Pandemics, climate change, and the eye

Hamichi, Sophia El; Gold, Aaron S.; Murray, Timothy G.; Graversen, Veronica Kon

doi:10.1007/s00417-020-04947-7

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…There is a wide and varied bibliography about the climate–ocular health relationship. Global warming behaves like a chain reaction that ominously affects eye health [ 129 ]. However, it is uncommon to find interdisciplinary studies where ophthalmologists and environment specialists work together.…”

Section: Discussion Challenges and Topics To Be Further Discussedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Climate Change on Eye Diseases and Associated Economical Costs

Echevarría-Lucas¹,

Senciales-González

Medialdea-Hurtado³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Climate change generates negative impacts on human health. However, little is known about specific impacts on eye diseases, especially in arid and semi-arid areas where increases in air temperatures are expected. Therefore, the main goals of this research are: (i) to highlight the association between common eye diseases and environmental factors; and (ii) to analyze, through the available literature, the health expenditure involved in combating these diseases and the savings from mitigating the environmental factors that aggravate them. Mixed methods were used to assess the cross-variables (environmental factors, eye diseases, health costs). Considering Southern Spain as an example, our results showed that areas with similar climatic conditions could increase eye diseases due to a sustained increase in temperatures and torrential rains, among other factors. We highlight that an increase in eye diseases in Southern Spain is conditioned by the effects of climate change by up to 36.5%; the economic burden of the main eye diseases, extrapolated to the rest of the country, would represent an annual burden of 0.7% of Spain’s Gross Domestic Product. In conclusion, the increase in eye diseases has a strong economic and social impact that could be reduced with proper management of the effects of climate change. We propose a new concept: disease sink, defined as any climate change mitigation action which reduces the incidence or morbidity of disease.

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Section: Discussion Challenges and Topics To Be Further Discussedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Climate Change on Eye Diseases and Associated Economical Costs

Echevarría-Lucas¹,

Senciales-González

Medialdea-Hurtado³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…While the major health effects of air pollution are via inhalation, skin penetration of pollutants (e.g., oxides and photochemical smoke) may contribute to psoriasis, urticaria, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer [ 60 , 61 ]. The eye is vulnerable to damage from air pollutants resulting in retinopathy in severe cases [ 62 , 63 ].…”

Section: Health Impact Of Air Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air Quality, Pollution and Sustainability Trends in South Asia: A Population-Based Study

Jabbar

Ghafoor

Rasheed

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Introduction: Worsening air quality and pollution lead to numerous environmental health and sustainability issues in the South Asia region. This study analyzes India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal for air quality data trends and sustainability indicators. Methodology: By using a population-based study design, six South Asian countries were analyzed using a step-wise approach. Data were obtained from government websites and publicly available repositories for region dynamics and key variables. Results: Between 1990 and 2020, air quality data indicated the highest rise in CO2 emissions in India (578.5 to 2441.8 million tons) (MT), Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. Greenhouse gas emissions, from 1990 to 2018, nearly tripled in India (1990.4 to 3346.6 MT of CO2-equivalents), Nepal (20.6 to 54.6 MT of CO2-equivalents), and Pakistan, and doubled in Bangladesh. Methane emissions rose the highest in Pakistan (70.4 to 151 MT of CO2-equivalents), followed by Nepal (17 to 31 MT of CO2-equivalents) and India (524.8 to 669.3 MT of CO2-equivalents). Nitrous oxide nearly doubled in Bangladesh (16.5 to 29.3 MT of CO2-equivalents), India (141.6 to 256.9 MT of CO2-equivalents), Nepal (17 to 31 MT of CO2-equivalents), and more than doubled in Pakistan (27 to 61 MT of CO2-equivalents). On noting particulate matter 2,5 annual exposure, India saw the highest rise from 81.3 µg/m3 (in 1990) to 90.9 µg/m3 (2017), whereas trends were steady in Pakistan (60.34 to 58.3 µg/m3). The highest rise was noted in Nepal (87.6 to 99.7 µg/m3) until 2017. During the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic, the pre-and post-pandemic changes between 2018 and 2021 indicated the highest PM2.5 concentration in Bangladesh (76.9 µg/m3), followed by Pakistan (66.8 µg/m3), India (58.1 µg/m3), Nepal (46 µg/m3) and Sri Lanka (17.4 µg/m3). Overall, South Asian countries contribute to the worst air quality and sustainability trends regions worldwide. Conclusions: Air pollution is prevalent across a majority of South Asia countries. Owing to unsustainable industrial practices, pollution trends have risen to hazardous levels. Economic, environmental, and human health impacts have manifested and require urgent, concerted efforts by governing bodies in the region.

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“…Das Auge ist aufgrund seiner anatomischen und physiologischen Beschaffenheit mit lichtdurchlässigen Medien und freiliegender Schleimhaut direkt Klima-und Umweltveränderungen ausgesetzt. Bei steigenden Lufttemperaturen, zunehmender Trockenheit und vermehrtem Feinstaub ist eine verstärkte Inzidenz ophthalmologischer Volkskrankheiten wie des Sicca-Syndroms oder der allergischen Konjunktivitis wahrscheinlich [23][24][25][26][27]. Eine vermehrte Exposition beispielsweise gegenüber UVund kurzwelligem Licht kann sich begünstigend auf die Entstehung von Katarakten, Lidtumoren, Bindehautneoplasien, Pterygien oder der klimatischen Tropfenkeratopathie auswirken und einen potenziell toxischen Effekt auf die Netzhaut haben [27][28][29][30].…”

Section: Gesundheitssystems An Die Klimakrise Ist Unumgänglichunclassified