Risks and Consequences of Hazard Agents to Human Health

Abstract

Human health, as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, is under continuous threat posed by various factors, among which the environment plays an instrumental role. Biological, chemical and physical health hazard agents trigger adverse health effects on human health. Notably, the adverse effects of biological health hazards (biohazards) on people is further dependent on both the proximal and on the worldwide environment context, bringing the need of integrative, interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches, such as One Health and Global Health, to provide sustainable public health strategies. To fight antimicrobial resistance, recognized now as one of the major public health threat, such integrative One and Global Health strategies will be instrumental. Furthermore, because of their versatility, biohazards can be weaponized for use in bioterrorism. In this context, critical and transparent risk analysis is of utmost importance to provide informed support for delineating priorities and for defining opportunities for research, prevention, and policy. Finally, preparedness (commitment to implement and continuously monitor the International Health Regulation, measures to foster research areas like biosurveillance and cyberbiosecurity) at global scale is paramount, as highlighted by the recent report of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (September 2019).