Climate Change and Health
Authors: Eric J. Reines
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Letters15 November 2016Climate Change and HealthEric J. Reines, MDEric J. Reines, MDFrom Element Care PACE, Lynn, Massachusetts.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0414 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The burning of fossil fuel is not the only cause of climate change, as noted in Crowley's introductory statement (1). However, the declaration that “deforestation … [and] agriculture and food production … all release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases” omits an important distinction. Although the production of food is necessary for human life, raising food animals—especially beef cattle—contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions far more than growing plants for human consumption (2). Moreover, the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (3) recommends that persons in the United States reduce their intake of ...References1. Crowley RA; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Climate change and health: a position paper of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164:608-10. [PMID: 27089232]. doi:10.7326/M15-2766 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Eshel G, Shepon A, Makov T, Milo R. Land, irrigation water, greenhouse gas, and reactive nitrogen burdens of meat, eggs, and dairy production in the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014;111:11996-2001. [PMID: 25049416] doi:10.1073/pnas.1402183111 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. U.S. Department of Agriculture; Department of Health and Human Services. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. February 2015. Accessed at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/PDFs/Scientific-Report-of-the-2015-Dietary-Guidelines-Advisory-Committee.pdf on 8 May 2016. Google Scholar4. U.S. Department of Agriculture; Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services; 2016. Google Scholar5. Scudellari M. Nutrition experts criticize new federal dietary guidelines. The Boston Globe. 12 January 2016. Accessed at www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2016/01/12/nutritionists-criticize-new-federal-dietary-guidelines/bx7b9lU5jAQ7thec97h52L/story.html on 8 May 2016. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Element Care PACE, Lynn, Massachusetts.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L16-0414. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoClimate Change and Health: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians Ryan A. Crowley and Climate Change and Health Ryan A. Crowley , Darilyn V. Moyer , and Douglas M. DeLong Climate Change and Health Daniel S. Berman Climate Change and Health Erik Mondrow Metrics 15 November 2016Volume 165, Issue 10Page: 746-747KeywordsCarbon dioxideClimate changeConflicts of interestDietDisclosureFood ePublished: 15 November 2016 Issue Published: 15 November 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...