Definition

EcoHealth is an interdisciplinary field that studies the connections between ecological systems and human health. It integrates ecology, epidemiology, veterinary science, public health, and social sciences to understand how changes in the environment impact disease, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Key Principles

  • Systems Thinking: Considers humans, animals, and the environment as interconnected.
  • Transdisciplinarity: Combines knowledge from multiple scientific disciplines.
  • Participation: Involves communities, policymakers, and scientists in solutions.
  • Sustainability: Focuses on long-term health for ecosystems and people.

Core Components

1. Ecosystem Services & Human Health

  • Clean air, water, and fertile soil are essential for health.
  • Biodiversity supports disease regulation, pollination, and food security.

2. Disease Ecology

  • Pathogens often move between wildlife, livestock, and humans (zoonoses).
  • Environmental changes (deforestation, urbanization) alter disease risk.

3. One Health vs. EcoHealth

Aspect One Health EcoHealth
Focus Human, animal, environmental health Ecosystem processes & health
Approach Biomedical Ecological, social, biomedical
Scale Local, global Local, regional, global

4. Environmental Change & Health

  • Climate change impacts vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue).
  • Pollution affects respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health.

5. Microbial Adaptation

Some bacteria survive extreme environments:

  • Deep-sea vents: Thermophiles thrive at high pressure and temperature.
  • Radioactive waste: Deinococcus radiodurans resists radiation, repairing DNA efficiently.

EcoHealth Diagram

Surprising Facts

  1. Extreme Survivors: Certain bacteria, like Deinococcus radiodurans, can survive doses of radiation thousands of times higher than what would kill a human.
  2. Urban Biodiversity: Cities with more green spaces have lower rates of allergies and asthma, likely due to greater microbial diversity exposure (Rook, 2020).
  3. Ecosystem Disturbance: Disrupted habitats can increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases, as seen with the rise of zoonotic viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

Current Event Connection

COVID-19 Pandemic:
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 is linked to wildlife trade and habitat encroachment. Research shows that ecosystem disturbance can bring humans into closer contact with novel pathogens (Carlson et al., 2022). EcoHealth approaches are vital for predicting and preventing future pandemics by monitoring wildlife, land use, and human activities.

Impact on Daily Life

  • Food Safety: Healthy ecosystems reduce crop pests and disease, ensuring reliable food supplies.
  • Water Quality: Wetlands filter pollutants, reducing waterborne illnesses.
  • Mental Health: Nature exposure lowers stress and improves mood.
  • Disease Prevention: Managing wildlife habitats and urban green spaces can reduce mosquito-borne diseases.

Detailed Example: Bacterial Survival in Extreme Environments

  • Deep-Sea Vents:
    Thermophilic bacteria live near hydrothermal vents, tolerating temperatures above 100Β°C. Their enzymes are used in industrial processes (e.g., PCR).
  • Radioactive Waste:
    Deinococcus radiodurans repairs its DNA after radiation damage. Its resilience is studied for bioremediation of nuclear waste sites.

Bacteria Survival

Future Directions

1. Predictive Modeling

  • Using AI and satellite data to forecast disease outbreaks based on environmental changes.

2. Microbiome Research

  • Exploring how environmental microbes influence human health, immunity, and disease resistance.

3. Policy Integration

  • EcoHealth principles are being incorporated into urban planning, agriculture, and climate adaptation strategies.

4. Community Engagement

  • Citizen science projects monitor local biodiversity and health trends.

Recent Research

  • Carlson et al. (2022):
    β€œClimate change increases cross-species viral transmission risk.”
    Nature, 607, 555–562.
    Read here

Summary Table

Topic EcoHealth Relevance
Climate Change Alters disease vectors, food security
Biodiversity Loss Increases disease emergence risk
Pollution Impacts respiratory and neurological health
Urbanization Changes microbial exposure, disease risk

Visual Summary

EcoHealth Cycle

EcoHealth bridges ecology and health, offering solutions to global challenges like pandemics, pollution, and climate change. Its interdisciplinary approach empowers communities and scientists to create healthier, more resilient societies.