Worsening Air Pollution Linked to Antibiotic Resistance, Study Finds
Introduction
Worsening air pollution and increased resistance to antibiotics are two of the world’s most urgent public health concerns, contributing to millions of premature deaths per year — and a new study suggests they might be related.
Study Findings
Researchers from Zhejiang University and the University of Cambridge have found “significant correlations” worldwide between air pollutants known as PM 2.5 — tiny particles of solids or liquids in the air such as dust, dirt, and soot — and antibiotic resistance, according to a paper published this month in the Lancet Planetary Health journal.
Implications
The link shown in data from 116 countries over 18 years is “increasing at an accelerating rate,” the researchers said, “which could hasten the beginning of a so-called post-antibiotic era” in which superbugs, or drug-resistant diseases such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), could become prevalent.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Good Health and Well-being
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Climate Action
Impact of Air Pollution and Antibiotic Resistance
For years, scientists have been sounding the alarm about the deadly consequences of antibiotic resistance, which is sometimes called the “silent pandemic” and has long been attributed to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. But the new peer-reviewed study’s findings suggest pollution could also be an important contributing factor. The authors estimate that antibiotic resistance derived from air pollution caused some 480,000 premature deaths in 2018, and if nothing is done to remedy the situation in the future, that death toll could rise by 56.4 percent by 2050.
Intersection of Worrying Trends
The findings point to an intersection of two worrying trends. From 2016 to 2019, deaths caused by antibiotic resistance increased more than 80 percent, researchers write in the paper. Meanwhile, air pollution is likely to worsen worldwide as a result of climate change. A study published in March found that nearly every person on the planet is exposed to levels of air pollution that the World Health Organization considers unhealthy.
Health Consequences of Air Pollution
This summer, bad air quality from wildfires left portions of the United States and Canada in an ominous haze, sparking renewed concern about the health consequences of pollution, which has already been linked to cancer, respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and depression, among other conditions. And in many parts of the world, air that burns your throat and stings your eyes is a regular struggle.
Call to Action
“Pollution has a massive effect on human health even without considering antibiotic resistance,” Mark A. Holmes, a professor of microbial genomics and veterinary science at Cambridge University who worked on the paper, wrote in an email. “This correlation between antibiotic resistance and this type of pollution provides another incentive to tackle pollution,” he said.
Additional Research Needed
The study was observational, so the authors emphasize that additional research would be needed to determine any sort of causal relationship between air pollution and resistance to antibiotics. Still, the work is significant in that it is the “first report on the relationship between PM2.5 and clinical antibiotic resistance worldwide,” the authors write.
Global Impact of Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance was responsible for at least 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in December the World Health Organization warned about high levels of resistance in bacteria causing life-threatening bloodstream infections in hospitals and making it harder to treat common infections.
Conclusion
While more research is needed to determine the underlying mechanism behind air pollution’s apparent link to antibiotic resistance, Hong Chen, a professor of environmental engineering at Zhejiang University who worked on the study, wrote in an email that air has been recognized as a “key vector for disseminating antibiotic resistance.” PM 2.5 has been shown to carry a variety of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes, “which are transferred between environments and directly inhaled by humans,” she said.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution and antibiotic resistance.
-
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
- Indicator: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
-
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality.
- Indicator: Proportion of urban population living in areas where air quality meets the World Health Organization’s guidelines.
-
SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator: Number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses attributed to climate-related hazards.
Analysis
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets. The relevant SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified as follows:
1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses the urgent public health concerns of air pollution and antibiotic resistance, which contribute to premature deaths. These issues are directly related to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. Specifically, Target 3.9 focuses on reducing deaths and illnesses from air pollution and contamination. The number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution and antibiotic resistance can serve as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
The article mentions the link between air pollution and antibiotic resistance, which can have implications for water quality. SDG 6 aims to ensure clean water and sanitation for all. Target 6.3 specifically addresses the improvement of water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating hazardous chemicals. The proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article highlights the impact of air pollution on human health, particularly in urban areas. SDG 11 focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. Target 11.6 aims to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, including air quality. The proportion of the urban population living in areas where air quality meets the World Health Organization’s guidelines can serve as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
The article mentions that climate change is likely to worsen air pollution, which can have adverse effects on human health. SDG 13 addresses climate action and aims to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards. Target 13.1 focuses on building resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses attributed to climate-related hazards can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
---|---|---|
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution and antibiotic resistance. |
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. | Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality. |
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality. | Proportion of urban population living in areas where air quality meets the World Health Organization’s guidelines. |
SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses attributed to climate-related hazards. |
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Source: washingtonpost.com
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