Life Stage and Reproductive Health Ocean / Marine Degradation
The role of zinc in the growth and development of children. Nutrition.
• Research & Reports
WHAT IS PLANETARY HEALTH?
Life Stage and Reproductive Health
All ages and stages of life on Earth are affected by the environmental crisis.
Environmental degradation and climate-related disruptions pose significant health risks. Children, mothers, and elders are among the most vulnerable populations. During pregnancy, factors such as extreme heat, air pollution, and water scarcity increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications. Research has linked high temperatures and exposure to air pollution to a greater risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
Children exposed to degraded environments face elevated risks of respiratory illnesses, malnutrition, and developmental delays due to poor air and water quality. The World Health Organization reports that environmental risks significantly contribute to childhood diseases, with air pollution leading to respiratory infections and inadequate water quality causing diarrheal diseases, both of which can impair development. Additionally, malnutrition, often resulting from environmental degradation, adversely affects lung development and function in children, increasing susceptibility to respiratory conditions.
Older adults are particularly vulnerable during environmental crises, as extreme weather events and resource shortages often exacerbate chronic health conditions and limit access to essential healthcare. For example, extreme heat aggravates cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, resulting in increased hospitalizations and mortality among older populations.
Furthermore, natural disasters disrupt healthcare services, making it difficult for elderly individuals to obtain necessary medical care and medications, further worsening their health challenges during such crises.
Emerging research has also revealed that exposure to environmental toxins can trigger epigenetic changes with transgenerational effects, increasing health vulnerabilities across generations. These environmental stressors can induce heritable epigenetic alterations, heightening disease susceptibility and impacting health outcomes in future generations.
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Resources
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Climate Change
Childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation and harmful skin effects: Epidemiological evidence. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
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Life Stage and Reproductive Health Nutrient Overloading and Cycling
Harmful algal blooms in inland waters. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
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Life Stage and Reproductive Health Climate Change
Pediatric melanoma: Risk factor and survival analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology and end results database. Journal of Clinical Oncology: Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
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Life Stage and Reproductive Health Noncommunicable Diseases
The EAT-Lancet diet in relation nutrient intake among older adults: insights from the Gothenburg H70 birth cohort study. Nutrition Journal.
In 70-year-old Swedish adults, greater adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet improved fiber and micronutrient intake while lowering saturated fat. Despite reduced B12 intake, adequacy for several nutrients improved, suggesting benefits without evident nutritional deficiencies.
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