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	State of the Environment in Riga 2001

People and the social environment

HEALTH

Public health is dependent on environmental factors that carry potential danger to the health of society at present and in future. Public health comprises matters such as hygienic and epidemiological inspection, health promotion, food safety and environmental risk factors.

Over the last years, along with worsening of social, economic and working conditions, also the health conditions have worsened which is an integral indicator reflecting the quality of the environment in the city. Even though Riga has the highest number of health providers, not all social groups are receiving adequate health care, particularly, the socially vulnerable and the needy.

The number of the ailing with malignant tumours has increased (see Figure 41). Among the most common diseases causing deaths (data from 1998) are cardiovascular diseases (55.9% of all diseases), tumours (19.2%), digestive diseases (3.1%), respiratory diseases (2.4%), infectious and parasite diseases (1.6%). There is a high number of the sick with external causes of illness and death (11.6% of all causes of death).

Of late, the epidemiological situation in Riga has declined. As compared to 1990, tuberculosis morbidity rate has risen sharply (see Figure 40 ).

The main factors testifying to the damaging effect of bad environment on human life and health are pollution of air, water and soil, low quality of food and illness rates.

The air quality issue is one of the most topical issues in the city now (a more detailed description of the current situation is given in Chapter Air quality ). Besides, some parts of the city suffer from excessive noise levels that have been growing over the recent years. In Latvia, including Riga, data on the effect of air pollution on human health are not sufficient.

Recently, it has been observed that the quality of drinking water in the centralised water system has improved. At the same time, it has to be admitted that bacteriological contamination of common usage wells has a tendency to grow worse. This causes epidemiological risk in areas with decentralised water supply (Zemgale suburb, Northern district, Kurzeme district).

Human health is jeopardised when open surface water is used for consumption or some parts of the water supply network are in a bad technical state. Though illness caused by type A virus hepatitis has diminished in recent years (in 1997, in Riga 93 cases were registered per 100 000 inhabitants), the overall hygienic situation should be deemed complicated. In 1998, more people fell ill with type B virus hepatitis (a 10% increase on 1997) and type C virus hepatitis (a 32.5% increase) (see also Figure 40 ).

In 1998, there were more infectious cases (salmonella etc.) caused by food poisoning. Cases of salmonella have increased 1.3 times as compared to 1997 (see also Figure 40 ), the cause being the use in human consumption of microbiologically infected poultry and eggs. Factors contributing to microbiological infection of food products are outdated food production technologies, increase in the number of small producers, employment in the food industry, food trade and catering services of unskilled labour as well as lack of a comprehensive surveillance mechanism to control food quality in stores and markets.

The epidemiological situation is the worst in the Latgale district, but it is also worsening in the Zemgale and Vidzeme districts.

See also:

Figure 42. Alcoholism and drug abuse

Figure 43. Abortions and deliveries

Figure 44. New cases of invalidity among the employed population

Figure 70. HIV/Aids cases in Riga

Riga City Environment Centre "Agenda 21"

This page was last updated: 2003.03.31.