Environment and Health: A Challenge for Computer Science

The importance of modeling and software development in the field of environment and health is briefly outlined in this paper. In this context we introduce the term "exposomics". We give two short modeling examples: the first one is on the evaluation of chemicals in breast milk with the experimental software PyHasse, and the second one on the evaluation of sex odds near the storage cask site Gorleben applying linear logistic regression technique. In both cases we detected an effect of the pollution of the environment and human health. More research and precautionary activities should be initiated in the field of environment and health. There is no denying the fact that the environment has an enormous impact on human health. It is also consequential that models, information systems, software play an important role in the disclosure of the interactions. Many organizations worldwide are working on the complex scientific subject " environment and health ". The World Health Organization (WHO) for example cites on its homepage: The environment is a major determinant of health, estimated to account for almost 20% of all deaths in the WHO European Region [WHO12]. It is striking and scientifically not understandable that an important influence factor on human health, namely ionizing radiation is not mentioned in these definitions. The WHO provides a separate website on radiation stating that " Ionizing radiation has always been a part of the human environment. Along with natural radioactive sources present in the Earth's crust and cosmic radiation, man-made sources also contribute to our continuous exposure to ionizing radiation"[WHO12]. For decades mankind knows that dangerous chemicals are found in human beings, e.g. in breast milk, blood etc. Research has shown how chemicals in our environment can profoundly affect development, growth, maturation, and reproduction by mimicking hormones or interacting with hormone receptors. Exposure to POPs can lead to serious health effects including certain cancers, birth defects (like cryptorchidism), dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease, and 1033