COHEART organized “Best presentation award- 2015” on 14/05/2015,. The topic allotted was “One Health benefiting the health of Man, Animal and surrounding environment”. The students enrolled in PG Diploma/ Certificate in One Health was the contestants. Dr. Koshy John, Professor and Head, Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. N. D. Nair, Professor and Head, Veterinary Pathology and Dr. B. Sunil, Professor and Head, Dept. of Veterinary Public health were the judges. The presentation of Dr. Nandakumar S (14-PGDOH-0018) was judged as the best presentation and was awarded “One Health concept: Best presentation award- 2015”
Dr. Nandakumar writes "MAN-ANIMAL-NATURE: An Enigmatic Relationship"
It is a real enigma how man animal and nature have coexisted in the past despite the myriad of differences in their genetic makeup and physiological functions. Nature has been boundlessly contributing to the growth of man and animals bearing the brunt of the damage inflicted during the course of development of animal and plant lives. It is an incredible fact that man and animals peacefully coexisted with plant kingdom and in perfect harmony with nature which has nurtured the growth of ancient civilisations which we have owned and followed. The famous author H.G.Wells wrote “Man is the unnatural animal, the rebel child of nature and more and more does he turn himself against the harsh and fitful hand that reared him”. It would be worthwhile discussing on the deluge of hazards that have adverse health effects on man and animals. But time and printing space allows me to divulge only the tip of the iceberg.
Undissolved issues
- Let us discuss the effects of polluted water and its impact on human and animal health. Health consequences are almost similar in manifestations and outcome in both .Improper sewerage and lack of sanitary wells and drinking supplies have been a perennial problem, which has posed serious health events even in developed countries. Polluted water contains disinfection by products, caffeine, nitrates, industrial chemicals, heavy metals like Arsenic and disease causing bacteria causing gastroenteritis and systemic illness in humans and animals. Around 1.5 lakh tonne of plastic is being used every year for bottle manufacture for packaged drinking water. Processing of bottles produces nickel, ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide and benzene .Flouride content high in treated water.
Future is in air
- A developed nation is not the one which has a momentous industrial growth but one which balances development and environment without compromising on the latter at no point in time. Children born to parents who smoke at home forms a major chunk of paediatric patients admitted for treatment of chronic bronchitis or asthma. Cigarette smoke contains 7000 chemicals of which 70 are potent carcinogens. Chemicals like Cyanide, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Methanol, Acetylene, Ammonia, Tar, CO, Nitrogen dioxide and Nicotine have deleterious effects on human health. Non smokers in the company of smokers are no way better since they too are exposed to second hand smoke which has more or less the same effects. It is often seen that people who quit smoking resort to other habits like spit tobacco which has also large quantities of Tobacco specific nitrosamines( TSNA).Outdoor air pollution caused by smog formed from automobile exhausts results in serious lung problems in urban areas and metro cities.
Alarming sounds
- Though not a serious issue in humans, sound pollution has created a string of issues in the deep seas. Sonars used by army submarines have caused numerous beach stranding of whales and sharks and a subsequent decline in their population. High intensity sounds(more than 140 db) produced by sonars resulted in physical trauma-bleeding from brain, ears and tissues and alterations in their dive patterns.
Technology for troubling health
- By the advent of computers thing happen in the fast lane and information gets conveyed in real time. But nobody thinks of the troubles technology carries along its way. Later when you realise the problems there would be no time to act. Computer related illness like musculoskeletal problems, repetitive stress injury, vision problems, headaches, obesity and stress disorders daunt IT professionals and physicians equally, because avoidance of the cause results in unemployment and treatment of the condition is not documented in any medical literature so far.
Conclusion
Development and growth of nations certainly will yield prosperity but if done at the cost of nature it will spell doom and dig graves for future generations instead of building fortunes. Before you start meddling with nature, think you are not the only one with the right to live but hordes of living creatures share the same space and food. The axiom of the day is “THE EARTH DOESNOT BELONG TO MAN BUT MAN BELONGS TO THE PLANET EARTH”