Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine (AAEM) is the journal in the columns of which for many years the scope of problems has been discussed concerning the effect of environmental hazards on the human body. It focused rather on risk related with work in agriculture and habitation in rural areas, as evidenced by the reports published in our journal. In recent years, profound demographic, social, economic and political changes have been observed worldwide, associated with the globalization, technological progress (development of new technologies), mass migration of the population within individual countries and continents, and between them. Migrations cause health problems which to-date could have been considered local, have gained global, international importance. It is increasingly more difficult therefore to consider confining to analysis the risks pertaining to an individual occupational or social group, or specified place of residence. Global studies (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology Study - PURE), conducted by Prof. Yusuf Salim and described in the current issue of AAEM, are reflections of this situation. In the light of migration, globalization, and technological progress, the social aspect of health problems has become of crucial importance. Also, the character of environmental hazards on the human body has changed. An example of this is the proceeding mechanization of work in agriculture, and emerging threats related with it, and change of to-date risks. Currently, in the developed countries as well as in some of the developing countries, manual labour has been replaces by mechanical equipment; therefore, a sedentary character of occupational activity and risk of civilization diseases become a health problem.