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Deterioration of respiratory health following changes to land cover and climate in Indonesia

Deterioration of respiratory health following changes to land cover and climate in Indonesia

Santika, Truly ORCID: 0000-0002-3125-9467, Muhidin, Salut, Budiharta, Sugeng, Haryanto, Budi, Agus, Fahmuddin, Wilson, Kerrie A., Struebig, Matthew J. and Po, June ORCID: 0000-0001-6124-8235 (2023) Deterioration of respiratory health following changes to land cover and climate in Indonesia. One Earth, 6 (3). pp. 290-302. ISSN 2590-3330 (Print), 2590-3322 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.012)

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Abstract

Air pollution associated with agricultural activities and land-cover change poses significant health problems in developing countries. However, studies on the respiratory health impacts of these activities are scarce. Sumatra, Indonesia is a region well known for its frequent land fires and haze. Here we link data on healthcare attendances for respiratory illnesses between 2001 and 2018 with biophysical and socioeconomic variables known to be important drivers of respiratory ailments. We show that the prevalence of respiratory illnesses increased by 8.5% during dry years over the last two decades. This was largely attributed to changes in rainfall patterns and land cover. Increasingly severe drought during El Niño events, combined with reduced forest cover and increased land degradation on peatland, has further escalated fires with concomitant air pollution impacts on respiratory health. Our study highlights the need to explicitly incorporate health costs of environmental damage into land-use planning and public health interventions.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: climate change; peatland fire; planetary health; respiratory illness; tropical land use
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Engineering & Science
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department
Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
Related URLs:
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2023 09:43
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/38640

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