(2009) Impacts of Climate Change on indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals from agriculture. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol.11 (No.4). pp. 508-514. doi:10.1289/ehp.0800084 ISSN 0091-6765.

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Abstract

Objective: Climate change is likely to affect the nature of pathogens and chemicals in the environment and their fate and transport. Future risks of pathogens and chemicals could therefore be very different from those of today. In this review, we assess the implications of climate change for changes in human exposures to pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems in the United Kingdom and discuss the subsequent effects on health impacts.

Data sources: In this review, we used expert input and considered literature on climate change ; health effects resulting from exposure to pathogens and chemicals arising from agriculture ; inputs of chemicals and pathogens to agricultural systems ; and human exposure pathways for pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems.

Data synthesis: We established the current evidence base for health effects of chemicals and pathogens in the agricultural environment ; determined the potential implications of climate change on chemical and pathogen inputs in agricultural systems ; and explored the effects of climate change on environmental transport and fate of different contaminant types. We combined these data to assess the implications of climate change in terms of indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems. We then developed recommendations on future research and policy changes to manage any adverse increases in risks.

Conclusions: Overall, climate change is likely to increase human exposures to agricultural contaminants. The magnitude of the increases will be highly dependent on the contaminant type. Risks from many pathogens and particulate and particle-associated contaminants could increase significantly. These increases in exposure can, however, be managed for the most part through targeted research and policy changes.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Climatic changes, Agricultural ecology, Chemicals -- Physiological effect, Health risk assessment, Pathogenic microorganisms
Journal or Publication Title:	Environmental Health Perspectives
Publisher:	US Department of Health and Human Services
ISSN:	0091-6765
Official Date:	April 2009
Dates:	Date Event April 2009 Published
Volume:	Vol.11
Number:	No.4
Page Range:	pp. 508-514
DOI:	10.1289/ehp.0800084
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Funder:	Great Britain. Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Environment and Human Health Programme (EHHP)

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