Climate change could be affecting our health

EXPERT FINDS 'WORRYING' LINK BETWEEN GLOBAL WARMING AND BACTERIA RESISTANCE IN SOILS

- By TONY HENDERSON

A WARNING on the link between climate warming and antibiotic-resistant bacteria has come from a North East expert.

A new international study involving researchers from Durham University has revealed that climate change is accelerating the rate of development and global abundances of the resistant bacteria in soils.

The findings highlight what is described as a new and “deeply concerning” less seen consequence of global warming to public health.

The study shows that rising global temperatures are significantly increasing the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil. Prof David W Graham of Durham University, a water engineer and expert in antibiotic resistance, is co-author of the study