Towards measuring the impact of ecological disintegrity on human health

The relationship between ecological integrity (EI) and human health was approached, for the first time, in this aggregate data, cross-sectional design. Selected surrogate measures of EI (e.g., land disturbance) and socio-economic confounders were modeled in three linear main effects regression models with life expectancy, infant mortality, and percent low birth weight as dependent health outcomes respectively. The results are presented using added-variable plots. GDP per capita, a socio-economic rather than an EI variable, was the single strongest determinant, positively influencing health, and required special handling. Conversion of natural areas to human use was associated with improving health, deforestation was associated with worsening health, and percent species threatened and land protection had no relationship. High GDP countries may be experiencing some negative impacts. Being exploratory, however, the models developed require cautious interpretation and further examination, especially in relation to outlier countries that influence trends. Longer-term data would enhance future modeling.