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Environmental Climate and Disease

Environmental Climate and Disease. GDvorak. Earth’s Atmosphere. Global warming Rise in global mean temperature Increased of heat-trapping greenhouse gases Carbon dioxide, methane Climate change General term referring to changes in many climatic factors E.g., temperature, precipitation

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Environmental Climate and Disease

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  1. Environmental Climate and Disease GDvorak

  2. Earth’s Atmosphere • Global warming • Rise in global mean temperature • Increased of heat-trapping greenhouse gases • Carbon dioxide, methane • Climate change • General term referring to changes in many climatic factors • E.g., temperature, precipitation • Equals overall energy budget of planet • Incoming (solar) shortwave radiation • Outgoing longwave radiation • Affected by • Earth’s atmosphere • Greenhouse gases • carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)

  3. Greenhouse Gases • Carbon Dioxide • Burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) • Solid waste, trees and wood products • Methane (CH4) • Production and transport of coal, natural gas, oil • Livestock and other agricultural practices • Decay of organic waste in landfills • Nitrous Oxide (N2O) • Agricultural and industrial activities • Combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste • Fluorinated Gases • Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride • Ozone-depleting substances: CFC, HCFC, halons • Variety of industrial processes

  4. Great Basin National Park - What is Climate Change? (U.S. National Park Service) http://www.nps.gov/grba/naturescience/what-is-climate-change.htm

  5. Health and Environmental Effects • Many elements sensitive to climate changes • Human health • Agriculture and Food Supply • Natural Ecosystems • Coastal areas • Heating and cooling requirements • http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/index.html

  6. Effects • Direct temperature effects • Thermal stress (extremes of hot and cold temps) • Weather extreme events • Severe storms, floods, droughts • Climate sensitive diseases • Change in rainfall amount and pattern • Vector-borne diseases • Waterborne diseases • Air quality • Rising atmospheric concentration of CO2 • Pollution levels

  7. Impacts • Increased temperature • Oceans and melting of ice - raises sea levels • Earlier timing of spring events • Higher elevation and latitude migrations of plants and animals • Saltification of coastal habitats and freshwater sources • More frequent extreme weather events • Heat waves, droughts, floods, snowfall • Direct damage to ecosystems and livelihoods

  8. Impacts • Increased greenhouse gases Elevated CO2 levels • Decrease crop growth • Increase growth of weeds and/or invasive species • Depress function of herbicides • Ocean acidification • Damages estuary and coral reef systems – impacting food chains and fisheries

  9. Impacts on Disease Occurrence • Emergence of new disease syndromes • Change in the prevalence of existing diseases, particularly those spread by biting insects • Rift Valley fever outbreaks – Africa • Predicted based on Indian Ocean weather • Bluetongue and Hantavirus –Europe • Movement into and across continent as a result of warmer habitats for vectors

  10. Additional Resources • EPA: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ • Global Climate Change and Implications for Disease Emergence – Slenning BD (2010) • http://vet.sagepub.com/content/47/1/28.full.pdf+html • Climate Change and Animal Disease – Summers BA (2010) • http://vet.sagepub.com/content/46/6/1185.full.pdf+html

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