**1. Introduction**

Defect is any abnormality or imperfection that is capable of impairing quality, function or utility [1]. A respiratory defect is therefore any impairment in the vital function or utility of the respiratory system caused by abnormalities (congenital or induced) in one or more of the respiratory organs. The major organs of the respiratory system are the nose and nasal cavity, larynx, pharynx, bronchi, alveoli, trachea and the lungs. They function primarily to provide oxygen to body tissues for cellular respiration, remove the waste product carbon dioxide, and help to maintain acid-base balance [2]. Due to the anatomy of the respiratory tract, it is constantly exposed to microbes, which is why the respiratory system includes many mechanisms to defend itself and prevent pathogens from entering the body.

Lungs are the powerhouse of the respiratory system. Through inhalation oxygen is brought into the body with and exhalation rids the body of carbon dioxide. Harm to the lungs can result from presentation to numerous things noticeable all around,

for example, allergens, lethal substances, metals, and molds. Research has indicated that long term introduction to air contaminations can influence the development and improvement of the lungs, and increment the danger of creating asthma, emphysema, and other lung illnesses.

The NIEHS-sponsored Harvard Six Cities Study found a significant relationship between introduction to fine particle air pollution and early deaths. Likewise, perhaps the greatest risk to lung wellbeing is tobacco smoke, containing many poisons, for example, nicotine carbon monooxide, tar, arsenic, cadmium, methane, etc. [3]. Respiratory disease is a common and significant cause of illness and death around the world. The most common cause of illness in children in developed countries and a leading cause of death in children in developing areas are diseases of the lung and airways. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Its prevalence increases with age. Men are more likely to have the disease, but the death rate for men and women is about the same. In another research conducted in the United States in 2010, it was discovered about 6.8 million visits to the emergency division were for respiratory issues from patients younger than 18. About one-seventh of the United Kingdom population is affected by some type of persistent lung disease, most commonly COPD, which incorporates asthma, persistent bronchitis, and emphysema. There are various ways by which respiratory disorders can be classified: it could be based on


Generally, respiratory disorders can be classified into these areas;


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*Environmental Media and Associated Respiratory Defects*

water we drink, the food we eat and the land where we live.

example, asbestos, can cause lung malignant growth, especially in people who smoke, or cancer of the lining of the chest and lung (mesothelioma), (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis, asbestosis, particulate pollutants) [4, 5].

**2. Overview of the environment and its various components (media)**

The environment can be defined as all that which is external to the individual host. It can be divided into physical, biological, social, and cultural factors, any or all of which can influence health status in populations [6]. In other words environment refers to those things that surrounds living beings and affect their lives. The environment is man's basic life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the

The four major components of environment include lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, corresponding to rocks, water, air and life respectively. *Lithosphere* is the outermost layer of earth called crust, consisting of various minerals, it is where we have the rocks and soil. It is about 100 km in depth, and is found on both land and seas. The principal component of lithosphere is earth's

*Hydrosphere*, covering 70% of earth's surface, involves all the varieties of water bodies on earth such as seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, lakes, streams, etc. 97.5% of water found on earth is in the seas as salt water. Just 2.5% of water on earth is freshwater. Out of this, 30.8% makes up the rivers, repositories, and lakes and is easily acces-

*Atmosphere* is the gaseous, envelope-like material encasing the earth. It is unique to the earth because its abundance of oxygen (20.95%) which is vital in supporting life on earth. other constituents of the atmosphere includes 78.08% nitrogen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, and trace elements like, hydrogen, helium, noble

*Biosphere* refers to all the regions on Earth where life exists. The ecosystems that

The environment we live in is a major determinant of our state of health, from the rural zones to thick urban communities, the sort meals we eat and water we drink, places we live to the spots we work, and hence harm to our indigenous habitat, likewise brings about harm to human wellbeing. Factors, like inaccessible, safe drinking water and sanitation, air pollution and changes in climatic conditions contribute to 23% of all deaths globally and 36% of all deaths among youngsters between the ages of 0 and 14. It is estimated that 1.8 billion individuals get drinking water from fecally contaminated water sources and 2.5 billion individuals live without essential sanitation facilities, increasing the rate of diarrheal infections, malnutrition and deaths. Insufficient water for hygienic purposes, consumption of unsafe water and absence of access to sanitation together makes up about 88% of deaths from diarrheal

Health impacts associated with damage to our environment are numerous and diverse ranging from diarrheal and vector-borne diseases to respiratory diseases, ischemic heart disease and stroke to mental health impacts of extreme weather events, failing livelihoods, conflict and displacement [8]. This therefore implies that in order to reduce the incidence of disease more attention needs to be paid to

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91389*

tectonic plates.

sible to man.

gases and water vapor.

support life could be in soil, air, water, or land.

diseases, resulting in 11% of mortality of kids younger than 5 [7].

reducing the environmental causes such as:

**3. The environment and health**

emphysema, and other lung illnesses.

1.The organ or tissue involved

3.Causal factor of the disease

damage, pleural effusion).

nary hypertension.

tis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, etc.

respiratory disorders can be classified: it could be based on

2.Pattern of signs and symptoms associated with the disease

Generally, respiratory disorders can be classified into these areas;

• Obstructive respiratory conditions are usually characterized by obstructed airflow inflamed and easily collapsible airways. Examples are asthma, bronchi-

• Restrictive respiratory conditions these disease restrict lung expansion resulting in reduced lung volumes, either because of an alteration in lung parenchyma or because of a disease of the pleura (e.g., fibrosis, sarcoidosis, alveolar

• Vascular diseases. They are diseases that affect the blood vessels from the heart to the lungs. They are of two major types: pulmonary embolism and pulmo-

• Environmental and occupational respiratory "diseases." These respiratory defects are caused by harmful particles, mists, vapors, or gases that are inhaled, in the surroundings where people live and usually while people work. Various sorts of particles elicit various reactions in the body. For instance, particles like animal dander could cause unfavorably susceptible responses, like hay fever-like symptoms or a kind of asthma. Different particles cause hurt not by activating hypersensitive responses, however by being harmful to the cells of the aviation routes and air sacs in the lung. A few particles, for example, quartz residue and asbestos, may cause incessant aggravation that can prompt scarring of lung tissue (aspiratory fibrosis). Certain lethal particles, for

for example, allergens, lethal substances, metals, and molds. Research has indicated that long term introduction to air contaminations can influence the development and improvement of the lungs, and increment the danger of creating asthma,

The NIEHS-sponsored Harvard Six Cities Study found a significant relationship between introduction to fine particle air pollution and early deaths. Likewise, perhaps the greatest risk to lung wellbeing is tobacco smoke, containing many poisons, for example, nicotine carbon monooxide, tar, arsenic, cadmium, methane, etc. [3]. Respiratory disease is a common and significant cause of illness and death around the world. The most common cause of illness in children in developed countries and a leading cause of death in children in developing areas are diseases of the lung and airways. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Its prevalence increases with age. Men are more likely to have the disease, but the death rate for men and women is about the same. In another research conducted in the United States in 2010, it was discovered about 6.8 million visits to the emergency division were for respiratory issues from patients younger than 18. About one-seventh of the United Kingdom population is affected by some type of persistent lung disease, most commonly COPD, which incorporates asthma, persistent bronchitis, and emphysema. There are various ways by which

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example, asbestos, can cause lung malignant growth, especially in people who smoke, or cancer of the lining of the chest and lung (mesothelioma), (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis, asbestosis, particulate pollutants) [4, 5].
