Nature supports human health by providing:
Intact natural systems are able to clean our air and water, as the vegetation filters out harmful substances. Trees are especially effective at removing carbon dioxide, ozone and fine particles that make it hard for us to breathe. When the tree cover is removed and replaced with pavement, our air quality suffers, and so do we. To learn how air quality affects your health,
http://daq.state.nc.us/airaware/
Water running over streets, parking lots and yards picks up a lot of chemicals that would not be safe to drink. Streamside vegetation slows down the flow of storm runoff, allowing sediment and chemicals to settle out and be removed. For more information on how water quality affects your health,
http://www.ncstormwater.org/pages/citizenresourcesnew.html
In addition to cleaning the air and water, North Carolina’s abundant agricultural land provides us with fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and other products. Long distance food transport adds to road congestion and pollution problems. To find out more about the connection between food and the environment, go to
http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/health/food.htm
Research has shown that obesity-related illnesses have increased tremendously in recent years as people have become more sedentary. We can reverse this trend as we access the natural world for exercise and relaxation. Fortunately, our state has a number of local trails and greenways that make it easy to enjoy being active outdoors. For great places nearby to get outdoors, check out http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/health/getfit.htm and http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/eecenters/healthcenters.htm
A healthy society and a healthy economy
… in the long run, can only flow from
A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
