112
3.4 Interrelation Between Environment and Human/Animal
Health
Humans coexist with the environment in a complex, interdependent relationship.
Human cells reside in mechanically rich and dynamic microenvironments.
Mechanobiology of cells has major roles in human physiology and
pathophysiology.
Etiology, which is the cause of an abnormal condition or disease, depends on
many factors such as:
• Emotional stress
• Free radicals/inflammation
• Genes
• Microorganisms
• Nutritional stress
• Radiation
• Toxins
An idiopathic disease is a disease with an unknown cause or mechanism.
The interface between humans and the environments can also be a source of
diseases. Apart from diseases originating from animals, human–wildlife conflict has
resulted in injury and death of humans due to animal attacks. Human–animal conflict can damage livestock, crops, and houses apart from injury/death of humans
resulting in psychological trauma as well as adverse effects on food security
(FAO 2010).
Effect of human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been
well documented (Kelley et al. 2019; Meeker 2012; Takahashi et al. 2004). Exposure
to EDCs (e.g., brominated flame retardants [BFRs], polychlorinated biphenyls
[PCBs], phthalates bisphenol A [BPA], pesticides, and herbicides) found in consumer goods, personal care products, food, drinking water, and other sources may
adversely impact child development (fetal growth, neurodevelopment, pubertal
development, early reproductive tract development, and obesity).
Examples include Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique where Nile crocodiles killed 57 people, spotted hyenas killed 4, lions killed 34 and injured 37, and
leopards injured 9 in 30 years prior to 2007 (Begg et al. 2007). Human–elephant
conflict caused death of 1713 humans between 2015 and 2018 in India (Ganesh 2019).
As per WHO (2019b), 4.5–5.4 million people are bitten by snakes every year, out
of which 1.8–2.7 million develop clinical illness, and about 81,000–138,000 die
after the bite.
Anatomy and immune system vary from species to species. Hence, there are
many common features among different species. Biologically the humans are just
one among many species, so some of the diseases that may be contracted by animals
can also be contracted by humans.
International classifications of animal and human diseases (WHO 2019c) follow
different thinking. The classifications of diseases are modified time to time to incor3 Fundamentals of Biology for Environmental and Medical Professionals
3.4 Interrelation Between Environment and Human/Animal
Health
Humans coexist with the environment in a complex, interdependent relationship.
Human cells reside in mechanically rich and dynamic microenvironments.
Mechanobiology of cells has major roles in human physiology and
pathophysiology.
Etiology, which is the cause of an abnormal condition or disease, depends on
many factors such as:
• Emotional stress
• Free radicals/inflammation
• Genes
• Microorganisms
• Nutritional stress
• Radiation
• Toxins
An idiopathic disease is a disease with an unknown cause or mechanism.
The interface between humans and the environments can also be a source of
diseases. Apart from diseases originating from animals, human–wildlife conflict has
resulted in injury and death of humans due to animal attacks. Human–animal conflict can damage livestock, crops, and houses apart from injury/death of humans
resulting in psychological trauma as well as adverse effects on food security
(FAO 2010).
Effect of human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been
well documented (Kelley et al. 2019; Meeker 2012; Takahashi et al. 2004). Exposure
to EDCs (e.g., brominated flame retardants [BFRs], polychlorinated biphenyls
[PCBs], phthalates bisphenol A [BPA], pesticides, and herbicides) found in consumer goods, personal care products, food, drinking water, and other sources may
adversely impact child development (fetal growth, neurodevelopment, pubertal
development, early reproductive tract development, and obesity).
Examples include Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique where Nile crocodiles killed 57 people, spotted hyenas killed 4, lions killed 34 and injured 37, and
leopards injured 9 in 30 years prior to 2007 (Begg et al. 2007). Human–elephant
conflict caused death of 1713 humans between 2015 and 2018 in India (Ganesh 2019).
As per WHO (2019b), 4.5–5.4 million people are bitten by snakes every year, out
of which 1.8–2.7 million develop clinical illness, and about 81,000–138,000 die
after the bite.
Anatomy and immune system vary from species to species. Hence, there are
many common features among different species. Biologically the humans are just
one among many species, so some of the diseases that may be contracted by animals
can also be contracted by humans.
International classifications of animal and human diseases (WHO 2019c) follow
different thinking. The classifications of diseases are modified time to time to incor3 Fundamentals of Biology for Environmental and Medical Professionals