Exploring Links Between Climate Change and Human Health
Throughout human history, climates have been known to change and humanity has found ways to thrive and adapt, but with the rate of climate change currently occurring, those solutions are running out. The effects of global climate change are all around us, with some of them now being felt directly in the form of human health.
As the planet continues to warm, ice melts, water levels rise, temperatures can increasingly fluctuate and unpredictable weather keeps repercussions from global climate change becoming felt more and more in our health. Understanding the basic science behind these links can help people better understand our changing environment, the looming threats to our health, and how to better prepare.
The Science Behind the Links
The facts can not be denied; human activity is absolutely contributing to global warming, leading us to a future that is uncertain and dangerous if we don’t take action soon. Because we’re seeing a rapid rise in greenhouse gases and temperatures, it is now more important than ever to make sure that people understand the correlations between climate change and our own health.
By raising the surface temperature of the planet, melting ice, and changing the balance of gases in the atmosphere, human action is responsible for increasing global temperatures. This aspect of climate change is known as “global warming”. As air and oceans warm, the amount of water vapor increases, which causes more clouds to form, trapping the heat and amplified the warming effects. This is known as the “greenhouse effect” as it is similar to a greenhouse that traps heat from the sun.
Air Pollution and Asthma
One of the most direct connections between climate change and human health lies in air pollution. Carbon dioxide, ozone and other air pollutants trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
But these pollutants and the effects of climate change don't just stop in the atmosphere - they can directly affect human health too. For example, higher levels of air pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, and smoke can increase respiratory diseases and allergies, notably asthma. According to the World Health Organization, poor air quality is responsible for over 6 million deaths worldwide each year.
These dangerous pollutants can also cause damage to other organs, such as the heart. With high levels of particulate matter in the air, many people are at a greater risk of suffering from heart attacks, strokes, and other serious cardiovascular diseases.
Vector-borne Diseases
Climate change has also been linked to the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as Malaria and Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rising temperatures can create more hospitable environments for the critters responsible for spreading those diseases to thrive, expand their ranges, and bite people more often.
For example, the CDC notes that with increased temperatures, the range for the ticks that carry Lyme disease grows, as does their vector season, which means that more people are at risk of getting that infection, which can be a serious and even life-threatening illness if left untreated. Moreover, rising temperatures and the spread of vector-borne diseases can create a multiplier effect; if more people were to become infected, it would then put even more people at risk.
Water-borne Diseases
Likewise, water-borne diseases such as Cholera, Zinc Deficiency, and Typhoid Fever are also becoming more apparent with climate change as floods and extreme weather can strain the infrastructure that is in place to filter and clean contaminated water sources.
Aside from causing numerous physical ailments, such as fever and dehydration, water-borne illnesses can also be an economic burden; in countries that cannot afford to have a safe and clean drinking water supply, the illnesses can cause extra costs due to medical bills and the need to stay home or take time off from work.
Food Security
Lastly, rising temperatures can have an impact on our food security. The destruction caused by extreme weather, such as flooding and droughts, as well as the spread of vector-borne diseases to our food sources can cause food supplies to become more scarce and less available.
As a result, people could suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to a variety of health issues and impair a person's ability to work, learn or function. The World Food Program notes that an estimated 821 million people suffered from hunger in 2018 and that this number is expected to increase with climate change.
Taking Action
Given the state of climate change and its inevitable effects on human health it’s important to take action now. Volunteering, supporting organizations and advocating for the environment are just some of the ways that people can help the cause, but more must be done if we want to see actual change.
But at the same time, it’s important to remember that the effects of climate change are felt now, so it’s important to stay current and make sure that people understand how their day-to-day actions can have an effect. Using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as well as utilizing public transportation, reducing consumption, eating sustainable diets and more can go a long way in combating the effects of climate change.
At the end of the day, climate change is an issue that can’t be ignored. It’s up to us to ensure that our environment and our health are protected now and for future generations. Understanding the links between climate change and human health is essential; only by learning and taking action can we hope to make a difference.