Potential effects on health of global warming
- Univ. College London Medical School, London (United Kingdom). Whittington Hospital
- Univ. of Oxford (United Kingdom). Environmental Change Unit
Prediction of the impacts of global climate change on health is complicated by a number of factors. These include: the difficulty in predicting regional changes in climate, the capacity for adaptation to climate change, the interactions between the effects of global climate change and a number of other key determinants of health, including population growth and poverty, and the availability of adequate preventive and curative facilities for diseases that may be effected by climate change. Nevertheless, it is of importance to consider the potential health impacts of global climate change for a number of reasons. It is also important to monitor diseases which could be effected by climate change in order to detect changes in incidence as early as possible and study possible interactions with other factors. It seems likely that the possible impacts on health of climate change will be a major determinant of the degree to which policies aimed at reducing global warming are followed, as perceptions of the effect of climate change to human health and well-being are particularly likely to influence public opinion. The potential health impacts of climate change can be divided into direct (primary) and indirect (secondary and tertiary) effects. Primary effects are those related to the effect of temperature on human well-being and disease. Secondary effects include the impacts on health of changes in food production, availability of water and of sea level rise. A tertiary level of impacts can also be hypothesized.
- OSTI ID:
- 7146159
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930415--
- Journal Information:
- World Resource Review; (United States), Journal Name: World Resource Review; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN WRRVE5; ISSN 1042-8011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS