International group of scientists says Earth is in danger zone for 7 of 8 ecological measures, almost there on air pollution

"Earth has pushed past seven out of eight scientifically established safety limits and into “the danger zone,” not just for an overheating planet that’s losing its natural areas, but for the well-being of people living on it, according to a new study," reports Seth Borenstein of The Associated Press.

The study was done by by the Sweden-based international scientist group Earth Commission and published in Wednesday’s peer-reviewed journal Nature. "It looks at climate, air pollution, phosphorus and nitrogen contamination of water from fertilizer overuse, groundwater supplies, fresh surface water, the unbuilt natural environment and the overall natural and human-built environment," AP reports. "Only air pollution wasn’t quite at the danger point globally."

The study concluded that climate was beyond harmful levels for humans in certain groups, "but not quite past the safety guideline for the planet as a system," Borenstein reports. "The planet can recover if it changes, including its use of coal, oil and natural gas and the way it treats the land and water, the scientists said.

If the globe got an annual checkup, similar to a physical examination, “Our doctor would say that the Earth is really quite sick right now and it is sick in terms of many different areas or systems and this sickness is also affecting the people living on Earth,” Earth Commission co-chair Joyeeta Gupta, a University of Amsterdam environment professor, said at a press conference.

Indy Burke, dean of Yale University's School of the Environment, waan't involved in the study, but endorsed it: “This is a compelling and provocative paper – scientifically sound in methodology and important for identifying the dimensions in which the planet is nearing the edge of boundaries that would launch us into irreversible states,” she told AP.