Effect of increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide on the global threat of zinc deficiency: a modelling study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) lower the content of zinc and other nutrients in important food crops. Zinc deficiency is currently responsible for large burdens of disease globally, and the populations who are at highest risk of zinc deficiency also receive most of their dietary zinc from crops. By modelling dietary intake of bioavailable zinc for the populations of 188 countries under both an ambient CO2 and elevated CO2 scenario, we sought to estimate the effect of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on the global risk of zinc deficiency.

Methods

We estimated per capita per day bioavailable intake of zinc for the populations of 188 countries at ambient CO2 concentrations (375-384 ppm) using food balance sheet data for 2003-07 from the Food

SUBMITTER: Myers SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4784541 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature