Ecological transition and health: the role of physicians and healthcare

Authors

  • Franco Bergesio Gruppo di Progetto Green Nephrology Società Italiana di Nefrologia, Firenze - Italy
  • Marco Lombardi Nefrologia e Dialisi Ospedale del Mugello ASL Toscana Centro, Firenze - Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33393/gcnd.2025.3528

Keywords:

Ecological transition, Global warming, Health risks

Abstract

Climate change and pollution are major public health threats, contributing to the rise of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. The medical community plays a key role in raising awareness and promoting sustainable healthcare practices. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risks of unsustainable resource exploitation. Pollutants like microplastics, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and PFAS chemicals contaminate air, water, and food, posing serious health risks. Despite scientific evidence, global efforts to combat climate change remain insufficient, with international agreements struggling to limit fossil fuel use. The medical community must look beyond disease treatment and address the environmental and socioeconomic determinants of health. A sustainable future depends on reducing pollution, limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and implementing eco-friendly healthcare policies. Time is running out, and urgent action is needed.

References

  1. United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1948. Online
  2. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (Accessed March 2025)
  3. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation – IHME. Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network, Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Results. Online https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/ (Accessed March 2025)
  4. WHO,Climate and Health country profile- Italy 2018. Online https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/260380 (Accessed March 2025)
  5. Enclyclical letter Laudato si’ of the Holy Father Francis, 2015. Online https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html (Accessed March 2025)
  6. Esortazione apostolica Laudate Deum del Santo Padre Francesco. 2023. Online https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html (Accessed March 2025)
  7. Call for emergency action to limit global temperatures increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health. BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1734 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1734
  8. Antonio Ragusa A,Svelato A, Santacroce C et al. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environ Int 2021, 146: 106274 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
  9. Marfella R, Prattichizzo F, Sardu C et al. Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. N Engl J Med 2024;390:900-910. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
  10. Romanello M, Mc Gushin A, Di Napoli C et al. The 2021 Report of the Lancet Coundown on health and climate change:code red for a healthy future. Lancet 20121;398:1619-1662. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01787-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01787-6
  11. Kahn LG, Philippat C, Nakayama SF, et al. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: implications for human health. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020; 8: 703-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30129-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30129-7
  12. Caldeira, C., Farcal, R., Garmendia Aguirre, I., et al. Safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials - Framework for the definition of criteria and evaluation procedure for chemicals and materials. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022. https://dx.doi.org/10.2760/487955

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>