Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate change, often known as global warming, has been observed in the world, with higher temperatures around the Earth's climate system as well as its consequences. Climate change has been acknowledged as having significant repercussions for global and environmental well-being. Extreme weather events, drought, rising temperatures, and rising sea levels are limiting people's ability to access clean water, cultivate food, and work safely outside (Butler, Haines, Steffen, & McMichael, 2016). Furthermore, changes in greenhouse gas levels and other factors alter the global climate, resulting in a variety of human well-being outcomes. Global warming can be the driver for the spread of diseases as well as risk factors for health due to the release of toxic substances in vulnerable people such as elderly, children and those with asthma and heart disease. According to WHO, the major environmental dangers to human health comprises of climate changes, loss of biodiversity, depletion of ozone layer and pollution (Butler et al., 2016).
Environmental Factors
Climate change is the major environmental factor impacting the health of the worldwide population. Global warming is creating stronger heat waves, worsening air pollution as well as permitting vector-borne ailments. Moreover, climate changes compromise drinking water, cause extreme weather events and impacts the mental health. The exposure to wellness dangers associated with global warming affects distinct individuals and different societies to varying degrees (Dinda, 2017). The regions that have been experiencing wellbeing-threatening climate and weather phenomena including hurricanes and severe heat are likely to have worsening impacts including increased storm intensity, higher temperature, amplified storm surge and rainfall rates.
Air Pollution
Climate change has worsened air pollution which has been found to cause about seven million premature deaths in the world per annum. Air pollution comprises of different things such as ground-level ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Furthermore, global warming impacts the air we breathe both outdoors and indoors. Environmental changes have modified weather sequence which has influence the location and levels of outdoor air toxics. The amplified carbon dioxide levels promote the growth of plants that produce airborne allergens (Earthjustice, 2010). Moreover, the adjustments on the outdoor air quality together with aeroallergens impact the indoor air thus infiltrating schools, homes and various structures. Poor air quality has adverse health effects on the human cardiovascular and respiratory system. Also, increased concentration of particles as well as extended pollen seasons amplifies asthma episodes and allergic sensitization. According to the latest findings, air pollution is projected to increase the rate of premature death as well as having chronic impacts on the respiratory health outcomes (Dinda, 2017).
Vector and Waterborne Disease
Vectors such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes transmit different diseases from one region to another by carrying infective pathogens such as protozoa, bacteria and viruses. However, the prevalence, distribution and seasonality of the vector-borne ailments are influenced by climate factors including precipitation patterns, low and high temperatures. Environmental changes have both long and short-term effects on the vector-borne illness infection and transmission sequence thus altering both the geographical and seasonal risk of disease occurrence (Butler et al., 2016). Although climate change and variability alter the spread of vector-borne ailments, they interrelate with other aspects such as how microorganism change and adapt, the human behaviour, adaptive capacity, and availability of the hosts. The complex association of these factors makes it hard to predict the impacts of environmental changes on vector-borne illnesses. Specific vectors such as insects are affected by differing hotter temperatures thus interfering with the spread of diseases. Because most of the vectors are cold-blooded, increase in temperature would favour their life hence allowing the transmission of ailments including malaria (Dinda, 2017).
Water Pollution
Across America and Florida, climate change has affected marine and freshwater resources in a manner that amplifies population's disclosure to water-linked pollutants that cause disease. The water-related ailments comprise waterborne infections due to pathogens such as protozoa, germs and bacteria. Moreover, water-linked diseases are caused by cyanobacteria, algae, and chemicals introduced to the surrounding by human actions. For instance, Florida water is contaminated by manure, sewage, and fertilizer which contain higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus (Earthjustice, 2010). The pollution has skewed the natural equilibrium of aquatic ecosystems leading to toxic algae epidemic that coat waterways with green slime as well as causing breathing issues, rashes, neurological damage, stomach disorders and death. The exposure to toxins in water occurs via direct contact, inhalation or ingestion or through consumption of shellfish or fish found in contaminated water. Other factors associated with climate change include precipitation, temperature, hurricanes and storm surge impact the survival, growth, virulence, and spread of agents of water-related ailments.
Extreme Weather Hazard
Environmental changes have an impact on the increased severity and occurrence of extreme weather events such as flooding, drought, hurricanes and heavy downpour which have negative effects on human health. The health risk arises after the extreme event due to the destruction of assets, loss of public services and infrastructure as well as environmental degradation. However, extent and severity of health impacts related to disasters depend on the physical effects of the calamity together with societal, environmental and human circumstances the place and place of occurrence (Dinda, 2017). Due to climate changes, desertification is taking place which boosts the development of harmful pathogens in the ocean. Moreover, the desert dust contributes to the air pollution which increases respiratory infections. Further, flooding and hurricanes boost the spread of waterborne diseases and other ailments such as malaria.
Malnutrition and Mental Health
The climate change and increasing carbon dioxide alter nutrition, distribution, and safety of food production. Currently, malnutrition in the world is aggravating because crops are failing due to extreme weather. The cycles of flood and drought in various regions are making it difficult for farmers to cultivate enough food to feed the whole population. Moreover, current global warming has consequences for spoilage, contamination, and disruption of food allocation which increases malnutrition that is associated with various health complications (Dinda, 2017). Additionally, the mental health effects of environmental changes range from minimal anxiety and depression signs to clinical malady. Individuals who have survived tropical storms, floods and drought lose their families and homes. Consequently, they experience after-trauma stress disorder as well as severe depression which affect the mental wellness.
My Role
Initially, I can play a significant role in eliminating environmental barriers of health by providing various public health safeguards to decrease the exposure and ailment in case water is contaminated. This includes advocating for drinking treated water, beach closures in case of an outbreak, water quality monitoring as well as boiling water before consumption. Secondly, I can start different programs that aim at climate restoration such as planting trees. For instance, I can encourage all the families in rural areas to plant a maximum number of trees so that to restore carbon dioxide balances thus reducing global warming (Dinda, 2017). Furthermore, education regarding the effects of climate changes as well as its effects would be appropriate to eliminate the environmental barriers to health. This would be achieved by convincing the government and other environmental agencies to incorporate climate change mitigation measures in the school curriculum. I can achieve this by writing a proposal to the weather agencies and administration describing how the information regarding environmental factors of health integrated into learning.
Reducing Waste
Additionally, my efforts to reduce environment-related risk factors can be felt by educating people to reduce waste. By 2010, America produced garbage at the rate of about 4.43 pound each person per day but recycled at 34 percent which left almost 165 million tons of rubbish destined for landfills (Dinda, 2017). Recycling and reducing waste can decrease methane emissions, amplify forest carbon sequestration as well as saving energy. The actions to reduce waste comprise of reusing and recycling items and purchasing fewer items that require less packaging.
Summary and Conclusion
Conclusively, environmental factors have adverse effects on public health. However, climate change is the major ecological aspect that has much impact on human wellness since it leads to extreme events, increased temperature, pollution as well as interfering with food production. Also, environmental adjustment compromises drinking water while promoting the transmission of water and vector-borne ailments. Global warming exposes people to contaminated water, air, and calamities that have adverse health impacts. Inhaling or consuming polluted air or water exacerbates particular diseases such as asthma and heart diseases. However, the environmental barriers to wellness can be eliminated by implementing interventions that aim at restoring or preventing ecosystem degradation.
References
Butler, C. D., Haines, A., Steffen, W., & McMichael, A. J. (Tony). (2016). Climate change and global health. Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Dinda, S. (2017). Handbook of research on climate change impact on health and environmental sustainability. Hershey, Pennsylvania: Information Science Reference, an imprint of IGI Global. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/book/igidzvn
Earthjustice. (2010, April 29). Water rules over much of Florida. Retrieved September 30, 2017, from https://earthjustice.org/about/offices/florida
