Global Change Drivers: Biodiversity Loss, Chemical Pollution, Climate Change, and Introduced Species - New Research Suggests Their Role in the Rise of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Notre Dame, Indiana United States of America
Biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and introduced species are associated with increases in disease-related endpoints or harm.
New research suggests that global change drivers, including biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and introduced species, are contributing to the rise in emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in various organisms.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), managing ecosystem health, and preventing biological invasions and biodiversity loss could help to reduce the burden of plant, animal, and human diseases.
Urbanization decreases the risk of infectious diseases, likely due to improved sanitation and public health infrastructure.
Warmer temperatures from climate change may help malaria expand in Africa. A decline in wildlife diversity could be boosting Lyme disease cases in North America.
White-footed mice becoming more dominant due to human activities may increase reservoirs for diseases that can spread to humans and other animals.
Global Change Drivers: Biodiversity Loss, Chemical Pollution, Climate Change, and Introduced Species - New Research Suggests Their Role in the Rise of Emerging Infectious Diseases

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the impact of human activities on the risk of infectious diseases. A new body of research suggests that global change drivers, such as biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and introduced species, are contributing to the rise in emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in various organisms around the world. This includes humans, animals, and plants.

According to a meta-analysis of nearly 3,000 observations across almost 1,500 host-parasite combinations published in Nature, biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and introduced species are associated with increases in disease-related endpoints or harm. The study found that reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), managing ecosystem health, and preventing biological invasions and biodiversity loss could help to reduce the burden of plant, animal, and human diseases.

One potential explanation for the observed trends is the extinction of rarer mammals, such as white-footed mice. These animals have become more dominant in certain ecosystems due to human activities like habitat destruction and fragmentation. As a result, they are increasingly becoming reservoirs for diseases that can spread to humans and other animals.

Climate change is another significant driver of disease risk. For instance, warmer temperatures may help malaria expand in Africa, while a decline in wildlife diversity could be boosting Lyme disease cases in North America. The study also found that urbanization decreases the risk of infectious diseases, likely due to improved sanitation and public health infrastructure.

It is important to note that these findings do not imply causation but rather suggest a correlation between global change drivers and the risk of infectious diseases. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective strategies for mitigating the risks associated with these drivers.

Sources:

  • Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07380-6
  • Georgetown University

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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Additional research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective strategies for mitigating the risks associated with these drivers.
  • The study does not provide specific examples of how biodiversity loss directly causes the spread of diseases.

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Environmental Changes Are Fueling Human, Animal and Plant Diseases, Study Finds

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Emily Anthes Wednesday, 08 May 2024 15:00
  • Unique Points
    • A new study suggests that human-driven changes to the planet, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the spread of invasive species, are making infectious diseases more dangerous to people, animals and plants.
    • White-footed mice have become more dominant in the US as other rarer mammals have disappeared, potentially explaining rising disease rates.
    • Climate change may be helping malaria expand in Africa. A decline in wildlife diversity may be boosting Lyme disease cases in North America.
  • Accuracy
    • Climate change may be helping malaria expand in Africa.
    • Parasites proliferate when rare organisms become extinct.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How climate change is raising the risks of another pandemic

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Scott Dance Wednesday, 08 May 2024 15:14
  • Unique Points
    • Climate change is leading to a world where diseases may more easily fester and spread.
    • Parasites proliferate when rare organisms become extinct.
  • Accuracy
    • Mosquitoes and ticks are thriving in a warmed planet due to fossil fuel emissions.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Big data helps determine what drives disease risk

NASA Perseverance Mars Rover News Site Powered by Phys.org Science X Wednesday, 08 May 2024 22:20
  • Unique Points
    • Researchers at Notre Dame University analyzed over 3,000 observations across nearly 1,500 host-parasite combinations.
    • Biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, introduced species, and climate change are driving increases in infectious disease risk.
    • Lowering greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing ecosystem management efforts are key steps to limiting the burden of diseases in humans, other animals and plants.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

A meta-analysis on global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease

Nature Magazine Rohr, Jason Wednesday, 08 May 2024 22:21
  • Unique Points
    • Biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and introduced species are associated with increases in disease-related end points or harm.
    • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing ecosystem health, and preventing biological invasions and biodiversity loss could help to reduce the burden of plant, animal and human diseases.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication