the choices that a

person makes. As we know there are different areas where people are exposed to

more UV rays from the sun. Human bodies adapt for the heat and the sun differ-

ently, but people also have to be educated choice in certain environments. For in-

stance, wearing sunscreen or sunglasses. According to Indoor Environments and

Health: Moving into the 21st Century, “Even in temperate climates, including that

of the United States, people spend most of their time indoors: at home, at work, in

transportation, and in many other public and private places. The quality of these

environments affects well-being and productivity, and risk for diverse diseases are

increased by indoor air pollutants, surface contamination with toxins and microbes,

and contact among people in these places” (Samet, Spengler. 2003). Climate can

also influence one’s behavior in colder environment. In places where there is a lack

ANTH 314 8

of UV expose there can be certain vitamin deficiencies because the environment

does not allow the necessary amount of exposure.

One’s work environment can have adverse impacts to health. This is due to

the exposure of toxins like smoke, radiation, air borne illness, etc. These risk are

exposed through different mediums like air and water. Environment is not only

physical but also is influenced by the social experiences and but also what stress

you encounter during the daily experiences of daily work. This includes mental

health. According to Out of The Shadows: The Health and Well-Being of Private

Contractors Working in Conflict Environments; “Contractors working in conflict

environments are exposed to many of the same combat stressors as military per-

sonnel…These contractors were hired for base support, maintenance, logistical

support, transportation, intelligence, communication, construction, and security”

(Burns, Dunigan, Farmer, Hawks, Setodji. 2013). These contractors under went

some of the stressful experiences that soldiers went through. For instance, IUDs

and other combat. United State contractors returned with PTSD just like soldiers.

“In addition to mental health stressors, contractors may be exposed to physical

health dangers, ranging from respiratory problems to serious, life- changing in-

juries” (Burns, Dunigan, Farmer, Hawks, Setodji. 2013). According to How the

environment affects Mental Health, by Michael Rutter: tells that traumatic experi-

ence, even one’s associated with the job can create or influence different mental

ANTH 314 9

health problems and risk. We know this is true in certain cases like Soldiers, po-

lice, or those injured on the job (Rutter). To second that opinion, the journal The

importance of low control at work and home on depression and anxiety: do these

effects vary by gender and social class?, by Griffen, Fuhrer, Marmot, and Stans-

feld: also tell how the environment and stress impacts mental health. “…the lack of

control in the home and work environments affect depression and anxiety differ-

ently for women and men across three social class groups” (Griffen, Fuhrer,

Marmot, Stansfeld. 2002). This article also mentioned how the stress of the envi-

ronment varies due to other social stressor in one’s environments, these stresses are

related to a higher rate of mental and physical illnesses like depression or anxiety.

As mentioned in the previously, stress in one’s environment can be caused by so-

cial factors that one has to live and work in. For instance, their socioeconomic sta-

tus has associated stressors. From this research stated above, it is apparent there is

a connection between the environments stress and one’s health.

There have been interventions that have occurred in order to make our envi-

ronment a healthier place for people to enjoy. For instance, changes to tobacco

laws have reduced the amount of second hand smoke other’s are exposed to. The

Clean Air Act and the associate laws are another example of interventions that

have occurred to help reduce pollution into the environment. As for worker’s cur-

rent health state when beginning a job is being stressed by employers, making sure

ANTH 314 10

their employees are physically fit for the job. Many employers also offer health

and wellness services, for example: massage therapy, gym memberships, and coun-

seling. According to The Built Environment and Health: Introducing Individual

Space- Time Behavior, “…Choosing the most effective intervention strategy re-

quires an explicit understanding of how individuals will respond. It is the task of

academic researchers to build up a comprehensive knowledge base of this individ-

ual behavior to inform and influence policy and practice. Given the documented

impacts of the built environment on health behaviors, various interventions can be

considered to influence the way people behave in response to the environment in

which they live, work, and play. These include actual changes to the built environ-

ment (e.g., providing more opportunities for recreation, improving access to

healthy food, and creating places to accommodate social events for community

members), interventions that address the individuals aimed at improving attitudes

to physical activity, nutrition and social interactions, or increasing awareness of the

health benefits or risk involved), and interventions to encourage social activities

(e.g., community programs to promote physical activity and healthy food con-

sumption). To support decision-making about health promotion interventions, stud-

ies will need to aim at understanding and predicting how such interventions will

change individual health behaviors in space and time, and how this aggregates to

population-level health outcomes” (Kim, Searloos, Timmermans. 2009). In order

ANTH 314 11

to make more changes people need to be educated and aware of the way their envi-

ronment influences their health and how our choices also affect our environment.

In conclusion, there are many work environmental factors that influence an

individuals health. Not only with the pollutants, chemicals, and toxins people are

expose to through the air or in the water, or come in close contact with. Radiation,

UV exposure, and other toxins also influence ones health in a work environment.

An individual’s health is also influenced by the mental stress or physical stress that

one is put through regularly, sometimes causing states of chronic stress that causes

additional health problems because one’s body never returns to homeostasis. Inter-

ventions have happened through out history, but there is still more to be done to

improve the risk of exposure to certain health risk. Educating people on health and

getting people to improve their current health state also helps them improve the

way they are affected by the environment around them.

ANTH 314 12

ANTH 314 13

References:

Braedley, S. (2009). How do Work Environments Affect Women's Maternal Health. Lessons from Canada.

Curry, G. (n.d.). Environmental Influences on Health, Exercise and Fitness. Re-trieved from http://fitnessthroughexercise.com/enviornmental-inflences-health-fitness.htm

Dunigan, M., & Farmer, C. (n.d.). Out of the shadows: The health and well-being of private contractors working in conflict environments.

Fowler, L. (2014). Assessing The Framework Of Policy Outcomes: The Case Of The U.s. Clean Air Act And Clean Water Act. Journal of Environmental Assess-ment Policy and Management, 1450034-1450034.

Griffin, J., Fuhrer, R., Stansfeld, S., & Marmot, M. (n.d.). The Importance Of Low Control At Work And Home On Depression And Anxiety: Do These Effects Vary By Gender And Social Class? Social Science & Medicine, 783-798.

ANTH 314 14

Samet, J., & Spengler, J. (n.d.). Indoor Environments and Health: Moving Into the 21st Century. American Journal of Public Health, 1489-1493.

Saarloos, D., Kim, J., & Timmermans, H. (n.d.). The Built Environment and Health: Introducing Individual Space-Time Behavior. International Journal of En-vironmental Research and Public Health, 1724-1743.

The Exercise Effect. (n.d.). American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 12, 2015, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise.aspx

Meadows, C. (n.d.). How Does Your Personal Environment Impact Your Wellbe-ing? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. Retrieved March 12, 2015, from http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/environment/your-personal-environment/how-does-your-personal-environment-impa

What effects can the Environment have on Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from http://www.weegy.com/?ConversationId=FCCB6740

ANTH 314 15