The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Environmental Hygiene II deals with the evaluation of environmental pollutants and their relevance to human health. Main topics include mutagenic and carcinogenic activity of environmental chemicals, specific effects of heavy metals, special biological indicators for screening environmental contaminants and monitoring of indoor/outdoor air pollutants. Furthermore, assessment of exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals in man are presented as well as epidemiological studies on the health effects by environmental pollution, studies of inhalation toxicology and strategies and policy of environmental control.

Environmental pollution raises serious concern worldwide about effects on human health. Based on a recent meeting, this book focuses on diverse aspects of environmental hygiene, dealing with the evaluation of chemical and physical agents and their relevance to human health. To assess the toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of environmental pollutants, a variety of methodological approaches, both in vivo and in vitro, as tissue cultures, isolated organs and animal models, were developed and are described in detail. Data on human exposure, biological monitoring and epidemiological studies are also included. Problems of environmental control and legislation as well as possible provisional steps are discussed.

Covers topics: community mobilization; water source protection, purification and borne diseases; sanitation; mosquito-borne diseases; deforestation and reforestation; farming; pesticides and toxics; solid waste and health care waste; harm from mining and oil extraction. Includes group activities and appropriate technology instructions.

Drawing from the social sciences, the natural sciences and the health sciences, this text introduces students to the principles and methods applied in environmental health. Topics range from toxicology to injury analysis.

This important resource offers a comprehensive overview of the major U.S. environmental laws and approaches, strategies, standards, and enforcement techniques by which American law protects our environment and our health. Written for the non-lawyer, the book puts the spotlight on general concepts that go a long way to demystify the American legal system (what law consists of, who makes it, how it is made, and how it is enforced). The authors also introduce the major environmental laws and evaluate issues, controversies and developments in environmental policy.