Climate Change and Reproductive Health

Abstract

Climate change is a major threat to the world's population and is due to global warming from human activities that increase atmospheric greenhouse gas levels -burning fossil fuels, industry emissions, vehicular exhaust, and aerosol chlorofluorocarbons - that trap heat in the earth's atmosphere and adversely impact air quality. Resulting higher global temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels lead to greater frequency of wildfires and floods, which, in turn, result in population displacements and threaten air and water quality, food and water security, economic and public health infrastructures, and societal safety. Climate change has direct and indirect impacts on human health and well-being across the globe with disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations including women, pregnant persons, the developing fetus, children, older adults, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, pre-existing and/or chronic medical conditions, and low income and communities of color. As consequences of climate change, global mortality and non-communicable diseases are mounting due to lack of progress to reverse current trends. Climate change effects on reproductive processes and outcomes have received less attention globally, despite huge consequences for human development, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes. This review provides evidence for direct and indirect effects of climate change on human health with a focus on reproductive processes and outcomes based on experimental models and epidemiologic data, and strategies to mitigate harms. The goal is to increase awareness about climate effects on reproductive health among clinicians, researchers, the public, and policymakers, and to engage all stakeholders to change the current trajectory of harm.

Keywords: climate change; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; extreme weather; pollution; pregnancy; reproductive health.