Urban Health Issues: Exploring the Impacts of Big-City Living

by Richard V. Crume

Overview

Living in an urban environment can have a major influence—both positive and negative—on one's physical health and mental well-being. This book examines more than 20 key issues related to city living and what's being done to address them.

According to recent statistics, 80.7 percent of Americans live in urban areas, and more than half of the world's population lives in cities. From various types of pollution to crime to overcrowding, the urban environment can have massive impacts on our physical, psychological, and social health and well-being. Moreover, while certain aspects of living in a city, such as access to health care, can improve the lives of many, other factors can have detrimental effects and can lead to inequalities along racial and socioeconomic lines.

Urban Health Issues: Exploring the Impacts of Big-City Living examines 23 key issues related to urban health, exploring their causes and consequences in depth and highlighting what cities and individuals can do to safeguard the well-being of urban residents. It also draws comparisons between cities in the United States and the industrialized world and those in poor and developing nations, providing important global insights. The material is brought to life by fascinating city case studies and illuminating interviews with experts working in a variety of fields.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440861710
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/10/2019
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.55(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Richard V. Crume is a consultant, educator, and jourbanalist with over 40 years of professional experience managing environmental health programs, conducting research in the environmental sciences, and teaching university classes on air pollution and climate change.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Urban Health-A Historical Perspective 1

Urban Health Issues

Aging and Age-Friendly Communities 10

Air Quality and Urban Smog 17

City Spotlight: Mexico City-Gripped by a Nagging Air Pollution Problem 27

Chemical Exposure 29

Expert Commentary: Environmental Health Surveillance 37

Climate Change 39

City Spotlight: Venice-Will Anything Work to Stop the Flooding? 48

Crime and Violence 50

City Spotlight: New York City-An International Model of Criminal Justice Reform 59

Drugs and Alcohol 62

Expert Commentary: Substance Availability and Abuse 79

Food Quality and Availability 81

Green Buildings and Sustainable Development 90

City Spotlight: Singapore-Proving Densely Populated Cities Can Be Both Livable and Sustainable 100

Green Space and Natural Areas 103

City Spotlight: Melbourne-The Many Benefits of More Trees 110

Healthcare Access and Quality 113

City Spotlight: Delhi-Reforming the Delivery of Urban Health Services 121

Indoor Air Quality 124

Infectious Diseases 135

City Spotlight: Freetown-Checking the Spread of a Deadly Virus 144

Expert Commentary: "One Health" Policies and Practices 146

Light Pollution 149

Noise Pollution 157

Expert Commentary: Addressing Noise Pollution 166

Odor Pollution 168

Population Growth and Overcrowding 176

City Spotlight: Karachi-Glimmers of Hope for the World's Largest Slum 184

Expert Commentary: Immigrant Health and Safety 186

Radiation Sources 188

Social Support Networks 199

Expert Commentary: Social Isolation among Older Adults 207

Solid Waste Management and Recycling 209

City Spotlight: Toronto-Green Living Made Easy and Fun 217

Stress Management 219

Walkable and Bike-Friendly Neighborhoods 227

City Spotlight: Copenhagen-The City Where Bicycles Rule 237

Water and Sanitation 239

Workplace Health and Safety 247

Expert Commentary: Worker Health 259

Appendix: Steps to Healthy Urban Living 261

Glossary 265

Directory of Resources 277

Index 287

Editorial Reviews

With a broad range of topics from solid waste management to green buildings and sustainable development, Urban Health Issues is an excellent resource for school and public libraries.” —Booklist Online

“…there is useful information here, dealing with serious topics and clearly presented. Public, school, and academic libraries should consider adding it to their collections.” —ARBA

From the Publisher