Issue Identification
Discuss about the Role of an Environmental Health Officer working for the City of Melbourne.
Habitation is a vital aspect in regards health and wellbeing of a person or the community. It plays an essential role in promoting harmony and defining the city of Melbourne. Many apartments’ towers in the city of Melbourne that are built are of low standards and not environmental friendly as even architectural experts have given a warning. They have indicated that high rise apartments are not fit to live in.The recent structure practices in Melbourne relates to poor environmental performance and minimized livelihood.(Baskaran,2016).
Individuals living in their own houses have high life expectancy than those who live in rental homes. Research shows that those who live in overcrowded areas are likely to suffer from infectious illness such as tuberculosis and poor mental health through noise pollution and lack of privacy. People living in this place are likely to have low socio-economic status and low employment rate. Overcrowding and poor housing in the inner apartments are related with poor self-described physical and mental health in adults. It should be noted that overcrowding is caused by lack of enough money to build decent houses for the people in the city of Melbourne. Poor housing has adverse effects on the individuals’ health and their mental state as shown in World Health Organization: Commission on Social B) Determinants of Health – final report p1-23.
Overcrowding increases mortality rate especially in children because in such places, proper sanitation and hygiene is not well practiced. They are likely to eat food that is not well prepared because the parents lack resources to do so. They are not encouraged to wash their hands after visiting the washroom and more so the washrooms are not clean either. Therefore they are exposed to diseases such as typhoid and cholera (Bentley, Baker, & Mason, 2012). As an environmental officer, I have noticed that people living in poor house condition and overcrowded areas do no pay attention to their health. They don’t have necessary means of upgrading their lives in the city of Melbourne. Many individuals in Australia will support me we have a good life if we are able to take care of our environment; we are likely to live a quality life. People living in these areas do not learn to reduce the risks involved in their health at an early stage. They are encouraged to take their health seriously as it will affect future generations.
Hazard and exposure assessment
Noise pollution is also known as a health hazard which is cruel to both well and the sick. It is caused by the people in crowded areas who strive to make a living such as loud music in clubs which are near the apartments. It always occurs in places where there is excessive noise that causes natural imbalance. It is also caused by metropolitan poor planning whereby the houses are overcrowded and large families fighting for a small space in the area. This may cause disruption of the environment in the society. Noise pollution may also be caused by actions of construction such as mining, roads and buildings, the equipment used in this setting sometimes give unnecessary noise. It may also be caused by industrialization process through their machines that produce excess noise.
A good habitat must be free from the health hazards that affect people’s health. The environment plays a major role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Improper hygiene may lead to different ailments such as cholera and other diseases. Poor sanitation is having an impact in the city of Melbourne. The population is exposed to typhoid due to lack of safe water for drinking and cooking. Therefore they end up eating contaminated meals which affects their health (Carpenter, 2016). Overcrowding can also cause poor ventilation that increases internal moisture in the house. This will cause the overcrowded apartments to be damp and therefore invite cockroaches, mites and respiratory virus which in turn play an essential role respiratory disease pathogenesis. Damp homes relates to asthma and other risks of chronic illness. People living in the overcrowded areas find it hard to clean their houses thus exposed to dangerous chemicals which can result in neurologic and allergic ailments.
Those who have low socio-economic status especially the children and the elderly are affected by overcrowding since their movements are limited. The limited movements hinder their enhancement of mental capacity and brain development. Those living in the high end apartments may increase their chances of suffering from obesity and being overweight. Due to this, they are exposed to traffic pollution that exposes them to asthma and it can also cause children accidents (Frimpong, 2014)
Noise pollution has adverse effects on health particularly the children and the elderly in Melbourne. It affects the individual’s body and exposes it to activation of the hormone release and can increase our blood pressure when sleeping. It has led to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other related issues. It affects the individual’s wellbeing as it may lead to anxiety and stress. It has also caused hearing impairments.
Risk characterization
Any noise that is unnecessary can damage our body in many different ways. Continuous exposure to very loud noise can cause damage in our hearing and can make them lose their hearing and sensitivity that can adjust the rhythm of our body. Psychological health is affected by excessive noise pollution especially in working places. Research has shown the incidence of forceful habits fatigue and hypertension. This can lead to severity of chronic illness in future. (Lauster, 2010 )
Sleeping disorder has also been caused by excessive noise. It can change the sleeping habits which may cause uncomfortable circumstances and irritation. A good sleep is needed at night to prevent fatigue and may cause work performance to slow down. On cardiovascular problems, blood levels and heart issues have risen due to noise pollution. Research has shown that that noise pollution causes disruption of normal blood flow. (Wolitski, 2010).It can also cause difficulty in communication as it may lead to misinterpretation, persistent sharp noise can give an individual a severe headache and cause emotional imbalance. It prevents people from communicating openly.
Melbourne was once a city that was loved by many people. The wellbeing of a person depends on a healthy lifestyle free from the health hazards. An individual’s health is a vital aspect in the development of the city. Environmental pollution has adverse effects towards the progress of the city. The impacts caused by the health hazards can cause a large number of the population to develop depression. This can lead to high unemployment rates in the city since they are unable to work or create employment opportunities (Generalova & Generalov,2014) The populations affected by the impacts have low productivity hence their mental state due to noise pollution is undermined because most of them do not go for treatment. The severity of the health impacts relies on the person’s treatment opportunities available in the city.
Research has indicated that severity of the health impacts has affected the development of better housing in the city of Melbourne especially in the overcrowded areas. It is evident that health issues limit the advancement of the economy of the city. This led to decreased employment chances for the population since most of them are unable to go to their work stations. The unemployed population has suffered a lot due to unnecessary noise which has caused adverse effects to the population such as hearing problems which denies them a chance to advance themselves and create a good environment for their families. This has also led to poor labor market that is unable to take care of the population. (Giles-Corti, Ryan & Foster, 2012)
Poor sanitation has led to a number of adverse effects in Melbourne. There has been a high level of poor sanitation in the overcrowded places. Unhealthy community has a lot of disadvantages. The government will have to spend a lot of money on health care and loss of work which is caused increased infections such as diarrhea and other associated ailments. It will also have to provide treatment to the population present in the rural areas. In terms of housing, the health hazards have had negative impacts such as poor house conditioning and poor water storage. This has affected the city of Melbourne in terms of crime and social interaction in the community. The population has not been informed about the possible effects of poor sanitation and noise pollution and the risks involved (Polack & Warwick, 2016 ) . The presence of skyscrapers in Melbourne poses a high risk of fire. Many apartments in Melbourne have been structured in very small sites which lead to overcrowding. Therefore, health hazards have deeply affected the environment of the city. It is claimed that proliferation of the apartments undermines the government’s creative vision as the population increases many structures are built in smaller sites.
The following illustration shows the likelihood of the risks involved as shown in Western Australian Department of Health (2006)
The government should ensure that the apartments’ designs are standardized and affordable for the population. The design should also be on a reasonable quality level that people from low socioeconomic status can also afford. Apartments that are well designed assist to ensure that there is efficient energy and the cost of maintenance of the occupant. The government should produce health experts that will oversee the construction process and ensure that the necessary rules for proper housing are followed. The government should provide bigger sites for the apartments to be built on. This will avoid overcrowding and prevention of many infectious diseases. (Glaeser, 2011).The apartments on the bigger sites are more comfortable and will help the government to spend less on treating the infectious diseases. Better living is essential for the population in the city of Melbourne.
The government should also work with the health sector to provide necessary skills and knowledge concerning the wellbeing of the people. The education will help them practice good hygiene habits that will prevent them from the exposure of infectious illness such as tuberculosis. The population should be taught the importance of washing hands after visiting the toilet. It should also provide washing detergents for the population to clean their apartments regularly. The toilets should be built properly following all the guidelines and a significant sewage system in the inner apartments in the city. Through this, the government will be able to cater for the wellbeing of the population with minimal challenges. (Ikeda & Washington, 2015).
Adequate natural lighting is also recommended by the health experts because it is vital for the population’s health. Natural light allows the usage of artificial light hence reduced consumption of energy. This light will prevent dampness hence reduced asthma risks. The landlords should also ensure that the apartments have proper ventilation and the apartments should also have spacious rooms for the large families. The apartments should be guarded against noise pollution by the landlords and ensure that regulations concerning excessive noise followed strictly so as to avoid noise pollution (Krieger & Higgins, 2002). The population should be informed about the dangers of noise pollution. This will help them regulate their communication and create an understanding among the people communicating. Thus noise regulation program should be put in place to manage noise pollution.
The government should also educate more health experts to assist in creating awareness about the well-being of the population. The experts will educate people concerning different diseases caused by overcrowding and improper built apartments in Melbourne. They will inform people about healthy lifestyle and practice good eating habits that will prevent them from being obese. The professionals will help in ensuring the quality of life and protect the population from the health hazards. Education will help in knowing and reporting issues that could have adverse impacts on the health of the population. The professionals require more knowledge about the populations’ safety and prevention measures of various chronic diseases. (Lee & Porter, 2013)
Management and landlord guidelines are also recommended. They should follow the guidelines to ensure that the apartments are safe for occupation. The landlords should be able to make sure that the installations in the houses are working to avoid future accidents. Treatment of health risk issues like rising damps should be available because dampness can cause chronic illness such as asthma. Therefore, the population must be vigilant and careful in their apartments to avoid such health hazards. The landlords have a duty to build their apartments in safer places that promote healthy lives for the population in Melbourne.
Activities of construction are important in developing and building the city. The vibration and the noise should be reduced because of its health population. This will create a conducive environment for the population to settle in. The government should ensure that the guidelines are followed strictly so that the lives of the population are safeguarded (Saunders, Watanabe,& Wong, 2015). They have an obligation to protect their tenants from any kind of danger that may come their way. The landlords have a duty to repair their houses to always make sure that water is accessed easily as suggested by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2016).
The government should also create community centers near the apartments for fast treatment services in case of an emergency. This will help in reducing the mortality rate in the area. Accessibility of clean water is essential for the population. The government should also find a way to control traffic which is the main cause of noise pollution. They should be educated about the traffic rules and regulations to avoid unnecessary accidents. (Marmot et al.,2011). Melbourne city residents should ensure that their children are protected by avoiding playing on the road. The elderly should be taken care of at all times since they are at a high risk of being affected by noise. The apartments must also contain sound proof materials so that incase of excess noise the residents are protected.
The construction workers should work together with the government to ensure that the structures have all the necessities that are required. Research has indicated that skyscrapers are safer in case of any stampede occurrence. Therefore when construction is taking place, there should be minimal noise and all regulations are adhered to the later. The equipment that produces noise should be removed as quickly as possible and alternative equipment should be used in the construction. The government officials should visit the construction area and discuss the problems that may occur in the process of construction. The construction management should ensure that the site obeys all the Work Safety and Government requirements. (Vedelago & Houston, 2015)
The government will organize a public forum where all stakeholders will be present to communicate to the public about prevention, diagnosis and management of chronic illness that may have been caused by the health hazards. It will assist the population in Melbourne to work together to advance the city and to promote healthy lifestyle for all people
References
Baskaran, M. (2016). Radon: A Human Health Hazard in the Environment. Radon: A Tracer for Geological, Geophysical and Geochemical Studies, 229-254. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21329-3_11
Bentley, R., Baker, E., & Mason, K. (2012). Cumulative exposure to poor housing affordability and its association with mental health in men and women. J Epidemiol Community Health, 66(9), 761-766.
Carpenter, D. O. (2016). What constitutes environmental health? Reviews on Environmental Health,31(2). doi:10.1515/reveh-2016-0020
Frimpong, A. (2014). Impact of socio-economic determinants of demand for health for investment purpose. International Journal of Health,2(2). doi:10.14419/ijh.v2i2.3034
Generalova, E., & Generalov, V. (2014). Social Issues: Designing High-Rise Housing: The Singapore Experience. CTBUH Journal, (4), 40-45.
Giles-Corti, B., Ryan, K., & Foster, S. (2012). Increasing density in Australia: Maximising the benefits and minimising the harm. Available at https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Increasing-density-in-AustraliaEvidence-Review-2012-trevor.pdf
Glaeser, E. (2011). How Skyscrapers Can Save the City. The Atlantic.
Ikeda, S., & Washington, E. (2015). How Land-Use Regulation Undermines Affordable Housing. Mercatus Research, Mercatus Center. George Mason University, Arlington, VA.
Krieger, J., & Higgins, D. L. (2002). Housing and health: time again for public health action. American Journal of Public Health, 92(5), 758-768. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Krieger2/publication/11382629_Housing_and_Health_Tim e_Again_for_Public_Health_Action/links/5480a1ce0cf22525dcb5fdd1/Housing-and-Health-Time-Againfor-Public-Health-Action.pdf
Lauster, N. T. (2010). Housing and the Proper Performance of American Motherhood, 1940–2005. Housing Studies, 25(4), 543-557. doi:10.1080/02673031003711485
Lee, M. E. P., & Porter, M. (2013). The strategy that will fix health care. Harvard business review.
Marmot, M., Allen, J., Bell, R., & Goldblatt, P. (2011). Building of the global movement for health equity: From Santiago to Rio and beyond. The Lancet. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0- 80054101334&partnerID=40&md5=585ae4cbdfd89fb20a4cf2f3518a0fa6
Polack, P., & Warwick, M. (2016). Eight Keys to Ending Poverty. The Business Solution to Poverty: Designing Products and Services for Three Billion New Customers,1-17. doi:10.5848/bk.978-1-60994-078-2_2
Saitova, O., Volkova, V. V., & Grytsenko, E. V. (2013). Construction of Skyscrapers-from Past to Present Innovative Technologies.
Saunders, P., Watanabe, K., & Wong, M. (2015). Poverty and Housing Among Older People: Comparing Australia and Japan. Poverty & Public Policy,7(3), 223-239. doi:10.1002/pop4.110
Vedelago, C. & Houston, C. (2015). No stop to slums in the sky, The Age, 3 May, https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/no-stop-to-slums-in-the-sky-20150502-1myf98.html
Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2016). Better Apartment Design Standards, available at https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/9582/BetterApartments-Design-Standards.pdf
Western Australian Department of Health (2006). Health risk assessment in Western Australia, available at https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general%20documents/Environmental%20health/ Health%20risk%20assesment/Health-Risk-Assessment.pdf
Wolitski, R. J., Kidder, D. P., Pals, S. L., Royal, S., Aidala, A., Stall, R., … & Housing and Health Study Team. (2010). Randomized trial of the effects of housing assistance on the health and risk behaviors of homeless and unstably housed people living with HIV. AIDS and Behavior, 14(3), 493-503.
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