scotPHO introduction:
  Community Wellbeing
  Crime
  Deprivation
  Education
  Income & Economy
  Physical Environment
Key points
  Introduction
  Policy context
  Data
  Key data sources
  Key references and evidence
  Useful links
  Social Environment
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Physical environment: key points

  • The physical environment can influence health directly (e.g. through air quality, water, pollution) and indirectly (e.g. by the natural and built environment impacting on mental wellbeing and shaping health behaviours).
  • Policy makers in Scotland and Europe have acknowledged these links, through documents such as Good Places, Better Health and the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (PDF Button 7.4 MB).
  • The impact of some aspects of the physical environment on health (e.g. greenspace, overcrowding) varies by location and relative deprivation. Others (such as global warming and traffic) have implications for the whole Scottish population, though more disadvantaged groups are likely to experience the most serious impact.

 

 

Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in February 2010.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end February 2011.