Will Global Climate Change Alter Fundamental Human Immune Reactivity

Implications for Child Health

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15714934
AutoresAshwin Swaminathan (0000-0002-4279-369X, Australian National University, autor correspondente), Robyn Lucas (0000-0003-2736-3541, Australian National University), David Harley (0000-0001-6691-5420, Australian National University), Anthony J Mcmichael (Australian National University), Anthony McMichael (Australian National University)
Ano2014
Volume1
Fascículo3
Páginas403-423
Data de publicação2014-11-11
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoChildren (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
EditoraMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children1030403
PMID27417487
OpenAlexW2028824585
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas92

The human immune system is an interface across which many climate change sensitive exposures can affect health outcomes. Gaining an understanding of the range of potential effects that climate change could have on immune function will be of considerable importance, particularly for child health, but has, as yet, received minimal research attention. We postulate several mechanisms whereby climate change sensitive exposures and conditions will subtly impair aspects of the human immune response, thereby altering the distribution of vulnerability within populations-particularly for children-to infection and disease. Key climate change-sensitive pathways include under-nutrition, psychological stress and exposure to ambient ultraviolet radiation, with effects on susceptibility to infection, allergy and autoimmune diseases. Other climate change sensitive exposures may also be important and interact, either additively or synergistically, to alter health risks. Conducting directed research in this area is imperative as the potential public health implications of climate change-induced weakening of the immune system at both individual and population levels are profound. This is particularly relevant for the already vulnerable children of the developing world, who will bear a disproportionate burden of future adverse environmental and geopolitical consequences of climate change

Biology · Climate change · Disease · Environmental health · Immune system · Population · Public health · Vulnerability (computing · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Birth, Development, and Health · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Medicine · Ecology · Immunology