Scientists have warned that the continued rise in temperatures on our planet due to the climate crisis will increase the risks of more diseases in both humans and plants. According to the "Jerusalem Post," apart from the coronavirus, which has infected millions of people worldwide, there are countless microorganisms in the air we breathe constantly, many of which cause diseases in humans or plants.
A new study led by researchers from Singapore, Brazil, and Germany revealed that as global temperatures continue to rise due to global warming, the factors that lead to disease outbreaks will proliferate worldwide, potentially threatening our health and food supply. Besides water, soil, humans, and animals, air is also an environment where a variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, live.
In this context, Professor Yoav Ya’ir, Dean of the Sustainability School at Richmond University, said: "When bread is left on the kitchen counter, its appearance will change in a few days... Where did the germs that caused this change come from? Well, they are in the air all the time. We all breathe air that contains vast amounts of particles."
Professor Stefan Schuster, one of the leading researchers in the new study, found that residents of Singapore breathe in between 100,000 and one million microorganisms from about 725 different species every day, most of which are harmless. He added: "The highest concentration of microorganisms in the air occurs in the 'boundary layer' of the atmosphere... This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, which is in contact with the ground and the sea surface... The dimensions of this layer vary depending on various factors... For example, when air pollution incidents occur, it is easy to identify this boundary layer."
The study concluded that in a "hotter atmosphere, the risk of emerging microorganisms will increase, thereby heightening the risk of diseases, especially in people with weakened immune systems."
