How Climate Change Affects Human Health
How Climate Change Affects Human Health
Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate. In the last 100 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.75°C. Over the last 25 years, the rate of global warming has accelerated, at over 0.18°C per decade.
Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting and precipitation patterns are changing. Extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent. (WHO) Scientists from the University of Hawaii at Manoa calculated that by 2047, plus or minus five years, the average temperatures in each year will be hotter across most parts of the planet than they had been at those locations in any year between 1860 and 2005. (Gillis) Climate change is a very serious issue in our world at the moment. Climate change is already affecting glacier melting, sea level rise, the range and distribution of plants and animals, tree blooming times, the length of growing seasons, freezing and thawing of rivers and lakes, and the extent of the permafrost. (EPA) Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation, but few people are aware of how it can affect them. Children, the elderly, and communities living in poverty are among the most vulnerable. Air pollution, extreme heat, infectious diseases, drought, flooding, and extreme weather are many of the resulting effects of climate change. (NRDC) Here are many of the events that could happen because of climate changes: Global warming will likely bring an increase in heat waves. Those could combine with the buildup of pollution, including ozone, a primary component of smog. Studies have shown high levels of pollution are linked to an increase in hospital admissions for cardiac problems. And a new study found higher temperatures and ozone may act together to worsen
Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate. In the last 100 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.75°C. Over the last 25 years, the rate of global warming has accelerated, at over 0.18°C per decade.
Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting and precipitation patterns are changing. Extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent. (WHO) Scientists from the University of Hawaii at Manoa calculated that by 2047, plus or minus five years, the average temperatures in each year will be hotter across most parts of the planet than they had been at those locations in any year between 1860 and 2005. (Gillis) Climate change is a very serious issue in our world at the moment. Climate change is already affecting glacier melting, sea level rise, the range and distribution of plants and animals, tree blooming times, the length of growing seasons, freezing and thawing of rivers and lakes, and the extent of the permafrost. (EPA) Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation, but few people are aware of how it can affect them. Children, the elderly, and communities living in poverty are among the most vulnerable. Air pollution, extreme heat, infectious diseases, drought, flooding, and extreme weather are many of the resulting effects of climate change. (NRDC) Here are many of the events that could happen because of climate changes: Global warming will likely bring an increase in heat waves. Those could combine with the buildup of pollution, including ozone, a primary component of smog. Studies have shown high levels of pollution are linked to an increase in hospital admissions for cardiac problems. And a new study found higher temperatures and ozone may act together to worsen
Cited: Website. Oct. 11, 2013. yosemite.epa.gov “Human Health Impacts” Website. Oct. 11, 2013. epa.gov Gallant, Roy The New York Times. Oct. 9, 2013. Website. Oct. 11, 2013. Jennings, Terry. Changing Climates. London: Evans Brothers Limited, 2005 Website. Oct. 11, 2013. nrdc.org Retter, Rachael Oct. 11, 2013. livescience.com WHO Oct. 11, 2013. who.int Word Count