The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Natural Environment and Societies during the Contemporary Period

This groundbreaking book by Dr. Carolina Leticia Zilli Vieira offers a sweeping exploration of humanity's impact on the environment and health, starting from the Industrial Revolution to the current times. Covering topics such as air and water pollution, electromagnetic radiation, medical and dental waste management, agricultural practices, natural resource overuse, and the ethics of environmental stewardship, Dr. Zilli Vieira and co-authors link scientific evidence with policy and social consequences. She also addresses urgent challenges like water scarcity, space debris, and sustainable energy. By uniting historical perspectives, scientific insight, and preventive strategies, this book presents a compelling roadmap for building healthier societies and a more sustainable planet.

Dr. Carolina L. Zilli Vieira, DDS, PhD, is a Research Associate and Instructor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. With expertise in oral medicine, periodontology, cardiology, and environmental health, she studies the impact of environmental risk factors on oral and systemic health. Her research spans air and water pollution, radiation, oral and environmental medicine, and prevention. Through epidemiology, interventional studies, and preventive programs, Dr. Zilli Vieira integrates science, teaching, and advocacy to advance environmental and public health.

Foreword. Preface. HUMAN IMPACT IN THE ATMOSPHERE. How Has Air Pollution Impacted Societies Since the Industrial Era? Anthropogenic Impacts in Space: Challenges and Opportunities. As Night Became Day: Light Pollution, An Underappreciated Environmental and Human Stressor. Past, Present and Future Impacts of Energy in the Environment and Populations. Power Systems, Telecommunications, and Diabetes. Escalating Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Fields from Telecommunications and Electricity: Comparing and Contrasting U.S. and International Policies and Approaches to Protecting Public and Environmental Health. HUMAN IMPACT IN THE HYDROSPHERE. Water Pollution: How Human Activities Have Shaped the XXI Century Water Crisis. Drinking Water, Sanitation and Health: A Foreseeable 21st Century Crisis. HUMAN IMPACT IN THE GEOSPHERE. Soil Pollution Since the Industrial Revolution: A Historical and Geoethics Perspective. Sources of Metal Contamination in Soils, Impact on Children, and Implications for Food Safety. Critical Zone Observatory in Megacities - A Case Study in the City of São Paulo, Brazil. IMPACT ON ALL EARTH SYSTEMS. The Global Pesticide Market: Value of Life and Exemption. Permaculture in Commercial Agriculture: Ecology Framework 'One-Eleven' and Four Pertinent Case Studies. Pathways to Sustainability: Industry, Development, Business, Agriculture, Economy, and Politics. The impact of Food Industry on Human Health and Environment. The Environmental Impact of Medicine and Dentistry. From Beauty to Beast: History of Cosmetic Industries, Health and Environmental Impact. Potentials and Challenges in Artificial Intelligence. Historical Awareness of Human-Originated Environmental Change. Index.