The climate change-pollution-aerobiome nexus: a ‘systems thinking’ mini-review
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(Published version)
Date
2024
Authors
Robinson, J.
Liddicoat, C.
Sun, X.
Whiley, H.
Ramesh, S.
Hawken, S.
Lee, K.
Brame, J.
Fickling, N.
Kuhn, E.
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Journal article
Citation
Microbial Biotechnology, 2024; 17(10):e70018-1-e70018-10
Statement of Responsibility
Jake M. Robinson, Craig Liddicoat, Xin Sun, Sunita Ramesh, Scott Hawken, Kevin Lee, Joel Brame, Nicole W. Fickling, Emma Kuhn, Claire Hayward, Sonali Deshmukh, Kate Robinson, Christian Cando-Dumancela, Martin F. Breed
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Abstract
The interrelationship between climate change, pollution, and the aerobiome (the microbiome of the air) is a complex ecological dynamic with profound implications for human and ecosystem health. This mini-review explores the multifaceted relationships among these factors. By synthesising existing research and integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, we examine the mechanisms driving interactions within the climate change-pollution-aerobiome nexus. We also explore synergistic and cascading effects and potential impacts on human health (incl. both communicable and non-communicable diseases) and that of wider ecosystems. Based on our mini-review results, climate change influences air pollution and, independently, air pollution affects the composition, diversity and activity of the aerobiome. However, we apply a ‘systems thinking’ approach and create a set of systems diagrams to show that climate change likely influences the aerobiome (including bacteria and fungi) via climate change-pollution interactions in complex ways. Due to this inherent complexity, we emphasise the importance of holistic and/or interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative efforts in understanding this nexus to safeguard planetary health in an era of rapid environmental change.
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© 2024 The Author(s). Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.