1932

Abstract

In the wake of a species extinction event unprecedented in human history, how the variety, distribution, and abundance of life on earth may influence health has gained credence as a worthy subject for research and study at schools of public health and for consideration among policy makers. This article reviews a few of the principal ways in which health depends on biodiversity, including the discovery of new medicines, biomedical research, the provision of food, and the distribution and spread of infections. It also examines how changes in biological diversity underlie much of the global burden of disease and how a more thorough understanding of life on earth and its relationships has the potential to greatly alleviate and prevent human suffering.

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Biological Diversity and Public Health: A Slideshow by Aaron Bernstein
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2014-03-18
2024-03-29
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Author Aaron Bernstein presents a slideshow examining the various roles biodiversity has played in human health and explains how biodiversity loss threatens our wellbeing.

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