Human health is directly dependent on nature’s health

Posted on 6 February 2025

Nature has survived and will always find a way to persist; it is humans who have disabled themselves from being resilient through their conformist and anthropocentric approach.

BELGRADE – Atypical cancers, endocrine diseases, neurological disorders, allergies, and vector-borne diseases are the common denominator, whether we talk about climate change or excessive plastic pollution as the cause. We repeatedly prove that the system can function in times of crisis, but what is lacking is mitigation, adaptation to climate change, and a systemic approach to prevention and treatment once the crisis subsides. These are the key conclusions of the second WWF Environmental Policy Forum, "Impact on People and Health."

“There is substantial evidence that climate disturbances have led to an increase in previously atypical diseases for our region. A concrete example is West Nile fever or allergies (whose symptoms now affect nearly 50% of the population) that we feel every day. The spectrum of causes ranges from heatwaves (which are the immediate cause of death for 70,000 people) to droughts, floods, and the spread of viruses we are encountering for the first time,” said Dunja Macoko Drvar, Director of the Nature Conservation Program at WWF Adria.

“It is well known that viruses spread mainly through insects and birds, which are the most common ‘targets’ of insects. We must not forget that every temperature deviation—even by just 0.1 degrees Celsius—means an expansion of insect populations by about 150 kilometers north and south of the measurement point,” explained Milanko Šekler, a scientific advisor at the Veterinary Specialist Institute in Kraljevo.

Maja Vučković Krčmar, from the European Union Delegation, added data from the World Health Organization indicating a staggering increase in lung cancer cases among non-smokers (with as many as 200,000 registered cases) and a 15% rise in cardiovascular diseases in 2023. “Through our actions or inaction, we are bringing ourselves to the brink of survival, while nature will endure,” Vučković Krčmar emphasized.
To sustain healthcare systems, we must invest more in the health sector, motivate medical professionals to stay in the country, and follow the recommendations of recognized experts.

According to Igor Jezdimirović from the Environmental Protection Engineers Association, out of the 1.25 kg of waste we produce daily, 0.2 kg is plastic that ends up in sanitary or unsanitary landfills. The lack of deposit and recycling systems, as well as the reluctance to enforce existing regulations, means that any discussion about waste treatment and management is met with resistance.

If we consider that plastic, after breaking down into micro and nano particles, mostly ends up in water—where it is further "imported" into our bodies and those of plants and animals—senior research associate Maja Raković noted that the Siniša Stanković Institute for Biological Research has created a relational database of specific data, which is updated daily with precise information for the Danube basin rivers. This database can serve as a foundation for further research on the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Sixty-three percent of everyday consumer products contain large amounts of plastic—ranging from 15% to 50%. “The most common way humans are exposed to harmful plastic substances is through the skin (clothing, cosmetics, hygiene products containing these particles), and long-term low-intensity exposure is key to understanding how this substance enters the body,” warned Branislava Matić from Serbia’s Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut Institute of Public Health.

Another significant water-related issue caused by climate change is "water blooming," which leads to the proliferation of cyanobacteria. Without first acknowledging that this issue affects nearly all surface waters, followed by proper and continuous monitoring and timely intervention by public water treatment companies, disruptions to water supply systems are inevitable. The most recent case occurred in Užice, but it also serves as an example of how a crisis led to a redefinition of operational processes to prevent similar situations in the future. Marija Simić Savić from the Ekomar Association emphasized the need to encourage water management authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply and prevent potential crises through regular and proper oversight.

The forum was opened by Mihailo Vesović, Director of the Strategic Analysis, Services, and Internationalization Sector of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, who stated: "Environmental issues are the greatest generational battle. I urge all actors, both institutional and non-institutional, not to lose enthusiasm and to continue maintaining the principles of networking, which forums like this greatly contribute to."

The WWF Environmental Policy Forum was organized at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce as part of the "Safe Nature and Climate" project, financially supported by the European Commission. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations in Serbia working on environmental protection and climate change.

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Human health is directly dependent on nature’s health

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