Lin Angela Yu-Chen, Huang Susana Tzy-Ying, Wahlqvist Mark L
National Taiwan University, Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2009;18(4):538-45.
Economic growth inevitably influences the food chain. Growing demand with changes in lifestyle and health consciousness encourage use of packaged and pre-prepared foods. The needs of environmental protection from waste generated are largely overlooked, and a lack of knowledge about the impact on the environment and its health effects constitute food security/safety problems. Food production and waste generation directly affect resource (i.e., energy and water) consumption and often contaminate the environment. More pressure on food production has inculcated the use of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and chemical fertilizers which add to current global pollution. At least half of food grown is discarded before and after it reaches consumers. It is estimated that one third to half of landfill waste comes from the food sector. This landfill releases green house gases (GHG) as well as leachate which worsen soil and water quality and safety. Pharmaceutical and chemical contaminations from residential, industrial and agricultural sources make their way into nearby water and soil and can eventually affect our food systems. Phthalates, PFOA, BPA, commonly used in plastics and personal care products, are found in unacceptable concentrations in Taiwanese waters. They, too, contribute to food contamination and long-term health risk. Existing waste management strategies warrant more stringent norms for waste reduction at source. Awareness through education could reduce food waste and its consequences. This review encompasses impacts of food production systems on the environment, pollution which results from food waste, costs and economic advantages in food waste management, and health consequences of waste.
经济增长不可避免地会影响食物链。生活方式和健康意识的变化导致需求不断增长，这促使人们使用包装食品和预制食品。人们很大程度上忽视了环境保护对减少废弃物产生的需求，并且对废弃物对环境的影响及其健康后果缺乏了解，这构成了粮食安全问题。食品生产和废弃物产生直接影响资源（即能源和水）消耗，并且常常污染环境。对食品生产的更多压力促使人们使用农药、除草剂、抗生素和化肥，这加剧了当前的全球污染。至少一半种植的食物在到达消费者之前和之后被丢弃。据估计，三分之一到一半的垃圾填埋场废弃物来自食品行业。这种垃圾填埋场会释放温室气体以及渗滤液，这会恶化土壤和水质以及安全性。来自住宅、工业和农业源的药物和化学污染进入附近的水和土壤，最终可能影响我们的食品系统。在台湾水域中发现，常用于塑料和个人护理产品中的邻苯二甲酸盐、全氟辛酸、双酚A的浓度令人无法接受。它们也会导致食品污染和长期健康风险。现有的废弃物管理策略需要更严格的源头减少废弃物规范。通过教育提高意识可以减少食物浪费及其后果。本综述涵盖了食品生产系统对环境的影响、食物浪费造成的污染、食物浪费管理的成本和经济优势以及废弃物的健康后果。
