Health and disease in human populations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health and disease in human populations - Essay Example This essay outlines the hazards of agriculture on health with regard to diseases, illnesses, and work hazards; and will outline the benefits of farm production by taking a look at food security, physical and mental health, and social environments. According to Schenker (661-664), farming involves contact to a variety of respiratory toxins exposing farmers to various respiratory conditions. This includes contact to organic dusts through grain handling and enclosed animal feeding ways. For example, farmers that keep a large number animals can spend long hours in confined facilities exposing them to organic dust. Grain dirt is also inorganic dust and grains like sorghum appear to be the most associated with respiratory symptoms. Farmers risk exposed to bacterial, microbial, fungal organisms and toxic gases. Inorganic dirt is mainly soil component and has a high level of silica. This risk is associated mainly with farmers in arid regions. Chemical poisoning is another risk attached to farming practices. When not properly used can lead to death through poisoning. Price of medical attention, reduced productivity can be high. In emergent countries, wellbeing risks related to farming chemical products are having high chances of occur rence. Farmers in developing countries lack the knowledge on proper use of farm chemicals and regulatory systems of chemicals. Chemicals used in agriculture cause metal poisoning to natural sources of water. This can create immense health risks for populations that live in those areas. Agriculture practices provide reproduction places for disease and promote parasite longevity; cause loss of essential marauder species that control parasites increasing man-vector contact (Agricultural Development and Vector-Borne Diseases, 16). This includes parasites like mosquitoes. Irrigation schemes, crops grown, chemical inputs can all lead to the promotion of breeding of vectors that cause disease. Facilities