Can Medical Devices Help Mitigate Global Environmental Change Effects on Human and Animal Health? A Pilot Study

Laura Mancini, Stefania Marcheggiani, Mario Figliomeni, Elisabetta Volpi, Luca Avellis, Fabrizio Volpi, Anna Maria D’Angelo, Cristina Romanelli, Pietro Calamea, Lorenzo Tancioni and Cinzia Ferrari ()
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Laura Mancini: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Stefania Marcheggiani: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Mario Figliomeni: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Elisabetta Volpi: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Luca Avellis: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Volpi: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria D’Angelo: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Cristina Romanelli: Notified Body 0373, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Pietro Calamea: Ministry of Health, Viale Giorgio Ribotta, 5, 00144 Rome, Italy
Lorenzo Tancioni: Biology Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
Cinzia Ferrari: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Globalization and urbanization are new challenges for the ability to protect public health. Indeed, the anthropogenic impact is changing the environment on a global scale. These changes can have direct and indirect health effects on both human and animal populations, introducing new diseases. Heat waves and floods are an example of these changes. Global Environmental Change (GEC) consequences on human health and well-being are stronger in urban areas, which are inhabited by 70% of the European population. In this context, the use of appropriate medical devices can also help mitigate the effects of climate change. Studies into lifestyle, environment quality and potential fields of application can be useful tools to identify possible types of medical device that could help to support the therapeutic needs and the prevention of health both in everyday life, and in the case of environmental alerts. A study was carried out on the potential role of medical devices (MDs) in mitigating the effects of GEC on human and animal health, by issuing two different questionnaires to specific professional clusters: the first to doctors, pharmacists, and veterinarians, the second to MD manufacturers. The data obtained from this study confirm the strong connection between GEC and the increase in the use of some MDs. Results obtained from questionnaires circulated to MD manufacturers confirmed this trend. MD manufacturers also declared that there are no longer any seasonal trends in market demand for some medical devices. This is a pilot study to consider MDs as a mitigation tool for CEGs.

Keywords: global environmental change; medical devices; human health; animal health; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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