Climate Change and Human Health
Images of melting of glaciers, isolated polar bears, raising
temperature, distorted lands and even of drowning world swoops across when we
hear (or Google) the term- climate change. Although almost everyone today is
familiar with this bigger picture or the large scale impacts of climate change,
we still are missing on the finer grains. We consider climate change as a
distant phenomenon that is affecting the earth but is still to touch us on an
individual level. The consequences of climate change are not limited to sea
level and melting of glaciers but it
also have direct as well as indirect impacts on human health; some of which are
already apparent. A 2008 survey
of local public health directors in the United States found that a majority of
the respondents have already identified existing public health impacts of
climate change within their jurisdictions.[1]
Climate
change is likely to cause extreme weather events cyclone, flood, fire, draught;
etc. which may cause Possible fatalities and injuries and Damage human
communities.
Heat Waves are expected to increase in frequency and
intensity due to climate change. Water and Vector-borne diseases are projected
to increase in no. Climate is
one of several factors that influence the distribution of vector borne and
zoonotic diseases (VBZD) such as Lyme disease, Hantavirus, West Nile virus, and
malaria. Climate change is also likely
to influence the production of pollen and other allergens associated with
asthma and allergies. There is evidence that climate change may slow
down the repair of the ozone layer, extending the risk associated with
increased UV exposure. [2]
One possible direct impact of climate change on cancer may be through increases
in exposure to toxic chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer
following heavy rainfall and by increased volatilization of chemicals under
conditions of increased temperature.
These are only some of the direct impacts of climate change;
it may also affect human health in many other ways. Climate change is likely to
increase the costs of production of food through potential effects of increased
extreme events, particularly reduced rainfall and availability of water
associated with drought and long periods of drying climatic conditions Without
additional adaptive measures this may result in a decrease in general health
and well-being and increases in diet-related conditions such as diabetes and
obesity. Also, Increase in the number and severity of extreme events without
any further adaptation, will almost certainly result in reduced access to
essential goods and services, including medical treatment. Changes in climate
also projected to have implications for occupational health and safety. Changes
in distribution of bacteria, insects, plants and animals can have environmental
impacts on water, land and air quality that have flow on health effects.
Climate change is expected to cause mental health problem as well.
Apparently, changing climate possesses many threats to human
health that vary from allergic
reactions due to air pollution to serious cancer due to exposure of UV light,
from physical health to mental health, from heat waves to increased
vector-borne diseases. It may alter the weather pattern and affect the food
supply. There is still time to adapt. Adaptation to climate change
is already taking place, but on a limited basis. Societies have a long record
of adapting to the impacts of weather and climate through a range of practices
that include crop diversification, irrigation, water management, disaster risk management,
and insurance. But climate change poses novel risks often outside the range of
experience, such as impacts related to drought, heat waves, and accelerated
glacier retreat and hurricane intensity. (IPCC, 2007)
Although specific limits will vary by health outcome and
region, fundamental constraints exist in low-income countries where adaptation
will partially depend on development pathways in the public-health, water, agriculture,
transport, energy and housing sectors. Therefore, adaptation strategies should
be designed in the context of development, environment, and health policies.
