Part of the motivation behind my focus on environmental chemistry, microbiology and toxicology of emerging contaminants is human health. While I typically think about it from a more holistic point of view and consider “Our Health” to be the health of humans, animals, other biota, and the environment. We are all linked in this world whether we want to admit it or not. At the same time, the focus is primarily on human health. I understand that…that is nature. Most species throughout this world don’t survive by carefully considering the health of other species. However, as humans, especially those living with creature comforts, I think that we can afford to consider “Our Health” as the health of our entire ecosystem.

I coordinated a Health Care Workshop over the past two nights. During those workshops, one of the speakers brought up that our health falls under a 40-30-20-10 Rule. The factors that affect our health are lifestyle (40%), genetics (30%), environment (20%), and medical care (10%). It’s funny how the factor that affects our health the least is the one that the most money is spent on. Everyone complains about health insurance and health care, but what if those people changed their lifestyles instead of complaining? It would probably be more effective and it would alter the health care/health insurance paradigm significantly. As an environmental scientist, the take-away message that I had was that more focus should be placed on our environment and ensuring that it is safe and healthy for us and future generations. And that isn’t just to ensure the health of humans, but the health of the ecosystems that we rely upon.