Unraveling classic and emerging links between pollution and infectious diseases

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that pollution is a major driver of infectious diseases. However, many mechanisms underlying the relationship between different classes of pollutants (e.g., plastics, metals, genotoxins, antimicrobial drugs) and infectious diseases, particularly emerging zoonotic diseases, remain poorly understood. In this article, we provide a clear and structured synthesis of distinct processes that link pollution to various aspects of infectious diseases, highlighting how environmental pollutants impact both human and animal health. Reducing pollution may help prevent the emergence and spread of pathogens.