BIODIVERSITY AND THE

HEALTHY SOCIETY
 TOPICS:
BIODIVERSITY ❖ Biodiversity & Ecosystem
❖ Changes in Biodiversity
AND THE ❖ Threats to Biodiversity

HEALTHY ❖ Consequences to Biodiversity Loss

❖ Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity
SOCIETY ❖ Health, Biology &Biodiversity
❖ Environmental Related Illnesses
 Definition

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of

life forms on Earth, from single-
celled organisms to large
BIODIVERSITY multi-celled organisms.

AND • It is a structural and functional

perspective, not as individual
ECOSYSTEM species.

• Biodiversity is the source of

essential goods and ecological
services, with direct value in food,
agriculture, medicine, and industry.
BIODIVERSITY AND
ECOSYSTEM
Role of Biodiversity in Ecosystems

• Biodiversity plays a significant role in natural

dynamics, predicting the production of crops
and ensuring survival rates against natural
disasters.

• Humans, as inhabitants of the ecosystem,

must preserve and conserve biodiversity.
 Importance of Ecosystem in
Human Health

• Ecosystem provides essential

human needs like clean water,
healthy food, and fuel for
transportation.

• A decline in ecosystem can

directly impact human lives and
indirectly affect livelihood,
BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM income, and may cause political
conflict.
CHANGES IN
BIODIVERSITY
• Human activities, like land clearing for
habitation, disrupt natural ecosystems.

• Destruction of habitats results in

displacement or extinction of wildlife.

• Disruption of ecosystems affects the

food chain and overall ecosystem health.

• Human health can be impacted by

biodiversity changes.
THREATS TO
BIODIVERSITY
• Habitat loss and destruction: Driven by human
habitation and economic activities.
• Alterations in ecosystem composition: Changes
within species groups or the environment can disrupt
ecosystems.
• Over-exploitation: Over-hunting, fishing, and
collecting lead to species decline.
• Pollution and contamination: Causes irreversible
damage to species and ecosystems.
• Global climate change: Alters habitats and threatens
species' ability to adapt.
• Intact ecosystems, composed of
specialized organisms, are
crucial for energy and nutrient
management, productivity, and
influencing environmental CONSEQUENCES
conditions.
TO BIODIVERSITY
• However, biodiversity loss, which
has numerous known and
LOSS
unknown consequences, is often
tolerated by humans for
perceived societal benefits.
 • The World Health Organization emphasizes
that biodiversity is crucial for human nutrition
due to its impact on food production.
• It contributes significantly to sustainable
NUTRITIONAL food production, and access to a variety of
nutritious food, influenced by biodiversity, is
IMPACT OF essential for human health.
• Biodiversity and nutrition are closely linked
BIODIVERSITY across ecosystems, species, and genetic
diversity.
• However, agricultural intensification
practices can disrupt biodiversity, influencing
global nutrition and human health.
HEALTH, BIOLOGY, AND
BIODIVERSITY
• Almost all living organisms are dependent to their
environment to live and reproduce. Basic needs of
living organisms such as air, water. food, and
habitat are provided by its environment.
• The evolution of human beings was due to the
improved access to these basic needs. Advances in
agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and
hygiene have had a far greater impact on human
health than medical technology.
• Although the environment sustains
human life, it can also cause diseases.
Lack of necessities is a significant cause
of human mortality.

• Environmental hazards increase the risk

of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and
many other illnesses.

• Unsafe drinking water and poor

sanitation and hygiene are responsible
for a variety of infectious diseases, such
as schistosomiasis, diarrhea, cholera,
meningitis, and gastritis.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
 HEALTH, BIOLOGY,
AND BIODIVERSITY
• In 2015, approximately 350,000 children under the
age of five (mostly in the developing world) died from
diarrhea diseases related to unsafe drinking water,
and approximately 1.8 billion people used drinking
water contaminated with feces. More than two billion
people lacked access to basic sanitation.

• The interrelation between human health and

biological diversity is considerable and complex.
With the current biodiversity loss at unprecedented
rates, the delicate balance between human health
and biological diversity is at risk.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
 ENVIRONMENT-
RELATED ILLNESSES
• Environment-related illnesses refer to health
conditions that are directly or indirectly influenced
by environmental factors.

• These factors can include pollution, exposure to

hazardous substances, climate change, and other
environmental stressors.
HOW ENVIRONMENT FACTORS CAN
IMPACT HUMAN HEALTH,
BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY?
• Directly influenced by environment factors,
environment-related illnesses encompass various
health conditions caused by exposure to pollutants,
toxins, and other harmful agents present in the
environment. These factors include:
AIR POLLUTION
Inhalation of pollutants such as
particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, ozone, and volatile organic compounds
can lead to respiratory diseases like asthma,
chronic bronchitis, and exacerbation of existing
conditions.

WATER CONTAMINATION
Drinking contaminated
water containing pathogens, heavy metals,
pesticides, and industrial chemicals can result
in gastrointestinal infections,
waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, dysentery),
and long-term health issues such as cancer and
developmental disorders.
 CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

➢ Contact with hazardous chemicals in the

workplace, household products, or
contaminated soil can cause acute
poisoning, skin irritation, organ damage,
and an increased risk of cancer.

PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

➢ Agricultural chemicals used in farming can

contaminate food, water, and air, leading to
acute poisoning, neurological disorders,
reproductive issues, and an elevated risk of
certain cancers.
RADIATION

• Exposure to ionizing
radiation from sources such as nuclear
accidents, medical procedures,and
radon gas can result in DNA damage,
cancer, genetic mutations, and other
radiation-related health effects.

CLIMATE CHANGE

• Shifts in temperature, extreme weather events,

rising sea levels, and changes in precipitation
patterns linked to climate change can
exacerbate heat-related illnesses, vector-borne
diseases, food insecurity, and respiratory
problems due to increased air pollution and
allergen levels.
VECTOR-BORNE
DISEASE
• A disease that results from
an infection transmitted to
humans and other animals by
blood-
feeding anthropods, such as
mosquitoes, ticks, and
fleas. Examples of vector-
borne
diseases include Dengue
fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme
disease, and malaria.
Indirect influences by environment-related illnesses refer to ways
the environment affects health that aren't immediately
obvious. These include:

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS

• Poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to healthcare and

education can worsen health outcomes.
• Factors like inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare,
and poor nutrition can exacerbate the health impacts
of environmental stressors.
PSYCHOSOCIAL
STRESS
• Living in environments with high levels
of pollution, noise, or other stressors
can contribute to psychological distress
and chronic stress, which in turn may
weaken the immune system and
increase susceptibility to various
illnesses, including mental health
disorders and cardiovascular diseases
DISRUPTION OF ECOSYSTEMS
• When we mess up nature by cutting down forests
or polluting rivers, environmental degradation can
alter ecosystems, affecting disease transmission
and biodiversity, indirectly impacting human
health.
 FOOD AND WATER SECURITY

Environmental changes,
including climate variability, extreme
weather events, and land degradation,
can compromise food and water
security, leading to malnutrition,
foodborne illnesses, and waterborne
diseases, particularly in vulnerable
populations.

ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES

Not having access to parks or

green spaces can make people feel
sad or anxious. Having these spaces
nearby can actually help people feel
better and stay healthier.
RESILIENCE AND
ADAPTATION
• Communities' ability to cope
with environmental challenges,
such as disasters, depends on
factors like education, social
support, and disaster
preparedness.
 Thank you for
listening!
GROUP 3 MEMBERS:
Elyssa Joyce D. Apaga Jerlyn Mhae D. Palaganas
Regine Rosalin Cellino Rackielyn Sandoval
Catherine Malanum