Explain why does the ecological decline directly impact human health?

Degradation of ecosystems and health consequences

When natural environments begin to degrade, it doesn't only affect plants or animals, but also directly impacts our health. A healthy ecosystem is like a huge filter that naturally cleans the air, water, and soil. When these systems are damaged, we quickly see an increase in cases of respiratory disorders, diseases related to contaminated water, or even poisoning from polluted soils. For example, by destroying wetlands, which act as natural water filters, we increase the risk of infectious diseases. And when we reduce green spaces or forests, air quality drops severely, leading to more asthma and other chronic respiratory issues. In short, undermining nature is a bit like breaking the air conditioning or the water filter of the planet: it inevitably comes back to bother us in terms of health.

Environmental pollution and risks to human health

Air pollution is responsible for many respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and even certain cancers. Breathing air filled with fine particles and toxic gases every day damages the lungs as well as the heart. Meanwhile, soil and water pollution is no better: it allows toxic substances, such as lead or pesticides, to accumulate in the food chain. The result? We end up ingesting all of this without realizing it, increasing the risk of digestive, neurological, or hormonal disorders. Even our homes and workplaces are not protected, with various forms of indoor pollution such as volatile organic compounds from paints or cleaning products, which cause chronic allergies, headaches, or various irritations. Ultimately, the more polluted our environment becomes, the more our bodies accumulate toxins that expose us to serious diseases in the long term.

Collapse of biodiversity and emergence of new diseases

The less biodiversity we have, the more it encourages the emergence of certain infectious diseases. Basically, when a species disappears, it disrupts the entire natural balance, and certain animals that carry viruses reproduce more easily. This is typically the case with rodents, mosquitoes, or bats, which transport viruses potentially dangerous to us. As a result, it increases the risk of new zoonoses emerging, these diseases that are naturally transmitted from animals to humans. Ebola, Zika, or even potentially Covid-19 are real examples of this. Less biodiversity therefore directly translates to greater health risks for us.

Climate change and increasing public health issues

With the rising climate, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to increased health issues: heat strokes, dehydration, heart problems, or worsening chronic illnesses. The thing is, excessive heat makes cities suffocating, especially for the most vulnerable like children, the elderly, or the sick.

Another problem: extreme weather events such as droughts or floods are becoming common, particularly facilitating the spread of infectious diseases, like those transmitted by mosquitoes (malaria, dengue) or those related to contaminated water.

Moreover, with higher temperatures, air quality deteriorates significantly: allergens like pollen and air pollutants increase, amplifying allergies and asthma attacks in the process.

In short, when the climate heats up, our entire health balance wavers, and it’s not exactly inspiring.

Reduction of food resources and nutritional impacts

With ecological degradation, producing enough food is becoming increasingly complicated. Repeated droughts, soil depletion, and water pollution seriously limit agricultural yields. The result: less food available, soaring prices, and inevitably more food insecurity, especially among already vulnerable populations. And less diverse food availability also means a poorer diet. We find ourselves lacking essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, or essential vitamins, which leads to issues like anemia, stunted growth in children, and increased susceptibility to infections.