Interrelationship between population and environment

The growing realization of environmental concerns culminated in the establishment of world commission on Environment and Development by the UNs General Assembly in 1983. The commission headed by brundtland submitled “our common future” in 1987. This report was a turning point in the history of human endeavor for safeguarding the environment. The commission has focused the attention among others, towards the rapid growth of population in many parts of the world the population is growing at rates that cannot be sustained by available environmental resources and pleaded for achieving sustainable development as the objective for human civilization.

The global warning, depletion of ozone layer and loss of bio-diversity are some of the immediate threats to environment. The average global temperature during the 1980s exceeded that of any other decade since reliable temperature recording began a century ago and 1990 was the warmest year on record. The elevated concentration of greenhouse gases is responsible for rise in temperature. This could lead to complex climatic changes including the rise in sea level. The available information shows that the concentration of some of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide: methane and Nitrous oxide have considerably increased since the beginning of industrial revolution carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas which contributes 60-65 percent in total heat trapping followed by methane. All of the biotic and a biotic factors that act on an organism, population, or ecological community and influence its survival and development. Biotic factor include the organisms themselves, their food, and their interactions. A biotic factors include such items as sunlight, soil, air, water, climate, and pollution. Organisms respond to change in their environment by evolutionary adaptations in form and behavior. Living beings needed different type of resources for their growth and development. All the resources around human beings are the necessary parts of environment. Soil, forest, water, wildlife etc. natural environment is of crucial importance for social and economic life. We use the living world as:

1. A resource for food supply
2. An energy source
3.  A source for recreation
4.  A major source of medicines
5.  Natural resources for industrial products

Health problems due to air pollution

The most common route for pollutants to enter the human body is by inhalation. So the most common effect of air pollution is development of respiratory diseases. Air pollution can also have adverse impacts on other important systems such as cardiovascular system and central nervous system. Studies have shown that children, elderly and people with lung and heart diseases are more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution. An analysis of hospital records from three major hospitals in Kathmandu indicates that the number of COPD patients admitted to hospitals has increased significantly in the last ten years. Hospital records indicate that the number of COPD patients is highest in the dry winter months when air pollution in Kathmandu is at its highest peak.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 3 million people die each year due to air pollution in the world (World Bank 2003, ''Health Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution''. South Asia Urban Air Quality Management Briefing, paper No. 11). According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for increases in outpatient visits due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, hospital admissions and mortality.

Exposure from bio-mass smoke is estimated to cause a global death toll of 2.5 million every year equivalent to 4 to 5 % of total global deaths. In fact, the emerging data from recent studies indicate that risk-wise, it ranks only below malnutrition and poor quality of water / sanitation. In Nepal, total death from pneumonia alone is reported to be 4429 during the last 12 months preceding 2001 census (4.14 % of the total deaths). Similarly, the total deaths from asthma / bronchitis are reported to be 7170 (6.71% of the total deaths). According to Nepal Demography and Health survey, 2001, the prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infection for children below 5 years old is found to be 23 %. The below 5 years population is 12.1 % of the total population. Health hazards of housewives have been traditionally underestimated in the developing countries. . It is considered as a social responsibility of the women. The work of housewives can be categorised as hazardous occupation as they might be exposed to volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons everyday. There are evidences that indoor air pollution may increase the risk of respiratory tract infections and lung cancer among housewives.