The intersection of environmental pollution, climate change, and public health represents one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, with profound implications for disease prevention and population health outcomes. This comprehensive review examines the conceptual frameworks that link pollution exposure and climate-related environmental changes to public health outcomes, providing a systematic analysis of the mechanisms through which environmental factors influence disease patterns and health disparities. The study synthesizes current research on environmental health determinants, exploring the complex pathways through which air pollution, water contamination, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruption contribute to disease burden across diverse populations. Through an extensive literature review encompassing epidemiological studies, environmental health assessments, and climate science research, this paper identifies key conceptual models that explain the relationships between environmental exposures and health outcomes. The analysis reveals that environmental health impacts operate through multiple interconnected pathways, including direct toxic effects of pollutants, indirect effects through ecosystem disruption, and social vulnerability factors that amplify exposure risks among marginalized populations. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing environmental health risks while creating new exposure scenarios and altering disease transmission patterns. The paper presents a comprehensive framework for understanding these relationships, incorporating concepts of environmental justice, cumulative risk assessment, and adaptive capacity in health systems. Key findings indicate that effective environmental health protection requires integrated approaches that address both immediate pollution control and long-term climate adaptation strategies. The research highlights the importance of place-based interventions, community engagement, and multi-sectoral collaboration in developing effective disease prevention strategies. Policy implications emphasize the need for proactive environmental health governance that incorporates climate resilience, equity considerations, and evidence-based risk assessment. The study concludes with recommendations for strengthening conceptual frameworks through improved environmental health surveillance, enhanced inter-disciplinary research collaboration, and the development of innovative intervention strategies that address the root causes of environmental health disparities. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on environmental determinants of health and provide practical guidance for public health practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working to address the complex challenges at the intersection of environmental change and population health.
Egemba et al. (Mon,) studied this question.