The threat of global climate change to human health is great. Unfortunately, it is the elderly, very young and very poor in developing countries who will bear the brunt of human fatalities. As our atmosphere heats up, the lack of fresh water and water borne disease increase due to floods, droughts and heat waves. In turn, this will create a domino effect, not only affecting our health, but the implications it will have on our fragile health care system. We will see increases in diseases such as cholera, malaria, and diarrhea. Furthermore, vegetation, agriculture and farming fields could be wiped out due to severe and frequent changes in percipitation. Then we'd have to worry if we have enough food supply to feed people. If we don't, we can see a spike in malnutrition, inflation and deaths. With an overburdened health care system here in the U.S., how would we expect less wealthy nations to care for their sick? Human health is affected by many co-factors, some are political, social and individual behavior. I believe we have failed on all aspects, and if we don't do more to curb the emissions of greenhouse gasses our health care system will be stressed and tested to its limit. (image source)
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ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteThis issue is definitely a concern in the health of the public, not only here in the US but worldwide. We see this all the time, when a natural disaster occurs, various diseases and illnesses follow. If we are to continue to see a rise in temperature, then there will be these changes in weather which can increase the risks in the health of all species. Something to be aware of for the future.
i totally agree. Often it's the poor and less industrialized nations who feel the effects first. With an already overburdend health care system, global warming will further stress the financial system as more and more funds go towards preventalbe diseases.
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