Environmental Factors

• Noise


  • Air
  • Noise
  • Water (including flooding)
  • Air Pollution
• In UK no real air pollutants due to H&S legislation but may exist in other countries
• Some emissions (exhaust fumes) from cars but limited as cars use unleaded fuel
• Main air pollutants in this country is through smoking
• Some elderly people may have respiratory problems which are


  • Historic from working in factories (fumes, chemicals)
  • Mining (coal dust) etc. before legislation was implemented
• Possible effects of air pollutants


  • Asthma, bronchitis, chest infections, emphysema, cancer, problems with breathing and mobility
  • For older people legacy of work environments- factories, mines etc (before H&S legislation)
• Intellectual effects of air pollutants


  • Missing school, not being able to work, difficulty concentrating due to poor health
• Emotional effects of air pollutants


  • Unhappy, weary, apathy, angry, frustrated, low self-esteem, feel a burden and dependent on others
  • Fear and anxiety associated with condition- breathing feeling frightened and anxious
  • Depression loss of independence
• Social effects of air pollutants

  • Possibly loss of independence, loss of self-help skills, unable to socialise due to poor health, holidays & recreation affected
• Positive effects of air pollutants


  • Family bond/relationship due to providing care & support for relative
  • Sense of kinship and belonging
  • Generational benefits
• Unlikely in this country due to H&S legislation which controls e.g. what can be released from factories etc. into rivers and canals
• Main risk is Weill's disease from rats who live by rivers and canals, if someone falls into a river and swallows contaminated water they could develop this disease
• There is still water pollution in other countries particularly third world countries which can lead to illness and disease
• Physical effects of water pollution


  • Physical health due to disease Weill's disease- chronic illness can also be fatal
  • Swallowing pollutants-various consequences
• Intellectual effects of water pollution


  • Illness possibly missing school
• Emotional effects of water pollution

  • Frightened, fear of water
• Positive effects of water pollution


  If for example children playing by canals may deter others from dangerous water play
• In recent years (some believe as a consequence of global warming) we have had serious flooding incidences in the UK- Cumbria, South England
• Physical effects of flooding


  • Having to live in damp conditions-chest conditions, asthma etc. made worse due to damp
  • Physical health affected by stress & frustration with situation-anxiety, panic attacks etc.
  • Also financial worries
  • Unable to live in a safe environment (property looted also unsafe due to damage to building)
  • Rest and sleep affected, unable to prepare suitable food for family-nourishment/energy/infections
• Intellectual effects of flooding


  • Children may not be able to attend school if living in temporary accommodation, unable to do homework-space, access to ILT etc.
  • School/college work lost
• Emotional effects of flooding


  • Stress can lead to health problems and absences from work
  • Financial burden, stress, anger, frustration (if repeated floods and unable to get insurance/not able to afford)
  • Upset-loss of personal belongings, worry about replacing home equipment and worry about re-occuring flooding
  • Not able to get insurance adds to stress, not able to sell house- stress and strain
• Social effects of flooding


  • Having to live with others- temporary accommodation can lead to relationship problems
  • Families having to live separately with relatives
  • Financially unable to socialise
• Positive effects of flooding


  Communities and families supporting each other, sense of "kinship"