Environmental Epidemiology: Concepts, Components, and Implications for Public Health
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Abstract
Environmental epidemiology is a subdiscipline of epidemiology that investigates how environmental factors including physical, chemical, biological, and social determinants affect human health. With the increasing complexity of environmental risks caused by industrialization, urbanization, and climate change, this field has become essential for identifying, measuring, and controlling exposures that contribute to both infectious and non-communicable diseases. This review summarizes the fundamental concepts of environmental epidemiology, focusing on the host agent environment interaction, the epidemiological triad, the web of causation, and the wheel model of disease causation. It also highlights the health impacts of major forms of pollution: contaminated water as a leading cause of gastrointestinal diseases, polluted air as a contributor to millions of premature deaths annually, and soil contamination as a source of long-term toxic risks through the food chain. By consolidating these perspectives, the review underscores the value of environmental epidemiology in clarifying causal relationships, guiding preventive strategies, and shaping evidence-based public health policies. In the context of global environmental change, strengthening environmental epidemiology through interdisciplinary approaches, improved exposure assessment, and equity-focused interventions is critical to building resilient communities and ensuring sustainable public health protection.
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