Rising CO(2), climate change, and public health: exploring the links to plant biology.
BACKGROUND
Although the issue of anthropogenic climate forcing and public health is widely recognized, one fundamental aspect has remained underappreciated: the impact of climatic change on plant biology and the well-being of human systems.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to critically evaluate the extant and probable links between plant function and human health, drawing on the pertinent literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Here we provide a number of critical examples that range over various health concerns related to plant biology and climate change, including aerobiology, contact dermatitis, pharmacology, toxicology, and pesticide use.


CONCLUSIONS
There are a number of clear links among climate change, plant biology, and public health that remain underappreciated by both plant scientists and health care providers. We demonstrate the importance of such links in our understanding of climate change impacts and provide a list of key questions that will help to integrate plant biology into the current paradigm regarding climate change and human health.
Ziska
Lewis H
LH
U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. l.ziska@ars.usda.gov
Epstein
Paul R
PR
Schlesinger
William H
WH
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002980:Climate; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011634:Public Health
D002245:Carbon Dioxide