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Report Shows Global Expansion has Negative Effects on Human HealthIn This Article
A new study has found that environmental pollution is even more damaging to human health than previously thought. Read more about the shocking results and what you can do about it below.
Our world is constantly changing and new studies are released every day that are designed to improve health, find out how the body works, and find new cures for diseases. However, a new study has found that all of our beneficial health advancements could be completely destroyed if the current trend of environmental mistreatment continues. The peer-reviewed data was compiled into a 60-page report published by The Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health. The report states that the decline of bees and other environmental dangers are drastically and quickly affecting the quality of human health. The study researchers found that climate change combined with the degradation of the world’s natural resources is set to reverse all health gains that humans have made in the past 150 years. Study DetailsResearchers in the study examined hundreds of studies and reports on human development, health advancements, and environmental risks. The study authors found that to date, the development of agriculture, industry, and human health have come at the expense of the environment. However, the researchers found that the expansion of agriculture and industry has become too large for the world to sustain, and is starting to negatively affect public health. According to the report, humans have affected the earth in the following ways:
In short, humanity’s quest to control and dominate the earth is rapidly destroying it. However, until recently, the damaging effects of human industry did not directly relate to human health. But the report shows that now the damage is so extensive that it is directly affecting human health in multiple ways. The researchers dub this event the “Anthropocene,” which is a geological term for how human involvement is rapidly changing the world for the worse. How Environmental Changes Harm HumansAccording to the study authors, “By unsustainably exploiting nature’s resources, human civilization has flourished but now risks substantial health effects from the degradation of nature’s life support systems in the future.” The report indicates that the damage to the world is so great that it is starting to directly affect our health. One direct example is the reduction in the bee population. Bees and Our HealthA study published in 2014 conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health was one of the first studies to examine the health effects of a dwindling bee population. This study attributed the decline to the frequent use of insecticides that harm bees during the winter. Both clothianidin and imidacloprid could cause bees to abandon their nest and die. Follow-up studies have found damaging effects in human studies based on the reduction in the bee population. According to a study by the same authors as the Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health, the loss of bees has compromised the number of produce crops and the nutrient quality of the crops. Bees account for about 35 percent of all food production and supply 40 percent of natural sources of folate and vitamin A. Without these two vitamins, adults and children suffer. Pregnant women and fetuses are particularly at risk for a reduction in the nutrient quality of food. According to the study, if all bees and pollinators were destroyed, over a quarter of a billion people would be severely deficient in both vitamin A and folate. This would directly increase birth defects, heart disease, strokes, and some cancers. The researchers estimate that this could lead to an additional 1.4 million deaths per year. Excessive carbon dioxide in the air contributes to a significant reduction of zinc in grain crops. Zinc levels are already low in many humans, and a further reduction in zinc could harm millions. Zinc deficiency is implicated in ADHD, low immunity, weight gain, premature birth, and sluggish growth. Researchers in the Lancet study attribute bee population die-off to insecticides, but also to pollution and land-loss. Fracking Also Dangerous for Human HealthFracking is the process of using chemicals and water to break up rocks and expose natural gas. The practice has been in use since the 1940s, but it creates extremely worrisome health dangers. Fracking is known to cause the following issues: Health Dangers of FrackingAir Pollution Studies indicate that about 4 percent of the methane harvested during fracking is lost into the atmosphere. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimate that this causes the same environmental damage as 3 million cars. A host of other chemicals are also released into the air during fracking, causing smog, ozone, and other noxious gases. These effects are known to cause sickness, nervous system disorders, cancer, organ damage, birth defects, and death. Soil PollutionOil spills, chemicals, and contaminated water also contaminate nearby soil. According to a report from the Associated Press, drilling waste increased contaminated soil levels by over 5,000 percent over the past 10 years. Water PollutionThe chemicals used during fracking can leach into groundwater and contaminate water sources. Fracking not only releases chemicals used in the fracking process, but also exposes natural pollutants such as heavy metals, brine water, and radioactive material. How to Minimize Environmental Health RisksSince the environmental issues are global, preventing them on a personal level is impossible. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of damaging environmental effects. Promote Earth AwarenessMany individuals are not aware of how precarious the health of the world is. We may never be able to completely reverse the effects of humans on the world, but by taking steps now to preserve the world’s natural resources, we can save the lives of billions of future residents. Buy OrganicMuch of the nutrient deficiencies seen in food today are seen in conventionally-raised crops. Bees are only harmed if they pollinate plants with commercial insecticides, so the fewer insecticides that are used the healthier the bee population will be. Organic foods may also contain more nutrients, and they are tastier, too. Protect the BeesThe bee population is in serious danger. Do your part to protect bees by capturing unwanted bee colonies rather than killing them. Encourage others to save bees and forgo the use of pesticides. If you have some extra land, consider installing a beehive. Not only will you give local bees a place to grow and stay safe, but you will also have a delicious source of allergen-fighting honey. Avoid Industrial and Fracking SitesIf you live near a fracking site or industrial plant, or even a farm that uses pesticides and insecticides, consider moving to a cleaner area. Although the effects may not be visible right away, these industries are directly damaging your health. Eat an Abundance of NutrientsAs nutrient levels in foods drop, it is increasingly important to ensure you get enough food nutrients. Aside from purchasing organic foods, eat as many vegetables and fruit as you can in a day. Consider supplementing for lacking nutrients. Nutrients that protect your brain health may provide the biggest benefit. Consider adding the following nutrients to your supplement routine to protect your health from environmental dangers:
Garden with Heirloom SeedsThe nutrient profile in vegetables and fruits has dropped over the past decades. Some research indicates that as vegetables and fruit were altered to be larger, the nutrient content has dropped. Additionally, food starts to lose nutrients the instant it is picked, so the longer the journey from the plant to your table, the fewer nutrients you are getting. When you garden with heirloom seeds, you avoid some of the nutrient deficiencies in the grocery store produce and prevent the loss of nutrients. Environmental Protection Starts with YouOur quick global expansion with little regard for how it affects the world is starting to directly cause problems in the human population. This is a serious risk to not only future generations but also to our health today. Although it is impossible for one individual to make a global environmental difference (unless you are an environmental scientist), steps you take today can protect your health and raise awareness about the importance of protecting our earth for future generations. With a little more care, we can prevent our habits from completely destroying the world and ourselves in the process. Sourceshttp://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60901-1/fulltext http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/study-strengthens-link-between-neonicotinoids-and-collapse-of-honey-bee-colonies/ http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/hydrofracking_w.html
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