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Rio P, Caldarelli M, Gasbarrini A, Gambassi G, Cianci R. The Impact of Climate Change on Immunity and Gut Microbiota in the Development of Disease. Diseases 2024; 12:118. [PMID: 38920550 PMCID: PMC11202752 DOI: 10.3390/diseases12060118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
According to the definition provided by the United Nations, "climate change" describes the persistent alterations in temperatures and weather trends. These alterations may arise naturally, such as fluctuations in the solar cycle. Nonetheless, since the 19th century, human activities have emerged as the primary agent for climate change, primarily attributed to the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. Climate change can potentially influence the well-being, agricultural production, housing, safety, and employment opportunities for all individuals. The immune system is an important interface through which global climate change affects human health. Extreme heat, weather events and environmental pollutants could impair both innate and adaptive immune responses, promoting inflammation and genomic instability, and increasing the risk of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, climate change has an impact on both soil and gut microbiome composition, which can further explain changes in human health outcomes. This narrative review aims to explore the influence of climate change on human health and disease, focusing specifically on its effects on the immune system and gut microbiota. Understanding how these factors contribute to the development of physical and mental illness may allow for the design of strategies aimed at reducing the negative impact of climate and pollution on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Rio
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.R.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Caldarelli
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.R.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.R.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.R.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Cianci
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.R.); (M.C.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy
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Owusu Agyare B, Eder P, Shenai S, Chendi BH, Carlson C, Iradukunda A, Mukoka M, Ogony J, Manigart O, Ogbaini-Emovon E, Seida AA, Prado EO, Ghadrshenas A, Carmona S, Tucker JD. Potential implications of the climate crisis on diagnostics. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002935. [PMID: 38457445 PMCID: PMC10923424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Owusu Agyare
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Paul Eder
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Bih H. Chendi
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Colin Carlson
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | - Marithe Mukoka
- Rodolphe Meriuex Laboratory INRB- Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Jack Ogony
- College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Olivier Manigart
- GFA Consulting Group, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- PROALAB, West African Health Organization, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Ahmed A. Seida
- Immunology and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Joseph D. Tucker
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Parnes MF, Bennett MB, Rao M, MacDuffie KE, Zhang AY, Grow HM, Weiss EM. The Kids Are Not Alright: The Mental Health Toll of Environmental Injustice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024; 24:40-44. [PMID: 38394006 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2024.2303161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
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Gianfredi V, Mazziotta F, Clerici G, Astorri E, Oliani F, Cappellina M, Catalini A, Dell’Osso BM, Pregliasco FE, Castaldi S, Benatti B. Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2024; 14:215-229. [PMID: 38248134 PMCID: PMC10814599 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is one of the main global challenges and influences various aspects of human health. Numerous studies have indeed demonstrated an association between extreme climate-related events and physical and mental health outcomes, but little is still known about the association between the perception/awareness of climate change and mental health. In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO. The included studies were original observational studies published in English, reporting the association between the perception/awareness of climate change and mental health. A total of 3018 articles were identified. A total of 10 observational studies were included. The period covered in the included studies ranged between 2012 and 2022. Climate change perception is consistently associated with adverse mental health effects across different types of estimates. In particular, the studies identified an association between a higher level of perception/awareness of climate change and depression, anxiety, eco-anxiety, stress, adjustment disorder, substance use, dysphoria, and even thoughts of suicide. Qualitative data underscore the impact on daily activities, contributing to feelings of loss and suicidal ideation. Moreover, climate change perception correlates with lower well-being and resilience. The association between awareness of climate change and mental health is a complex and still poorly explored phenomenon. The main limitations are the high heterogeneity in terms of exposure assessment and data reporting, which hinders quantitative analysis. These results show that climate change perception impacts mental health. Better understanding the phenomenon represents an opportunity to inform public health interventions that promote mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Gianfredi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Francesco Mazziotta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Giovanna Clerici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Elisa Astorri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Francesco Oliani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Martina Cappellina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Alessandro Catalini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a, 60100 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Bernardo Maria Dell’Osso
- “Aldo Ravelli” Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (B.M.D.)
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ernesto Pregliasco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
| | - Silvana Castaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.M.); (G.C.); (E.A.); (F.O.); (M.C.); (F.E.P.); (S.C.)
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Benatti
- “Aldo Ravelli” Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (B.M.D.)
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
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