Environmental Health and Aging

HealthWatch for July 2005
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It is well known that environmental problems such as air pollution, poor water quality, chemical contaminations, and temperature extremes are all threats to human health, especially children. More recently, scientists, health professionals and policy makers have recognized the risk these problems pose for another vulnerable and growing population - the elderly.

The U.S. is a rapidly aging nation. By 2030 it is estimated that one in five persons will be aged 65 or older. Ohio is currently the fifteenth “oldest” state with 13.3% of the population in this age bracket. As this group becomes ever larger, protecting their health becomes more important. That is why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched the Aging Initiative in 2002, an effort to better understand the affects of an unhealthy environment on the elderly.

“The older we are, the more susceptible we become to threats from the environment, which may cause or worsen chronic life-threatening conditions.”
Donald Welsh, Regional Administrator, EPA, Region III

What exactly is the EPA concerned about? Lifelong exposure to low-level toxicants can increase the risk for diseases common in the elderly such as osteoporosis, hypertension, renal impairment, Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease. Other issues include:

Heart ailments, pulmonary diseases and cancer call all be exacerbated by environmental contaminants.
Older bodies may not have the ability to handle several assaults from their environment.
Some pollutants may accelerate aging.
Bodies can retain and accumulate certain toxic compounds for years, such as lead.
The environmental conditions indoors can often be worse than out-of-doors, especially for urban and poor populations. Generally, the elderly spend significantly more time indoors.

There is no doubt that a cleaner environment can improve health later in life. As the EPA and other organizations have only recently focused on this issue, there is sure to be increasing amounts of new information available in the coming years.

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Aging Initiative
Jerry Phelps, “Towards a New Understanding of Aging,” Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 111, No. 14, November 2003
Tina Adler, “Aging Research: The Future Face of Environmental Health,” Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 111, No. 14, November 2003
Population Reference Bureau

For more information, visit these websites:

Environmental Health from MedlinePlus
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Aging Initiative
Environmental Diseases A-Z
20 Easy Steps to Personal Environmental Health
Environmental Health Watch (a local organization)