World population growth, concentration in megacities, development of the
technosphere and numerous novel chemical substances, industry, and agriculture have
exposed humans to new kinds of health threats. Insufficient sewerage systems in
megacities resulted in cholera epidemics. London smog caused impairment of the
respiratory tract and rickets. Los Angeles smog brought about the presence of ground
level toxic ozone in urban aerosol plumes. Mortality increased significantly in cities
during summer heat waves. Permanent availability of artificial light has entailed
unhealthy night and shift work. Rapid increase in global traffic resulted in annual
losses of more than 1 million lives. Excess artificial noise causes 61,000 disability
adjusted life years annually. Global annual fatalities due to air pollution run up to 5.5
millions. Clean-up of industrial brownfields impose financial burdens on public
budgets. Health costs of Hg released into the environment are estimated at a minimum
of 23,000 euros/kg. A positive correlation exists between health impairment and CO2
emissions. Financial pressure is rising to organise constructions to shelter coastal cities
against sea level rise. Growth of cropland has not kept pace with population growth
since 1960. Ailments arise because of mass-consumption of cheap foodstuffs, luxury
food, and stimulants. Globally, 1.8 billion persons lack access to good quality drinking
water. Detected detrimental effects of certified chemicals and pharmaceuticals resulted
in numerous health impairments. Global distillation has deteriorated the health status of
the Arctic population. Health burdens arise due to industrial and nuclear havaries, and
above ground nuclear tests. Intentional application of industrially produced warfare has
caused ca. 145 million fatalities since 1800.
Keywords: Accidents, Adaptation, Civilised ailments, Concentration,
Contamination, Food security, Global distillation, Health costs, Heat islands,
Industrial havaries, Medicament side-effects, Noise, Overkill, Pollution,
Population growth, Population resettlement, Social acceleration, Water scarcity,
Waste, Weapons.
