|
|
Article: Connecting the oceans and human health.(Guest Editorial)
- Article from:
- Environmental Health Perspectives
- Article date:
- June 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Life on Earth is and has always been inextricably associated with the oceans that occupy greater than 70% of the planet's surface. The origins of life as we know it began in the depths of the oceans, and human life is still unreservedly dependent on the same oceans. As of 1994, more than 2 billion people lived within 60 miles of a coastline (Cohen et al. 1997); today, 14 of the world's 17 largest cities lay on or near coasts (United Nations Population Division 2002).
The proximity of human populations to ocean coasts is not surprising when our past, current, and future dependence on coastal waterways for food, commerce, travel, and recreation are taken into ...