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Related Concept Videos

Energy Balance01:19

Energy Balance

The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
Energy Basics02:27

Energy Basics

Chemical reactions, such as those that occur when you light a match, involve changes in energy as well as matter.
What is Energy?04:10

What is Energy?

The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy.  The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun — the ultimate energy source. Plants capture light energy from the Sun, and, via the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal (fossilized plants)...
Energy00:58

Energy

The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy.  The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun—the ultimate energy source. For instance, plants capture light energy from the Sun, and through the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal...
Requirements for Human Life01:26

Requirements for Human Life

The Earth and its atmosphere have provided humans with air, water, and food, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Humans also require a specific range of temperature and pressure that the Earth and its atmosphere provides.
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
Energy Transfer in Chemical Reactions01:16

Energy Transfer in Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions require sufficient energy to cause the matter to collide with enough precision and force that old chemical bonds can be broken and new ones formed. In general, kinetic energy is the form of energy powering any type of matter in motion. Imagine a person building a brick wall. The energy it takes to lift and place one brick on top of another is the kinetic energy—the energy matter possesses because of its motion. Once the wall is in place, it stores potential energy. Potential...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer
08:37

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer

Published on: November 15, 2024

Energy and human health.

Kirk R Smith1, Howard Frumkin, Kalpana Balakrishnan

  • 1School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-7360, USA. krksmith@berkeley.edu

Annual Review of Public Health
|January 22, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Energy production and use significantly impact global health, with solid fuels like coal and biomass posing the greatest risks through pollution and occupational hazards. Improving energy access and efficiency can yield substantial health benefits.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Public Health
  • Energy Policy

Background:

  • Energy is fundamental to societal function and health, but all energy sources carry inherent health risks.
  • The global burden of disease is significantly influenced by the health impacts associated with various energy production and consumption methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the health impacts of major energy sources.
  • To identify energy-related health risks with significant global disease burden implications.
  • To explore potential health co-benefits from emissions reduction strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of health impacts across major energy sources.
  • Focus on occupational health, household air pollution, and ambient air pollution.
  • Analysis of health risks associated with energy access, efficiency, and renewable systems.

Main Results:

  • Harvesting and burning solid fuels (coal, biomass) present the most substantial health risks, primarily via occupational exposures and air pollution.
  • Limited access to clean fuels and electricity in low-income households constitutes a critical health hazard.
  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy systems, while beneficial, also present manageable health risks if not carefully implemented.

Conclusions:

  • Solid fuel combustion is a major driver of global ill-health, necessitating interventions for cleaner energy access.
  • Addressing energy-related pollution offers opportunities for significant near-term health improvements and potential climate co-benefits.