Category: Research

How Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change Are Impacting Children’s Health

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Group of children lying in a circle on a carpeted floor, smiling and laughing while looking up at the camera. The photo is framed with a colorful, crayon-like border featuring flowers, hearts, and tulips in vibrant colors like red, orange, pink, green, and yellow. The playful and cheerful design complements the joyful expressions of the children, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Joyful Moments in Full Bloom

A Call to Action

The health of our planet and our children are closely linked. Biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth—plays a critical role in keeping ecosystems and people healthy. Yet, biodiversity is rapidly declining, and climate change is worsening its impacts. Children are particularly vulnerable to these changes, as their developing bodies are more sensitive to environmental stressors and they face a longer lifetime of exposure.

Understanding the Crisis

What Is Biodiversity and Why Does It Matter?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms on Earth, as well as the ecosystems they form. It ensures clean air, water, and food, regulates diseases, and supports human health in countless ways.

However, human activity—deforestation, pollution, and overuse of natural resources—has caused biodiversity to decline at an alarming rate. Combined with climate change, these losses create a cycle of destruction that threatens not just the environment, but also our health.

Why Are Children More Vulnerable?

The impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change are particularly severe for children due to their unique vulnerabilities. These include biological factors and social dependencies that make them less able to cope with environmental changes. For example:

  • Their immune, respiratory, and nervous systems are still developing.

  • They breathe more air and consume more food relative to their size, increasing exposure to pollutants.

  • They depend on adults to provide safe environments and resources.

Key Areas of Impact on Pediatric Health

Microbial Diversity: Building Immunity

Microbial diversity, found in soil, water, and plants, is essential for the healthy development of a child’s immune system. When ecosystems lose biodiversity, children lose exposure to beneficial microbes, leading to a range of health issues.

  • What It Does: Microbial diversity in soil, water, and plants influences the microbes children are exposed to, which is essential for developing strong immune systems.

  • The Problem: Biodiversity loss reduces exposure to beneficial microbes, increasing risks of allergies, asthma, and inflammatory diseases.

Green Spaces: Nature’s Healing Power

Green spaces with diverse plant and animal life provide much more than aesthetic beauty. They are critical for children’s mental, emotional, and physical health, offering restorative environments for growth and learning.

  • Benefits: Access to biodiverse green spaces improves physical activity, mental health, and cognitive development in children.

  • Evidence: Studies show that exposure to diverse plant and animal life in parks and gardens boosts children’s emotional well-being and attention spans.

Heatwaves and Flooding: Rising Risks

As climate change drives more extreme weather, children are facing increasing risks from heatwaves and flooding. These events not only cause immediate health threats but also disrupt the ecosystems that help protect against them.

  • Heat-Related Illnesses: Children are at greater risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration during heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

  • Flooding: Loss of ecosystems like wetlands, which absorb excess water, increases the risks of displacement, injury, and waterborne diseases.

Infectious Diseases: Expanding Threats

Climate change is enabling the spread of disease-carrying insects to new regions, putting children at a greater risk of infectious diseases. Biodiversity loss compounds this by reducing natural pest control systems.

  • Vector-Borne Diseases: Climate change allows disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes to thrive in new regions, increasing risks of illnesses like dengue and Lyme disease.

  • Children at Risk: With weaker immune systems, children are more susceptible to severe outcomes.

Air Pollution: Breathing Problems

The destruction of biodiversity-rich ecosystems contributes to worsening air pollution. For children, this means a higher risk of respiratory illnesses and developmental challenges.

  • The Link: Biodiversity loss contributes to air pollution as ecosystems that filter air—like forests—are destroyed.

  • Impact: Air pollution worsens asthma, bronchitis, and developmental issues in children.

Pediatric Medicine: Lost Potential

Biodiversity plays a key role in medical advancements. Many life-saving medicines have been discovered through the study of plants, animals, and microorganisms, a potential that is at risk with biodiversity loss.

  • Biodiversity’s Role: Many medicines are derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms. For example, antibiotics like penicillin come from fungi.

  • The Risk: Biodiversity loss could mean less availability of these medicinal sources.

Solutions and Mitigation Strategies

Ecosystem Restoration

Restoring biodiversity is critical for mitigating the impacts of climate change and creating healthier environments for children. These efforts can range from local projects like community gardens to global initiatives aimed at protecting ecosystems.

  • What Works: Rewilding efforts and urban planning that integrate biodiversity can restore ecosystems and improve air quality, reduce flooding, and create cooling effects.

  • Example: Restored urban green spaces have been shown to lower temperatures and improve local health outcomes.

Engaging Children in Biodiversity Initiatives

Getting children involved in biodiversity restoration not only helps ecosystems but also benefits their mental health and emotional well-being. These programs foster a sense of agency and environmental awareness.

  • Programs: Community gardens, tree-planting drives, and biodiversity education in schools.

  • Benefits: These activities not only improve ecosystems but also enhance children’s mental health, provide hands-on learning, and empower them to take action.

Policy and Community Action

Addressing biodiversity loss requires a collaborative effort across individuals, communities, and governments. Policymakers and organizations can create programs that protect and restore biodiversity while involving the public.

  • Global Initiatives: The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is an example of efforts to promote biodiversity worldwide.

  • Local Efforts: Schools and communities can push for greener policies, like protecting wetlands or creating more biodiverse parks.

Research Gaps and Future Directions

While we know biodiversity loss and climate change harm children’s health, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects. By addressing these gaps, we can create better solutions tailored to children’s needs.

  • More studies are needed on the long-term health benefits of biodiversity restoration.

  • Research should focus on how interventions, especially in underserved communities, can best support children.

Summing Up

Biodiversity and climate change are not abstract issues—they directly impact children’s health today and their futures tomorrow. From the air they breathe to the spaces they play in, children are deeply connected to the natural world. Protecting biodiversity results in safeguarding the well-being of the next generation.

Call to Action

We can restore biodiversity by planting native species, reducing waste, and supporting conservation organizations. Communities can demand greener policies, and governments must prioritize ecosystem restoration. Together, we can protect our planet and ensure a healthier, safer future for all children.

Source: Seastedt, H., Schuetz, J., Perkins, A., Gamble, M., & Sinkkonen, A. (2024). Impact of urban biodiversity and climate change on children’s health and well-being. Pediatric Research.

When Glaciers Melt: The Surprising Link to Earthquakes

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Sangre de Cristo mountain range seen from CO Hwy 96.
Sangre de Cristo range seen from CO Hwy 96. Credit: Hogs555, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lessons from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Glaciers are nature’s icy giants, carving valleys, shaping mountains, and storing vast amounts of Earth’s freshwater. These massive formations weigh millions of tons, pressing down on the Earth beneath them. However, glaciers are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, and this rapid loss of ice is more than just a sign of a warming planet—it’s affecting the very ground we walk on.

A fascinating study in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado reveals a surprising consequence of melting glaciers: earthquakes. This discovery shows us how closely connected the Earth’s surface and its icy cover truly are.

What This Study Found

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, stretching across southern Colorado, are a stunning example of nature’s grandeur. Long ago, glaciers covered these peaks, leaving behind U-shaped valleys and other evidence of their presence. Scientists wanted to understand what happened to the Earth’s crust when these glaciers melted, a process called deglaciation.

  • Using advanced tools like satellite imagery and computer models, scientists reconstructed how these glaciers used to look and how they melted over time.

  • They found that when the glaciers melted, the immense weight pressing down on the Earth was removed. This caused the ground to “bounce back” in a process called isostatic rebound.

  • This rebound created stress along underground cracks in the Earth, called faults, making them more likely to move and trigger earthquakes.

The key takeaway? Melting glaciers can lead to shifts in the Earth’s crust that cause earthquakes, a phenomenon observed in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

How Glaciers and Faults Are Connected

To understand this better, let’s think about glaciers as nature’s heavyweights. They press down on the Earth’s crust, similar to how you might press your hand into a soft cushion. When you lift your hand, the cushion bounces back, and the same thing happens to the Earth when glaciers melt.

Here’s what happens in detail:

  • Weight Removed: Glaciers’ immense weight compresses the Earth. When they melt, that pressure is gone.

  • Earth Adjusts: The ground slowly rebounds upward, but this creates stress along faults—cracks in the Earth’s crust.

  • Faults Move: These stresses can push faults to move, which is what causes earthquakes.

The Sangre de Cristo study focused on this process in the past, providing valuable clues about how today’s rapidly melting glaciers might lead to similar effects in the future.

Why This Matters Today

Climate change is causing glaciers to melt faster than ever. From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to the icy expanse of Greenland, glaciers are retreating at alarming rates. This isn’t just about rising sea levels; it’s also about what’s happening beneath the surface of the Earth.

  • Regions at Risk: Areas with large glaciers, such as Alaska, Greenland, and parts of the Andes, are experiencing significant ice loss.

  • Increased Earthquake Activity: The stress caused by melting ice could make faults more active, leading to more frequent or stronger earthquakes.

  • Uncertain Future: Scientists are still learning about the full impact, but the Sangre de Cristo study highlights the risks we might face as glaciers continue to vanish.

Understanding these connections is crucial. It reminds us that the effects of climate change reach far beyond what we see—they extend deep into the Earth.

What Can Be Done

While the link between melting glaciers and earthquakes might sound alarming, there’s good news: we can take action to reduce these risks. Here’s how:

  • Slow Glacier Melt: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can slow the pace of climate change and give glaciers more time.

  • Prepare for Risks: Understanding these processes helps communities prepare for potential seismic activity in glacier-rich regions.

  • Support Climate Policies: Encourage leaders to adopt policies that reduce emissions and promote sustainable energy.

  • Stay Informed: Learning about the impacts of climate change empowers us to take meaningful action in our lives and communities.

By acting now, we can protect not only glaciers but also the ecosystems, communities, and landscapes connected to them.

Summing Up

Melting glaciers are more than a symbol of climate change—they’re a force that can reshape the Earth itself. The study of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains shows us how closely tied the Earth’s crust is to these icy giants. When glaciers disappear, the ground responds, sometimes with seismic consequences.

But there’s hope. By reducing emissions, supporting research, and staying informed, we can slow the impacts of climate change and create a safer, more sustainable future. Together, we can protect our planet—and ourselves—from the cascading effects of a warming world.

Source: Hurtado, C., & Gallen, S. F. (n.d.). Exploring the impact of deglaciation on fault slip in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado [Supplementary materials]. Colorado State University, Department of Geosciences.

The Hidden Cost of Climate Change: How Air Pollution Impacts Eye Health

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Image of irritated eye on left with
Air Pollution Impacts Eye Health. Credit: activist360

How Air Pollution from Climate Change is Taking a Toll on Our Eyes—and What We Can Do About It

Climate change is often discussed in terms of rising sea levels and extreme weather, but did you know it could also be affecting your eyes? Recent research has found a striking link between air pollution—a byproduct of climate change—and eye health issues like irritation and allergies. For example, high levels of air pollution can double the likelihood of needing treatment for conditions like dry eye syndrome.

Understanding the Science

What is Particulate Matter (PM)?

Particulate matter, or PM, is a mix of tiny particles and droplets in the air that come from sources like vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and even wildfires. The two main types, PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometers) and PM2.5 (smaller than 2.5 micrometers), are small enough to be inhaled or settle on the surface of your eyes. These pollutants are closely tied to human activities that drive climate change, such as burning fossil fuels.

How Does PM Affect Eye Health?

Your eyes are directly exposed to the environment, making them especially vulnerable to pollution. Particles can irritate the surface of the eyes, causing redness, itching, dryness, and even long-term conditions like dry eye syndrome. When exposed to high levels of particulate matter, the protective tear film on the eyes can break down, leading to discomfort and inflammation.

Key Findings from Recent Research

A study conducted in the Denver Metropolitan Area found significant connections between air pollution and eye health:

  • Higher Pollution, More Doctor Visits: Visits for eye irritation and allergies increased as pollution levels rose. For example, five days of exposure to PM10 at 110 µg/m³ made patients over twice as likely to seek treatment compared to lower pollution levels.

  • PM10 vs. PM2.5: While both types of particulate matter were linked to eye issues, PM10 had a stronger impact, especially during colder temperatures.

  • Beyond EPA Limits: Eye health effects were observed even at pollution levels below those considered harmful by the Environmental Protection Agency.

These findings align with broader studies that link air pollution to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, highlighting air quality as a serious health concern.

Broader Implications

Climate Change as a Health Crisis

This study underscores how climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a public health emergency. The pollutants contributing to global warming are also causing immediate harm to our bodies, including our eyes.

Eye Health as an Overlooked Area

While much attention is given to the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of pollution, the impact on eye health often goes unnoticed. This gap in awareness means millions of people could be suffering unnecessarily.

What Can You Do?

While collective action to hold polluters accountable is essential, here are some practical steps you can take to protect yourself and advocate for meaningful change.

Protect Yourself

  • Indoors: Use air purifiers to reduce indoor pollution levels.

  • Outdoors: Wear protective glasses and avoid outdoor activities on days with poor air quality.

  • Stay Informed: Check local air quality advisories and adjust your plans accordingly.

Advocate for Change

  • Support local and national politicians and policies that reduce emissions and improve air quality, such as stricter vehicle emissions standards and renewable energy initiatives.

  • Join or support organizations fighting for clean air and climate solutions.

Routine Eye Care

  • Schedule regular eye exams, especially if you live in areas with frequent air pollution.

  • Discuss symptoms like dryness or irritation with your eye doctor, as early treatment can prevent more serious issues.

Summing Up

The link between air pollution and eye health is clear: the higher the pollution, the greater the risk. But this isn’t just about statistics—it’s about our quality of life. By taking steps to protect yourself and advocating for cleaner air, you’re not just preserving your vision but contributing to a healthier, more sustainable world. Remember, protecting our planet isn’t just about saving the environment—it’s about protecting our health, including our eyes!

References:

Patnaik, J. L., Dye-Robinson, A., James, K. A., & Kahook, M. Y. (2024). Association Between Particulate Matter Pollutants and Ophthalmology Visits for Ocular Surface Irritation and Allergy. Clinical Ophthalmology, 18, 3263–3270. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S485199