We have ways of preventing deaths and disease from these environmental hazards. Environmental health interventions can make valuable and sustainable contribution towards reducing the global burden of disease and improving the well-being of people everywhere. For example safe sanitation would break the vicious cycle of faecal-oral pathogens by preventing them gaining access to drinking-water, and help reduce other pollutants in the environment. Many interventions can be cost-effective and have benefits beyond improving people's health -- benefits such as helping alleviate poverty and reducing gender inequalities.