1. Topic B - Factors affecting Human Growth and Development
B1: Nature/Nurture debate related factors
B2: Genetic factors that affect development
B3: Environmental factors that affect development
B4: Social factors that affect development
B6: Major life events that affect development
B5: Economic factors that affect development

2. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Environmental factors are those issues which are external to the body and affect our development directly.
What environmental factors can you think of?
What health issues could arise from these factors?
Environmental factors
Pollution
Housing
Access to health care
Geographical location
Respiratory disorders
Cardiovascular diseases
Allergies
Anxiety
Depression
Risk of diseases
Respiratory disorders
Cardiovascular diseases
Hypothermia
Anxiety
Depression

3. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Exposure to Pollution
Air and water pollution can influence development and be a major source of ill health.
There is growing concern about the impact of air quality, both indoors and outdoors, and the contribution it makes to causing particular illnesses such as asthma and other respiratory problems.
What outside factors cause air pollution?
The environment may contain many chemicals from vehicle exhaust systems and industrial emissions.
What inside factors can cause air pollution?
Household pollutants include mould and some cleaning products that emit poisonous gases.

4. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Health impacts - Air Pollution
Respiratory disorders – conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity.
Cardiovascular problems – any disorder or disease of the heart or blood vessels.
Allergies are caused by irritants such as dust or pollen causing the immune system
to overreact.

5. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Health impacts - Air Pollution
Respiratory disorders – conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity.
Tobacco smoke, combustion products and air are harmful to the respiratory system.
Respiratory disorders range from a runny nose or sore throat to conditions such as bacterial pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer
Exposure to other chemicals that cause air pollution increases the risk of thrombosis and raised blood pressure.
Exposure to pollution during pregnancy may be linked to the baby having congenital heart defects and cardiovascular disease in later life.
Cardiovascular problems – any disorder or disease of the heart or blood vessels.
Hayfever is a seasonal reaction to certain types of pollen. It can cause sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose, lethargy and flu-like symptoms.
An asthma attack causes difficulty in breathing as the airways (bronchi and bronchioles) become inflamed and constricted (narrowed).
Allergies are caused by irritants such as dust or pollen causing the immune system
to overreact.

6. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Poor housing conditions
Poor quality housing is associated with poor health and quality of life.
Evidence suggests that living in poor housing increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, as well as anxiety and depression.
What aspects in a home can pose risks to health, wellbeing including accidents and illnesses?
Dampness (causing mould)
Structural defects (broken windows)
Overcrowding
Poor cleaning, cooking facilities
Drying clothes indoors with poor ventilation
Spread of infection through poor sanitation
Lack of open green spaces
Deprived areas (poor quality spaces)
Vandalised, broken or misused playgrounds

7. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Health impacts - Poor housing conditions
Respiratory disorders:
Overcrowded housing, lack of heating and poor ventilation causing damp and mould in homes can lead to respiratory problems, especially asthma and other allergic responses.
Babies, young children and older people are particularly vulnerable.
Hypothermia:
Cold homes and homelessness are major causes of hospital admission to treat hypothermia.
Families with low incomes are unable to afford to heat their homes, especially in older properties.
Older people on low incomes may worry about the cost of heating their homes, especially if they live in older, less well-insulated properties that incur higher heating bills.

8. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Health impacts - Poor housing conditions
Cardiovascular problems:
Children living in overcrowded housing tend to have problems with their growth rate and an increased risk of heart disease in later life.
Poor quality housing can lead to stress which can affect an individual’s blood pressure.
High blood pressure damages the artery walls and increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
Lack of exercise and poor diet can also lead to cardiovascular problems.
Poor living conditions link to unhealthy lifestyles, including smoking, drinking and poor diet.
Ready-made meals and heavily processed convenience food are often high in sugar, salt and saturated fats increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Lack of green spaces in some areas, particularly in low income areas preventing people taking part in physical activity outdoors.

9. B3 - Environmental Factors that affect Development
Health impacts - Poor housing conditions
How can poor housing lead to anxiety and depression?
Stress of paying bills
Disturbed sleep due to worrying or fear of safety
Anxiety of meeting the needs of a family
Choosing poor lifestyle choices to control emotions
Inability to concentrate and keep jobs
Lack of privacy or independence when sharing space
Fear of crime
Lack of light, heat can cause depression
Feeling of shame
Bullying
Activity – Independent Task
Identify at least four features of poor housing.
Expand on these features describe the effects of a person's health and development. Focus on a child and an older person in your answers.

10. B3 - Access to Health and Social Care services affect Development
Access to H&SC services
National Institute for health and care excellence (NICE) and local authorities need to improve services for people who do not usually use health and social care services.
It is the responsibility of the local health authority to ensure that health and social care services meet the needs of the people who live within the local community.
How does the local authority help provide H&SC services?
Transport
Suitable opening times
Financial support
Provide more support in schools and poorer areas
Mobility support
Healthy living centres

11. B3 - Access to Health and Social Care services affect Development
Availability of transport
Travelling to appointments can be stressful, why?
Finically paying for travel, parking, arranging lifts, public transport times
Living in remote areas means transport is often unreliable meaning what?
Appointments being cancelled, missed or rebooked.
How could transport issues impact health and wellbeing?
Health deterioration
Spreading of disease and or illness
Loss of money
Reliance of others family members
Increased rates of anxiety and depression

12. B3 - Access to Health and Social Care services affect Development
Opening Hours of services
The National Health Service provides health care for everyone.
However, some groups of people do not have the same access to GP services and preventative health services as others.
Why may some not have the same access?
Recruitment of GPs and nurses may be difficult in deprived areas.
Hospital and GP appointments during working hours may be inconvenient
Elderly and children reliant on others to get them to services
How has/could this be overcome?
Extend GP hours
Introduce more NHS Walk-in Centres, Healthy Living Centres and the NHS 111 service.

13. B3 - Access to Health and Social Care services affect Development
Activity – In Pairs
Consider a particular problem when accessing health and social care services for a person within the following categories:
learning disability
physical disability
language and communication
For each of these categories consider:
The issues for individual
How they can be overcome by the individual.
Next consider how the local authority can implement support and access for these individuals and how this will be implemented. (E.g. What services would be needed)