1
Policy Brief
Grand Canyon University
NRS-428VN-0502: Concepts in Community and Public Health
, 2
Policy Brief
One of the main issues related to environment issue in the United States of America that
has really affected the healthcare delivery in U.S is mainly gaseous emission leading to a rise in
budget in the healthcare system. In the United States of America, healthcare provision is closely
interconnected with the industrial activities bearing in mind that the United States of America is
a highly industrialized country. This, therefore, means that both healthcare and Industrial
activities in this country leads to a large-scale emission of pollutant gases as well as other waste
products which in the end are released to the soil, air, or water (Bauer, Briss, & Bowman, 2016).
The emissions are normally on a national scale which in the end affects directly or indirectly the
healthcare system and potentially harms the health of the public in the country. Due to the
intensity and level of importance given to healthcare facilities, hospitals are also a major
contributor of industrial discharge. On average, healthcare air pollution contributed to national-
wide air discharge which contributed to 12% acid rain, 1% in depletion of ozone layer, 9% air
pollutants, 10% of smog formation, 10% of greenhouse emissions, and 12% of acid rain
(Eckelman& Sherman, 2016).
The pollutants have caused significant damages in the health sector which can be
estimated at 470,000 DALYs in loss resulting from expenses emanating from diseases related to
pollution. Normally, the burden resulting from industrial pollution have resulted to an average of
44,000–98,000 deaths yearly in the United States of America hospitals. The deaths are attributed
to preventable conditions which exert excessive burden on the health system of the nation. As
evidenced from this paper, proper coordinated effort would ensure there is reduction in industrial
waste which in the end would translate to a reduced burden on public health. A reduction in
emission of healthcare and industrial pollutants would lead to improved healthcare system and
Policy Brief
Grand Canyon University
NRS-428VN-0502: Concepts in Community and Public Health
, 2
Policy Brief
One of the main issues related to environment issue in the United States of America that
has really affected the healthcare delivery in U.S is mainly gaseous emission leading to a rise in
budget in the healthcare system. In the United States of America, healthcare provision is closely
interconnected with the industrial activities bearing in mind that the United States of America is
a highly industrialized country. This, therefore, means that both healthcare and Industrial
activities in this country leads to a large-scale emission of pollutant gases as well as other waste
products which in the end are released to the soil, air, or water (Bauer, Briss, & Bowman, 2016).
The emissions are normally on a national scale which in the end affects directly or indirectly the
healthcare system and potentially harms the health of the public in the country. Due to the
intensity and level of importance given to healthcare facilities, hospitals are also a major
contributor of industrial discharge. On average, healthcare air pollution contributed to national-
wide air discharge which contributed to 12% acid rain, 1% in depletion of ozone layer, 9% air
pollutants, 10% of smog formation, 10% of greenhouse emissions, and 12% of acid rain
(Eckelman& Sherman, 2016).
The pollutants have caused significant damages in the health sector which can be
estimated at 470,000 DALYs in loss resulting from expenses emanating from diseases related to
pollution. Normally, the burden resulting from industrial pollution have resulted to an average of
44,000–98,000 deaths yearly in the United States of America hospitals. The deaths are attributed
to preventable conditions which exert excessive burden on the health system of the nation. As
evidenced from this paper, proper coordinated effort would ensure there is reduction in industrial
waste which in the end would translate to a reduced burden on public health. A reduction in
emission of healthcare and industrial pollutants would lead to improved healthcare system and
