South African Medical Research Council, PO Box 87373, Houghton 2041, South Africa.
J Public Health Policy. 2011;32 Suppl 1:S37-43. doi: 10.1057/jphp.2011.21.
South Africans face a range of preventable environmental hazards to their health, many of which are rooted in the country's colonial and apartheid past, and ongoing poverty and inequality. Since the advent of democracy in the country, government has made considerable progress in improving living conditions and in developing the legal framework to prevent and manage environmental contamination. Considerable, under-exploited potential also exists in South Africa to prevent disease, including infectious and chronic diseases, and to promote health through a more holistic and public health approach. This article summarizes the main environmental health concerns and reflects on mechanisms and opportunities to improve public environmental health.
南非人面临着一系列可预防的环境健康危害，其中许多都源于该国的殖民和种族隔离历史，以及持续存在的贫困和不平等。自该国实现民主以来，政府在改善生活条件和制定法律框架以防止和管理环境污染方面取得了相当大的进展。南非在预防疾病（包括传染病和慢性病）和通过更全面和公共卫生的方法促进健康方面也具有相当大但尚未充分利用的潜力。本文总结了主要的环境健康问题，并探讨了改善公共环境健康的机制和机会。
