Which factor is a determinant of disease found in the surroundings?

• A. Genetic Factors
• B. Environmental Factors
• C. Behavioral Factors
• D. Socioeconomic Status

Answer: (B)

Focus on environmental factors—the physical and chemical conditions of the surroundings that can influence health. This includes air and water quality, sanitation, housing conditions and crowding, workplace hazards, exposure to contaminants, and climate-related risks. These external conditions can directly affect the likelihood of developing disease or the course of illness. By contrast, genetic factors are inherited traits inside the body, not part of the surrounding environment. Behavioral factors are individual actions or choices, not environmental conditions. Socioeconomic status shapes access and exposure through social means, but the determinant found in the surroundings itself is environmental factors.