Guide to 'Impact on nature and public health' section

This section describes the impact of environmental pressure and environmental quality on nature and human health.

Index Impact

• Guide to 'Impact of environmental pressure on nature' section
  The consequences of environmental pressure on nature often emerge in changes to numbers and species composition in flora and fauna. This section describes, for each environmental problem, a number of examples of the impact of environmental stress on plants and animals.
• Guide to 'Impact on public health' section
  Human health is under pressure from the deterioration of environmental quality. Noise, particulate matter and ozone, and UV radiation are known causes of health problems. Toxic substances, for example dioxins, furans and PCBs, are also found in food and even in breast milk.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• The Nature Compendium contains more information about species of plants and animals, ecosystems and nature policy.
• The Kompas Volksgezondheid and the Atlas Volksgezondheid (Public Health Compass and Atlas) contain much more information about the health of the Dutch population, the causes of diseases and disorders, and health care in the Netherlands.

Position of effects in the environmental chain

Discussion of the environmental chain

Changes in environmental quality can result in damage to nature and human health (effects). Environmental quality is an indicator for the condition of the environment, which is affected by, for example, emissions to soil, water and air (environmental pressure) and the extraction of water and the exploitation of other resources.