Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health

BMJ, Год журнала: 2021, Номер unknown, С. n1734 - n1734

Опубликована: Сен. 5, 2021

> Wealthy nations must do much more, faster. The United Nations General Assembly in September 2021 will bring countries together at a critical time for marshalling collective action to tackle the global environmental crisis. They meet again biodiversity summit Kunming, China, and climate conference (Conference of Parties (COP)26) Glasgow, UK. Ahead these pivotal meetings, we—the editors health journals worldwide—call urgent keep average temperature increases below 1.5°C, halt destruction nature protect health. Health is already being harmed by natural world, state affairs professionals have been bringing attention decades.1 The science unequivocal; increase 1.5°C above preindustrial continued loss risk catastrophic harm that be impossible reverse.2 3 Despite world’s necessary preoccupation with COVID-19, we cannot wait pandemic pass rapidly reduce emissions. Reflecting severity moment, this editorial appears across world. We are united recognising only fundamental equitable changes societies reverse our current trajectory. The risks now well established.2 Indeed, no rise ‘safe’. In past 20 years, heat-related mortality among people aged over 65 has increased more than 50%.4 Higher temperatures brought dehydration renal function loss, dermatological malignancies, tropical infections, adverse mental outcomes, pregnancy complications, allergies, cardiovascular pulmonary morbidity mortality.5 6 Harms disproportionately affect most vulnerable, including children, older populations, ethnic minorities, poorer communities those underlying problems.2 4 Global heating also contributing decline …

Язык: Английский

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The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health

Annals of Global Health, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 89(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances modern civilization in fields as diverse medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for harms human health, economy, earth's environment. These occur at every stage plastic life cycle, from extraction coal, oil, gas its main feedstocks through ultimate disposal into The extent these not been systematically assessed, their magnitude fully quantified, economic costs comprehensively counted.The goals this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Human Health examine plastics' impacts across cycle on: (1) health well-being; (2) global environment, especially ocean; (3) economy; (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, world's children. On basis examination, offers science-based recommendations designed support development a Global Treaty, protect save lives.This report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents narrative review processes involved production, use, notes hazards environment associated with each stages. 3 describes ocean potential enter marine web result exposure. 4 details health. 5 first-order estimate health-related costs. 6 examines intersection between plastic, social inequity, environmental injustice. 7 Commission's findings recommendations.Plastics complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% produced fossil carbon- oil gas. comprised carbon-based polymer backbone thousands additional chemicals incorporated polymers convey specific properties such color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, ultraviolet resistance. Many added toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants endocrine disruptors phthalates, bisphenols, per- poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated retardants, organophosphate retardants. integral components many environment.Global production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) manufactured. Annual volume grown under Mt 1950 460 2019, 230-fold increase, track triple by 2060. More half all ever 2002. Single-use account 35-40% current represent rapidly growing segment manufacture.Explosive recent growth reflects deliberate pivot integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations produce manufacture plastics. reducing fuels increasing manufacture. two principal factors decreasing demand due increases 'green' energy, massive expansion fracking.Plastic energy-intensive contributes significantly climate change. At present, estimated 3.7% greenhouse emissions, contribution Brazil. This fraction projected increase 4.5% 2060 if trends continue unchecked.The three phases: disposal. In carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, oil-are transformed energy-intensive, catalytic vast array products. Plastic use occurs aspect results widespread exposure contained plastic. constitute largest portion followed fibers construction.Plastic inefficient, recovery recycling rates below 10% globally. 22 waste enters year, much it single-use gigatons accumulated 1950. Strategies controlled uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, export. Vast quantities exported year high-income low-income countries, where accumulates landfills, pollutes air water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches estuaries, health-environmental injustice scale. Plastic-laden e-waste particularly problematic.Plastics plastic-associated pollution. contaminate aquatic (marine freshwater), terrestrial, atmospheric environments destination found throughout ocean, including coastal regions, sea surface, deep sea, polar ice. appear resist breakdown could persist decades. Macro- micro-plastic particles identified hundreds species major taxa, consumed humans. Trophic transfer microplastic within them demonstrated. Although themselves (>10 µm) undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic bioaccumulate animals biomagnify webs. amounts fates smaller nanoplastic (MNPs <10 poorly understood, but harm worrying given mobility biological systems. Adverse pollution multiple levels molecular biochemical population ecosystem. MNP contamination seafood direct, though well chemicals. Marine endangers ecosystems upon which depends food, oxygen, livelihood, well-being.Coal miners, workers field who extract suffer mortality traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary lung cancer. risk leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast mesothelioma, neurotoxic decreased fertility. Workers producing textiles die bladder interstitial disease rates. toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, Residents "fenceline" communities adjacent sites experience risks premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood cancer.During disposal, release additives residual monomers people. National biomonitoring surveys USA document population-wide exposures disrupt function births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive defects, infertility, obesity, renal cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed degradation can living organisms, Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates may cause toxicity physical toxicological effects acting vectors transport bacterial pathogens tissues cells.Infants womb young children populations high plastic-related effects. Because exquisite sensitivity early hazardous children's unique patterns exposure, linked prematurity, stillbirth, defects organs, impairment, impaired growth, Early-life non-communicable diseases later life.Plastic's We 2015 exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, alone disability caused PBDE, BPA DEHP $920 Int$). (GHG) emissions equivalent 1.96 dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) cost metric, we annual GHG be $341 Int$).These costs, large they are, certainly underestimate full losses resulting negative All costs-and costs-are externalized petrochemical manufacturing industry borne citizens, taxpayers, governments countries around world without compensation.The adverse economy evenly distributed. disproportionately affect disempowered, marginalized workers, racial ethnic communities, Indigenous groups, women, children, whom had little do creating crisis lack political influence or resources address it. Plastics' harmful keenly felt South, small island states, disenfranchised areas North. Social justice (SEJ) principles require reversal inequitable burdens ensure no group bears disproportionate share those benefit economically bear fair currently costs.It clear sustainable societal injustices.The driver worsening exponential accelerating production. further magnified long persistence environment.The plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, non-intentionally substances-include amongst number known disruptors, neurotoxicants, persistent organic pollutants. planetary leach out plastics, pollution, disease. efforts reduce must chemicals.To at-risk populations, put end 2040, supports urgent adoption nations strong comprehensive Treaty accord mandate set forth March 2022 resolution United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures needed curb because transcend national boundaries, scale, well-being people poorest nations. Effective implementation will international action coordinated complemented interventions national, regional, local levels.This urges cap targets, timetables, contributions central provision Treaty. recommend inclusion following provisions:The needs extend beyond microplastics litter plastics.The banning severely restricting unnecessary, avoidable, problematic items, items manufactured microbeads.The requirements extended producer responsibility (EPR) make producers, manufacturers products legally financially safety end-of-life management materials sell.The reductions complexity products; health-protective standards additives; requirement non-toxic materials; disclosure components; traceability components. International cooperation essential implementing enforcing standards.The SEJ remedies fill gaps community knowledge advance both distributional procedural equity.This encourages calling exploration listing least pollutants (POPs) Stockholm Convention.This interface Basel London Conventions enhance slow exports least-developed countries.This recommends creation Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body guide Treaty's implementation. priorities would Member States other stakeholders evaluating solutions effective consumption, enhancing recycling, curbing generation waste. assess trade-offs among evaluate safer alternatives monitor transnational export coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, air-based monitoring programs.This investment research crisis. need determine cost-effective context particular proposed solutions. Oceanographic better measure concentrations µm understand distribution fate Biomedical elucidate MNPs.This finds boon stealth threat enormous benefits, linear pay attention design safe near absence recovery, reuse, grave damage, injustices. worsening.While there remain about uncertainties magnitude, available today demonstrates unequivocally severity intervention Manufacture continue. However, reckless ever-increasing unnecessary products, curbed.Global against failure act immense.

Язык: Английский

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The increasing prevalence of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases: an urgent call to action for improved understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Current Opinion in Immunology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 80, С. 102266 - 102266

Опубликована: Ноя. 26, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Call for Emergency Action to Limit Global Temperature Increases, Restore Biodiversity, and Protect Health

New England Journal of Medicine, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 385(12), С. 1134 - 1137

Опубликована: Сен. 6, 2021

Call for Emergency Action on Climate Crisis A joint editorial published simultaneously in biomedical journals across the globe calls swift and decisive action, noting that only fundamental ...

Язык: Английский

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Gene–environment interactions and their impact on human health

Genes and Immunity, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 24(1), С. 1 - 11

Опубликована: Дек. 30, 2022

Abstract The molecular processes underlying human health and disease are highly complex. Often, genetic environmental factors contribute to a given or phenotype in non-additive manner, yielding gene–environment (G × E) interaction. In this work, we broadly review current knowledge on the impact of interactions health. We first explain independent variation environment. next detail well-established G E that involving toxicants, pollution, viruses, sex chromosome composition. conclude with possibilities challenges for studying interactions.

Язык: Английский

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Public mental health: required actions to address implementation failure in the context of COVID-19

The Lancet Psychiatry, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 9(2), С. 169 - 182

Опубликована: Янв. 20, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Climate Change and Children’s Mental Health: A Developmental Perspective

Clinical Psychological Science, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 10(4), С. 767 - 785

Опубликована: Сен. 14, 2021

Climate change is a major global public-health challenge that will have wide-ranging impacts on human psychological health and well-being. Children adolescents are at particular risk because of their rapidly developing brain, vulnerability to disease, limited capacity avoid or adapt threats impacts. They also more likely worry about climate than any other age group. Drawing developmental life-course perspective, we show climate-change-related can additively, interactively, cumulatively increase psychopathology from conception onward; these effects already occurring; they constitute an important threat healthy development worldwide. We then argue monitoring, measuring, mitigating risks matter social justice crucial long-term investment in mental sciences. conclude with discussion conceptual measurement challenges outline research priorities going forward.

Язык: Английский

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A critical review of occupant energy consumption behavior in buildings: How we got here, where we are, and where we are headed

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 182, С. 113396 - 113396

Опубликована: Май 30, 2023

Occupant behavior has been widely considered as one of the key influencing factors on building energy consumption. The complexity its formation mechanism and dynamic interaction with buildings have aroused extensive discussion. However, there remains a lack comprehensive systematic review to provide panorama occupant consumption research. This research, therefore, aims (1) explore evolution research; (2) investigate knowledge base domains (3) identify current research gaps propose future directions. Bibliometric approach content analysis were applied 2791 relevant articles published from 2001 2022. It was found that focus evolved simple discussion individual at beginning information-based complex behaviors. A total 45 keywords 10 clusters identified. Eight directions finally recommended based identified researcher gaps, including algorithmic innovation, multi-source heterogeneous data fusion, interdisciplinary, extension standardization behavioral models, diversification types, synergism collective perspective, novel intervention strategies. differs previous ones because it could minimize subjectivity bias compared traditional manual review. results this can potential researchers sufficient in field inspire them directions, which contributes further achieving energy-saving goals perspective occupants' buildings.

Язык: Английский

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Connections Between Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Cardiovascular Health

Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 39(9), С. 1182 - 1190

Опубликована: Апрель 6, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Impact of climate change on immune responses and barrier defense

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 153(5), С. 1194 - 1205

Опубликована: Фев. 2, 2024

Climate change is not just jeopardizing the health of our planet, but it increasingly impacting immune health.There an expanding body evidence that climaterelated exposures, such as air pollution, heat, wildfires, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss significantly disrupt functioning human system.These exposures manifest in a broad range stimuli including antigens, allergens, heat stress, pollutants, microbiota changes, other toxic substances.Such pose direct indirect threat to body's primary line defense, epithelial barrier, affecting its physical integrity functional efficacy.Furthermore, these climate-related environmental stressors can hyper-stimulate innate system influence adaptive immunity, notably terms developing preserving tolerance.The or failure tolerance instigate wide spectrum non-communicable diseases autoimmune conditions, allergy, respiratory illnesses, metabolic diseases, obesity, others.As continues unravel, there need for additional research climate immunology covers diverse environments different global settings, employing modern biological epidemiological tools.

Язык: Английский

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