Planetary Overload
Global Environmental Change and the Health of the Human Species

A significant and important survey of global change and its serious impact on human health.

Anthony J. McMichael (Author)

9780521441384, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 October 1993

372 pages, 23 b/w illus. 12 tables
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.5 cm, 0.609 kg

'Planetary Overload is skilfully written: an accomplished, eclectic book which draws fruitfully on historical, biological, ecological and epidemiological knowledge. This is certainly a challenging and erudite book and very worth reading.' Epidemiology Unit

The human species faces many threats to its health - perhaps to its survival. Taking an interesting perspective, Planetary Overload forcefully points out the consequences to human health of ongoing degradation of Earth's ecosystems. In a broad-based, accessible analysis, A. J. McMichael examines ecological disruptions - land degradation, ozone depletion, temperature increases, and loss of genetic diversity through the extinction of species, among others - and compellingly demonstrates their potentially disastrous results, including food shortages, new and intensified disease patterns, rising seas, mass refugee problems, and cancers, blindness, and immune suppression from increased ultraviolet radiation. While other books on the subject analyse only the environmental impact of these problems, McMichael relates each of these insidious processes back to its ultimate impact on human health. He thoroughly considers these problems within a broad evolutionary, biological, social, and economic context, and also explores the underlying problems contributing to environmental breakdown, especially the relations between the world's rich and poor. This book will be of interest to environmentalists, public health professionals, policy makers, environmental studies and human ecology scholars, and anyone wishing a lucid, rational assessment of today's pressing ecological concerns.

Preface
Introduction
1. First things
2. The ecological framework
3. The health of populations
4. System overload: ancient and modern
5. Population increase, poverty and health
6. Greenhouse warming and climate change
7. The thinning ozone layer
8. Soil and water: loaves and fishes
9. Biodiversity: forests, food and pharmaceuticals
10. The growth of cities
11. Impediments I: conceptual blocks
12. Impediments II: relationships
13. The way ahead
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Pollution & threats to the environment [RNP]