Awuku-Sowah Emma M, Graham Nicholas A J, Watson Nigel M
Lancaster University, UK.
Dialogues Health. 2022 Oct 19;1:100059. doi: 10.1016/j.dialog.2022.100059. eCollection 2022 Dec.
Ecosystems continue to experience degradation worldwide, with diminishing ecosystem services presenting unfavourable outlooks for all aspects of human wellbeing including health. To inform protective policies that safeguard both ecological and health benefits, syntheses of available knowledge are required especially for neglected ecosystems such as mangroves. However, reviews about relationships between mangroves and human health are rare. This review identifies and categorizes evidence reported in the Web of Science database about health impacts of mangrove ecosystem goods and services. 96 papers were retained after application of exclusion criteria and filtration steps to results of database and bibliographical searches. Findings highlight most abundantly that bioactive extracts of mangrove sediment, plant, and plant associates are useful for the treatment of human ailments and infections. Also reported is the heavy and trace metal bioremediation capacity of mangroves ecosystems, with concomitant modulating effects on associated human health risks. Evidence of mangrove influence on human nutrition via fisheries and food production support services, either singularly or in conjunction with linked ecosystems is also offered. Finally, mangrove effects on the prevalence of causative agents, and therefore on the incidence and distribution of infectious diseases, are also presented. Positive influences of mangroves on human health are implied via three of the four routes reported, which diminish with degradation and appreciate with proper ecosystem functioning. The undesirable links lie chiefly with higher infectious disease risk posed by mangroves, which requires further exploration regarding suspected ecological pathways available for limiting said risks. Other gaps identified are sparse information about in-vivo efficacy and safety of mangrove bioactive isolates, specific nutrient content and diversity associated with mangrove-supported food production outcomes, and the geographically limited nature of most findings. Beyond economic value, health benefits of mangroves are significant and outweigh their disservices to humans. To ensure sustainable supply of the full complement of these benefits, they should be considered when designing ecosystems management regimes.
全球生态系统持续退化，生态系统服务不断减少，给包括健康在内的人类福祉的各个方面带来了不利前景。为了制定既能保护生态效益又能保障健康效益的政策，需要综合现有知识，特别是对于红树林等被忽视的生态系统。然而，关于红树林与人类健康关系的综述却很少。本综述对科学网数据库中报告的红树林生态系统产品和服务对健康影响的证据进行了识别和分类。在对数据库和文献检索结果应用排除标准和筛选步骤后，保留了96篇论文。研究结果最突出地表明，红树林沉积物、植物及其伴生植物的生物活性提取物可用于治疗人类疾病和感染。还报告了红树林生态系统对重金属和痕量金属的生物修复能力，以及对相关人类健康风险的调节作用。此外，还提供了红树林通过渔业和粮食生产支持服务对人类营养产生影响的证据，这些服务单独或与相关生态系统共同发挥作用。最后，还介绍了红树林对病原体流行率的影响，进而对传染病发病率和分布的影响。报告的四条途径中有三条暗示了红树林对人类健康的积极影响，这些影响会随着生态系统退化而减弱，随着生态系统正常功能的恢复而增强。不良联系主要在于红树林带来的较高传染病风险，这需要进一步探索可能限制此类风险的潜在生态途径。其他发现的差距包括：关于红树林生物活性分离物的体内疗效和安全性的信息稀少；与红树林支持的粮食生产成果相关的特定营养成分和多样性；以及大多数研究结果在地理上的局限性。除了经济价值外，红树林对健康的益处显著，超过了其对人类的危害。为确保这些益处的可持续供应，在设计生态系统管理制度时应考虑到红树林。
