INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue X October 2025

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The Impact of Abiotic Environmental Factors on Human Health
Dr. Deepak Kumar Singh

Assistant Professor, Ramananda College

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.1210000144

Received: 14 October 2025; Accepted: 24 October 2025; Published: 08 November 2025

ABTRACT:

This paper examines the critical relationship between key abiotic (non-living) environmental factors and their
direct influence on human health and fitness. While the environment is essential for sustaining life, components
such as temperature, water pH levels, soil composition, sunlight exposure, and humidity simultaneously pose
significant health challenges. The analysis reveals that temperature extremes heighten the risk of cardiovascular
stress and illness, with cold increasing blood pressure and extreme heat potentially leading to fatal heart failure
and heat stroke. Water quality is heavily influenced by pH, where acidic conditions risk toxic metal leaching
(e.g., lead), causing long-term neurological and systemic damage, while soil serves as both a source of essential
nutrients and medicine, and a carrier for pathogens and heavy metals (e.g., mercury). Furthermore, sunlight is
vital for Vitamin D synthesis but prolonged, unprotected exposure carries risks of skin cancer and immune
damage. High humidity impairs the body’s thermal regulation, significantly increasing the danger of heat-related
illnesses and cardiovascular events. The conclusion emphasizes that while environmental hazards contribute to
widespread diseases like cancer and heart disease, individual focus on physical and mental fitness is crucial for
strengthening the body's immune system and enhancing overall resilience against these environmental stressors.

Key Words: Environment, Abiotic, Biotic, Disease, Health, Physical Activity

INTRODUCTION:

The Environment-Health Nexus:

An environment is everything that is around us, which includes both living and nonliving things such as soil,
water, animals and plants, which adapt themselves to their surroundings. It is nature’s gift that helps in nourishing
life on Earth. Biotic and abiotic are the two essential factors responsible for shaping the ecosystem. The biotic
factors refer to all the living beings present in an ecosystem, and the abiotic factors refer to all the non-living
components like physical conditions (temperature, pH, humidity, salinity, sunlight, etc.) and chemical agents
(different gases and mineral nutrients present in the air, water, soil, etc.) in an ecosystem. Therefore, both the
abiotic and biotic resources affect the survival.Furthermore, both these components are reliant on each other.
Suppose if one of the factors is removed or altered, its repercussions will be faced by the entire ecosystem.
Abiotic factors are any physical and chemical factors that influence an ecosystem. Abiotic factors can include
temperature,sunlight levels, pH levels of water, soil and humidity. Abiotic factors influence how organisms
within an ecosystem are able to reproduce, thrive, and survive. Without a doubt, abiotic factors directly affect
the survival of organisms. The factor which determine health of an individual are heredity, life style,
socioeconomic conditions, health services, health related system and environment.

Environment provides numerous challenges to human health & fitness. The natural environment contributes
significantly to people’s health through the quality of air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. On
the one hand, it offers health enhancing economic and recreational opportunities, while on the other hand it is
threatened by activities such as transport, industrial process, agricultural and waste management practices. We
need safe, healthy and supportive environments for good health. The environment in which we live is a major
determinant of our health and well-being. We depend on the environment for energy and the materials needed to
sustain life, such as: clean air. Environmental pollutants can cause health problems like respiratory diseases,
heart disease, and some types of cancer. People with low incomes are more likely to live in polluted areas and
have unsafe drinking water. Children and pregnant women are at higher risk of health problems related to

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue X October 2025

Page 1654

pollution.

Key Abiotic Factors and Their Effects on Health

Temperature and Thermal Stress:

Changes and extremes in ambient temperature significantly impact human physiological systems.

Cold Exposure (Low Temperature): Low temperatures cause vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels),
which requires the heart to exert greater pressure to force blood through the circulatory system. This results in
an increase in blood pressure (hypertension), a reaction more common and pronounced in older adults (age 65
and over). Sudden shifts in atmospheric pressure, humidity, or wind can trigger a similar stress response.

Heat Exposure (High Temperature): Extreme heat places a massive workload on the heart. To regulate core body
temperature, the heart must increase its contraction rate (heart rate) and force. When compounded by dehydration
(often due to profuse sweating) and resulting lower blood volume, the demand for blood flow to the working
heart muscle may exceed its supply, leading to cardiac failure. Many heat-related fatalities are recorded as heart
attacks. Heat exposure can also cause gastrointestinal illness and affect the nervous and respiratory systems.

Air and Water Acidity (pH Levels):

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance (scale of 0-14). In natural water systems, the typical
pH range is 6.5 to 8.5.

Public Health Implications: The pH of drinking water is critical because it influences the solubility and bio-
availability of metals.

Acidic Water (pH < 7): Highly acidic water can leach toxic metals, such as lead, from plumbing systems.
Elevated metal levels in drinking water are linked to severe health risks, including increased chances of cancer,
high blood pressure, stroke, kidney damage, and neurological problems.

Alkaline Water (pH > 7): A slightly alkaline drinking water has been noted to potentially ease the symptoms of
acid reflux.

Soil Composition and Contaminants:

Soil is an essential abiotic factor, serving as a primary source of nutrients for our food supply and raw material
for medicines (e.g., antibiotics). However, its composition can also pose risks.

Nutrient Imbalances: The lack or excess of essential minerals in soil affects the nutritional quality of crops and,
by extension, human diet.

Toxic Contaminants: Both natural geological deposits and anthropogenic activities (e.g., industrial, agricultural)
can lead to toxic levels of elements in the soil.

Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead and Mercury): High concentrations of these metals in soil can cause significant health
problems upon exposure. Young children are highly vulnerable, with exposure potentially causing damage to
the developing brain and leading to neurological issues. Adults can suffer kidney or liver damage from excessive
exposure.

Sunlight and Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation:

Sunlight is vital for human health but must be managed carefully.

Benefits (Controlled Exposure): Moderate sun exposure (typically 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several
times per week) is necessary for the body to produce Vitamin D. This vitamin is crucial for calcium absorption,

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue X October 2025

Page 1655

promoting stronger and healthier bones. Furthermore, controlled sun exposure is associated with:Enhanced
mood and energy.Reduced risk of conditions like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle pain.

Harms (Unprotected/Excessive Exposure): Prolonged and unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV)
rays can damage the skin, eyes, and immune system. The most serious risk is an increased likelihood of skin
cancer. Extreme prolonged exposure, particularly during summer, is the most common cause of heat stroke.

Humidity and Thermal Comfort:

Humidity (the amount of water vapor in the air) affects the body's ability to maintain a stable core temperature,
thereby impacting thermal comfort.

High Humidity: When it is warm and humidity is high, the air is saturated with water vapor, making it difficult
for the body to cool itself through the evaporation of sweat. This inefficiency in heat removal increases the risk
of hyperthermia and heat stroke, which can be fatal. High humidity can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions,
potentially triggering breathing problems, heart attacks, and strokes. Associated health risks include dehydration,
fatigue, and muscle cramps.

CONCLUSION:

Abiotic environmental factors—including temperature, pH, soil chemistry, sunlight, and humidity—are
profound determinants of human health and well-being.Although all organisms depend on their environments
for energy and materials needed to sustain life but at the same time environmental hazards can also causes
diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease and many other illness. A person can not control all the factors which
are responsible for maintaining good health due to his limitation but he or she can improve his body’s immune
system by involving him or her in physical activities regularly. A strong immune system, supported by regular
physical activity and a fit body, enhances a person's resilience and ability to withstand the challenges posed by
their environment.A person who is fit is capable of living life to its fullest extent. Physical and mental fitness
play an important roles in your lives and people who are both, physically and mentally fit are less prone to
medical conditions as well. Mental fitness can only be achieved if your body is functioning well. In order to
maintain a relaxed state of mind, a person should be physically active. A person who is fit both physically and
mentally is strong enough to face the ups and downs of life and is not affected by drastic changes if they take
place.

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