climate change, soils, and human health
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Climate Change, Soils, and Human Health. Dr. Eric C. Brevik Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND, USA. Soils are important for human health. Production of food Exposures to harmful chemicals Disease-causing organisms Filter for water Medications - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Climate Change, Soils, and Human Health
Dr. Eric C. BrevikDickinson State UniversityDickinson, ND, USA
Soils are important for human health• Production of food• Exposures to harmful chemicals• Disease-causing organisms• Filter for water• Medications– About 40% of prescription drugs have
their origin in soil
Soils are linked to the atmosphere
• Changes in atmospheric carbon affects soils• Changes in temperature/precipitation affect soils
Climate change, soils, and human health
• Indirect effects– Increased deaths related to temperature extremes– Increased tropospheric ozone concentrations
leading to respiratory problems– Increased range for vectors
Climate change, soils, and human health
• Direct effects– Changes in soil properties due to climate change
could influence nutrient cycling and the carbon cycle, compromising food security
– Atmospheric dust generated from soil is expected to increase with climate change