Air, the environment and public health / Anthony S. Kessel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kessel, Anthony S. (Anthony Stephen)

Contributor:

Classes of 1883 and 1884 Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Air--Health aspects--History.

Air.

Air--Pollution--History.

Public health--History.

Public health.

History.

Public health--Philosophy.

Air--Pollution.

Physical Description:

xiv, 243 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Summary:

Air, the Environment and Public Health traces the theme of air and health from ancient civilisations to the present day. The author explores the changing conceptions of air and health alongside historical developments in public health, and critically examines contemporary problems - conceptual, scientific, philosophical and ethical - in public health theory and practice.

The first part surveys air and health in early civilisations, as well as considering the nineteenth-century debates around miasma and evolution. The second part explores the history of smoke pollution and health. Part III examines philosophical issues around modern air pollution epidemiology, and Part IV looks at climate change and ethical frameworks in public health.

The book is a unique blend of public health science, history of medicine, ethics and philosophy. It will be of interest to those working or studying in public health, environmental health, medicine, history of medicine, environmental philosophy and medical ethics.

Contents:

Part I Whole air 17

1 Early conceptions of air and health 19

2 Miasma, contagion and survival of the fittest 34

Part II Polluted air 49

3 As far as is practicable: air pollution policy and public health in Britain 1800-1900 51

4 Hot air but little action: air pollution policy and public health in Britain 1900-39 65

5 Disaster, reductionism and personal responsibility: air pollution policy and public health 1939-70 81

Part III Air pollution, epidemiology and public health: theoretical and philosophical considerations 101

6 Measuring the health effects of polluted air: quantitative risk assessment case study 103

7 Epidemiological theory and philosophical considerations 117

8 Public health, philosophy and the nature of evidence 128

Part IV New horizons 153

9 Climate change: science and utilitarianism 157

10 Climate change, social justice and other moral frameworks 174

11 The bigger picture: environmental ethics and new moral horizons in public health 199

12 Conclusions and recommendations 216.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Classes of 1883 and 1884 Fund.

ISBN:

0521831466

OCLC:

60667970

Publisher Number:

9780521831468 (hbk.)