Urban Health Issues: Exploring the Impacts of Big-City Living
Ebook
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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.
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.
Focuses on an area of public health that is of increasing importance, as urbanization rates continue to rise around the world
Provide real-world insights for readers through interviews with experts working in urban areas across the globe
Illustrates in city case studies how particular metropolitan areas around the world are working to address particular urban health issues
Offers readers living in cities practical suggestions for staying healthy and avoiding urban hazards such as air and noise pollution
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Urban Health—A Historical Perspective
URBAN HEALTH ISSUES
Aging and Age-Friendly Communities
Air Quality and Urban Smog
City Spotlight: Mexico City—Gripped by a Nagging Air Pollution Problem27
Chemical Exposure
Expert Commentary: Environmental Health Surveillance37
Climate Change
City Spotlight: Venice—Will Anything Work to Stop the Flooding?48
Crime and Violence
City Spotlight: New York City—An International Model of Criminal Justice Reform59
Drugs and Alcohol
Expert Commentary: Substance Availability and Abuse79
Food Quality and Availability
Green Buildings and Sustainable Development
City Spotlight: Singapore—Proving Densely Populated Cities Can Be Both Livable and Sustainable100
Green Space and Natural Areas
City Spotlight: Melbourne—The Many Benefits of More Trees110
Healthcare Access and Quality
City Spotlight: Delhi—Reforming the Delivery of Urban Health Services121
Indoor Air Quality
Infectious Diseases
City Spotlight: Freetown—Checking the Spread of a Deadly Virus144
Expert Commentary: “One Health” Policies and Practices146
Light Pollution
Noise Pollution
Expert Commentary: Addressing Noise Pollution166
Odor Pollution
Population Growth and Overcrowding
City Spotlight: Karachi—Glimmers of Hope for the World’s Largest Slum184
Expert Commentary: Immigrant Health and Safety186
Radiation Sources
Social Support Networks
Expert Commentary: Social Isolation among Older Adults207
Solid Waste Management and Recycling
City Spotlight: Toronto—Green Living Made Easy and Fun217
Stress Management
Walkable and Bike-Friendly Neighborhoods
City Spotlight: Copenhagen—The City Where Bicycles Rule237
Water and Sanitation
Workplace Health and Safety
Expert Commentary: Worker Health259
Appendix: Steps to Healthy Urban Living
Glossary
Directory of Resources
Index
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.
…there is useful information here, dealing with serious topics and clearly presented. Public, school, and academic libraries should consider adding it to their collections.
- Title: Urban Health Issues: Exploring the Impacts of Big-City Living
- Author: Richard V. Crume
- Publisher: Greenwood
- Print Publication Date: 2019
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 320
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBN: 9798216160816
- Resource ID: LLS:9798216160816
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T15:50:19Z
Richard V. Crume is a consultant, educator, and journalist 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.