The word physical environment often refers to water, land, animals and plants, buildings and other infrastructure and all the natural resources that offer basic needs and opportunities for economic and social development (Foster 11). The physical environment is expected to be clean and healthy in order to promote the physical and wellbeing of humans. There are factors that cause harm to the physical environment. For instance, noise pollution causes both physical and psychological harm/stress to the environment. This paper highlights the causes and/or effects of physical environment.

There are certain things that harm the physical environment and which need to be eradicated, these are;

?   Pollution of all types (air, water, land and noise pollution).

?   Deforestation-clearing trees leading to bare land.

?   Emission of greenhouse gases and climate change-emission of carbondioxide in the atmosphere which in turn causes global warming.

?   Degrading the land- misusing the land for example through overgrazing and over-cultivating (Foster 61-63).

Though the environment suffers from the actions of human beings, the physical environment has effects on the wellbeing and affairs of humans;

?   The physical environment has effects on health-air quality affects individual’s health particularly those with respiratory diseases.

?   Infectious and contagious diseases are transferred to humans through water.

?   The attractiveness of the physical environment determines individual’s readiness to socialize with their fellows and to be physically active.

?   The toxicity of the environment causes diseases and interferes with development.

?   Accessibility to green space is important for mental health.

?   The environment is the source of food and other necessities used by humans

?   The physical environment is inclusive and promotes independent exploration and learning especially through play (Hardy 34-36).

As such, the environment is important for the welfare of humanbeings. The harm caused by humans to the environment affects the humans in return. Therefore, there is a great need to preserve the physical environment by eliminating any cause of harm in order to prevent harmful effects of the environment to humans.