Urbanism, Health and Human Biology in Industrialised Countries (Society for the Study of Human Biology Symposium Series) [Hardcover]

L. M. Schell (Editor), S. J. Ulijaszek (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052162097X | ISBN-13: 978-0521620970 | Publication Date: September 28, 1999 | Edition: 1

Over 70% of the population in industrialized nations live in cities; in the next decade so will most of the world's entire population. This volume examines the impact of urban living on human health and biology. Cities pose numerous and diverse social and biological challenges to human populations. These challenges bear little resemblance to the forces that molded human biology throughout millions of years of evolution. Urban populations in industrialized nations have distinctive patterns of behavior, social stratification, stress, infectious disease, diet, activity, and exposure to pollutants from years of industrialization. These features affect diverse aspects of human function including human nutrition, energy expenditure, growth, and reproduction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the authors and editors are to be commended for producing a timely and balanced volume highlighting the interplay between the environment and human adaptation....an informative and very readable volume." American Journal of Human Biology

Book Description

Within the next decade most of the world's population will live in cities and this is the most important change in human living conditions in our evolutionary history. Here, leading scientists show the lessons that must be learned from industrialised nations to prevent escalating problems in future. They clearly explain how urban living affects our health, social systems and physiology, what the likely consequences of increasing urbanisation will be for future generations, and what might be done to prevent or alleviate the most deleterious effects.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (September 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052162097X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521620970
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,519,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)