Climate Change and its Impact

on Health
RISHI
KV SVP NPA
SHIVARAMPALLY

Overview
Climate Change, Greenhouse Effect, and Global
Warming Defined
Greenhouse gases
Evidence of global warming
Impact(s) of climate change
Impact on health

Climate change
refers to any distinct change in measures of climate
lasting for a long period of time, including major
changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind
patterns lasting for decades or longer. Climate
change may result from:
natural factors, such as changes in the Suns energy or
slow changes in the Earths orbit around the Sun;
natural processes within the climate system (e.g.,
changes in ocean circulation);
human activities that change the atmospheres make-up
(e.g, burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g.,
cutting down forests, planting trees, building
developments in cities and suburbs, etc.).

Global warming
is an average increase in temperatures near the
Earths surface and in the lowest layer of the
atmosphere.
Increases in temperatures in our Earths
atmosphere can contribute to changes in global
climate patterns.
Global warming can be considered part of
climate change along with changes in
precipitation, sea level, etc.

Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that sees the
Earth's atmosphere insulate the Earth.
Incoming solar radiation (short-wave radiation) is
absorbed at the Earth's surface. The Earth's climatic
system then redistributes this energy around the globe,
through atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns.
Energy is then radiated back from the Earth's surface
into the atmosphere as long-wave radiation
Over time there is an approximate balance in this
incoming (short-wave) and outgoing (long-wave)
radiation. Changes to this balance, such as changes in
the amount of radiation received or lost by the system,
or changes to the distribution cycles within the system,

Greenhouse gases
water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2), occur
naturally. human activities are adding large amounts
of:
carbon dioxide, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride
(SF6).
Since 1750, atmospheric concentrations of CO2,
CH4 and N2O have increased by over 36 percent,
148 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Scientists
have concluded

Global warmthso what?

The heating of the Earth's surface and
atmosphere affects these climate variables to
produce extreme weather and climate events.
Climate change is already being observed in a
range of climate variables, such as: temperature,
rainfall, atmospheric moisture, snow cover, land
and sea ice, sea level, wind patterns and ocean
circulation patterns.

Major global killers are

affected by climate
Each year:
Weather related disasters kill over 60,000
Undernutrition kills 3.5 million
Diarrhoea kills 2.2 million
Malaria kills 900,000
(WHO, 2003, 2008)

Global warming increases the likelihood it will be hot or very hot and decreases,
but does not eliminate, the likelihood it will be cold or very cold. Source: IPCC,
2007

Past and projected global average sea level. The gray shaded area shows the
estimates of sea level change from 1800 to 1870 when measurements were not
available. The red line is a reconstruction of sea level change measured by tide
gauges with the surrounding shaded area depicting the uncertainty. The green line
shows sea level change as measured by satellite. The purple shaded area
represents the range of model projections for a medium growth emissions scenario
(IPCC SRES A1B). For reference 100mm is about 4 inches. Source: IPCC, 2007

Agriculture and Forestry

The supply and cost of food may change as
farmers and the food industry adapt to new
climate patterns. A small amount of warming
coupled with increasing CO2 may benefit certain
crops, plants and forests, although the impacts of
vegetation depend also on the availability of
water and nutrients. For warming of more than a
few degrees, the effects are expected to become
increasingly negative, especially for vegetation
near the warm end of its suitable range.

Water Resources
In a warming climate, extreme events like floods and
droughts are likely to become more frequent.
More frequent floods and droughts will affect water
quality and availability.
increases in drought in some areas may increase
the frequency of water shortages and lead to more
restrictions on water usage.
An overall increase in precipitation may increase
water availability in some regions, but also create
greater flood potential.

Energy
: Warmer temperatures may result in higher
energy bills for air conditioning in summer, and
lower bills for heating in winter. Energy usage is
also connected to water needs. Energy is
needed for irrigation, which will most likely
increase due to climate change. Also, energy is
generated by hydropower in some regions, which
will also be impacted by changing precipitation
patterns.

Coasts
: If you live along the coast, your home may be
impacted by sea level rise and an increase in
storm intensity. Rising seas may contribute to
enhanced coastal erosion, coastal flooding, loss
of coastal wetlands, and increased risk of
property loss from storm surges.

Wildlife
Warmer temperatures and precipitation changes
will likely affect the habitats and migratory
patterns of many types of wildlife.
The range and distribution of many species will
change, and some species that cannot move or
adapt may face extinction.

Environment and Exposure

Direct
Exposure
Source

Indirect
Exposure
Source

Environmental
Exposures
Vehicle

Humans

Humans

Humans

Solar UV
EM Radiation
Tetanus

Anthroponotic
Infections

Humans
Vehicle

Humans

Vehicle
Humans

STDs
Measles
Hepatitis B

Zoonotic
Infections

Animals

Malaria
Dengue
Roundworm

Animals
Vehicle

Animals
Humans

Stream pollutants
Air Particulates
Legionella

Vehicle
Animals

Anthrax
Ebola (?)
CJD

Humans

Lyme Disease
Hantaviral Disease
Most arboviral diseases

WHO: five major health impacts of

climate change
1. Malnutrition
2. Deaths and injuries caused by storms and floods.
(Flooding can also be followed by outbreaks of
diseases, such as cholera)
3. Water scarcity / contamination (droughts and sudden
floods) increased burden of diarrhoeal disease.
4. Heatwaves direct increases in morbidity and
mortality; indirect effects via increases in groundlevel ozone, contributing to asthma attacks.
5. Vector-borne disease malaria and dengue.

Vulnerable population groups

Chronic medical conditions including mentally ill, clients
with special needs
Social isolation
Poor & vulnerable communities
Being confined to bed
Certain medical treatments
Some types of occupation, outdoor workers
Very young children
Elderly suffer the greatest effects of heat-waves (impact
on mortality greater in women)

Health impact of climate change

Air pollution - a reduction in the cold, calm winter
weather associated with winter air pollution episodes
together with reduced emissions of key pollutants
including particles, oxides of nitrogen and
sulphurdioxide could lead to a reduction (up to 50%)
in the adverse health effects of winter air pollution.
A small overall increase in the number of summer
ozone episodes coupled with a longer-term increase
in background levels of ozone could cause a rise in
the number of premature deaths.

Air Pollution
Pollution determined by
emissions & weather
Increases in ozone:
o
o

extra deaths &

hospital admissions

Air quality decline:

o

severity of asthma

Ozone levels dependent on

pollution control in Europe

Between 2003 2020, increase in ozone levels will result in a 51-53%

increase in attributable deaths and hospital admissions for respiratory
diseases, threshold assumptions of 35-50ppb (attributable to climate change)

Salmonellosis and temperature rise

Modelled association between temperature and number of reported cases of

salmonellosis in England and Wales (adjusted for outbreaks, seasonal factors
and holidays)
S. Kovats (Data supplied by HPA)

Infectious diseases foodborne and

waterborne diseases

Foodborne diseases
Likely increase in cases of food
poisoning
incidence dependent on future food
hygiene behaviour
evidence confirms the effect of
temperature on salmonellosis
role of temperature in Campylobacter
transmission remains uncertain
Waterborne diseases
Likely increase in cases of
Cryptosporidiosis
Impact of increased temperature on
water quality & disinfection

Health impact of climate change

Extremes of temperature - heat-related deaths
could increase to around 2,800 cases per year.
This is likely to be offset by milder winters leading
to a fall in cold-related winter deaths of up to
20,000 cases per year.

Exposure to ultra violet radiation

Likely increases in:
Sunburn
Skin cancer
Possibly cataracts

Health impact of climate change

Flooding increased frequency of severe
coastal and river floods,
Analysis of more recent river flooding shows that
mental health problems are the most important
health impact among flood victims due to
experience of personal and economic loss and
stress.

River, Coastal Flooding &

Flash Floods
Few direct deaths
Full effect in terms of mortality and morbidity not known
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Accidents drowning, electrical

Contamination of drinking water
Rise in waterborne infections
Exposure to toxic pollutants
Psychological consequences
Disruption, injuries & deaths
Late effects include stress &

mental health problems

Food and water safety concerns
Effects on health and social service delivery
UK floods of summer 2007

Health impact of climate change

UV exposure levels of UV radiation reaching
the earths surface may increase due to sunnier
summers,
a decline in cloud cover and ozone depletion
(which
reduces the capacity of the ozone layer to absorb
UV).
predicted an extra 5,000 cases of skin cancer
and 2,000 of cataract per year by 2050.

Incidence of All Skin Cancer

England and Wales 1993-2002, and projections to 20251
Males, Females and all persons

Directly aged standardised registration rates

(DSR)

Males
Persons
Females

Year
1 Exponential projections based on data for the ten years 1993-2002
Note: International Classification of Disease and related health problems (ICD) definition of all skin cancers - ICD9 172-173, ICD10 C43-C44.
Source: Health & Social Care Information Centre (2006). Compendium of Clinical & Health Indicators / Clinical & Health Outcomes Knowledge Base http://www.nchod.nhs.uk

Health impact of climate change

Vector-borne diseases various diseases
transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks are climatesensitive and can increase or be introduced due
to climate change.
Malaria might be re-established in non-endemic
areas.
Potential emergence of other vector-borne
diseases, such as West Nile Fever.

Vector-borne diseases
Outbreaks of malaria likely to be
rare
Tick borne likely to be more
common, but relate to land
use/leisure activities rather than
climate change
Lyme disease no observed
correlation between temperature
and incidence
o Tick-borne encephalitis low
chances of occurrence
o

Possible increase in flies

(diarrhoeal disease), midges, fleas, stinging insects

Need to be alert to possibility of emerging infections

Health impact of climate change

Food poisoning - higher temperatures in
summer could cause an estimated 10,000 extra
cases of salmonella infection per year.
Storms any increase in the frequency of
severe winter storms could lead to an increase in
personal injuries from flying debris and falling
trees.

Health impact of climate change

Water-borne disease climate change might
increase levels of cryptosporidium and
campylobacter in water.
Secure sanitation systems should safeguard
supplies of drinking water, but possible
contamination of stormwater outflows could carry
disease into basements and nearby rivers,
affecting the health of residents and river users.

What diseases are the most

climate sensitive?
High

Sensitivit
y

Low

heat stress
effects of storms
air pollution effects
asthma
vector-borne diseases
water-borne diseases
food-borne diseases
sexually-transmitted
diseases

Health impact of extreme events

Extreme weather-related
events (natural disasters)
Lead to:
Social disruption
Homelessness
Injuries, deaths,
disability
Impacts on food and
water supply

Health impact of extreme events

Health impact of extreme events

Potential health benefits

Due to both direct & indirect effects:
Increased physical activity due to
extended warm weather. But,
outcomes could be worse due to
extreme heat
Reduced obesity and road traffic
injuries through active transport
Possibly healthy eating through
adoption of sustainable farming &
food policy and diets containing
less animal products
Reduced respiratory illness by
improvements in air quality
Increased home energy efficiency
reducing temperature-related
illness

Knowing is not enough; we must

apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.

FROM :- RISHI
SANJULA
MEGHANA
ANJALI
MANISHA