11 July 2024 : Review article
A Review of the Increasing Global Impact of Climate Change on Human Health and Approaches to Medical Preparedness
Dinah V. Parums1CDEF*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945763
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e945763
Introduction
The Climate Crisis, Global Variations in Climate, and the Effects on Health
Environmental Effects of Climate Change and Potential Interventions
The Effects of Increased Temperature on Human Health
Reduced Air Quality, Wildfires, and Health
Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases
Flooding, Water-Borne, and Food-Borne Diseases
Climate Change and Mental Health
Raising Global Awareness of Climate Change and Health
Improving Medical Awareness of Climate Change and Health
Conclusions
References
Table 2 The impact of the specific effects of climate change on human health [7].
| Factor | Exposure | Driver | Outcomes | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | Increased temperatures | More prolonged, frequent, and severe heat events | Increased heat-associated morbidity and mortality | Rising temperatures will continue to lead to heat-related illness and death |
| Reduced outdoor air quality | Reduced air quality due to increased levels of ozone, and particulate matter | Increased temperatures and air pollution | Increased morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic cardiovascular and respiratory disease | Increased temperature, reduced precipitation, and wildfires increase ozone levels and particulate matter |
| Floods | Damage to infrastructure, sanitation, and contamination | Rising sea levels, storms, increased rain, and hurricanes | Drowning and increased water-borne disease | Inland and coastal floods have negative public health and societal impacts |
| Water-borne disease | Contamination of fish, shellfish, the sea, rivers, and recreational waterways | Increased sea and river surface temperatures and water runoff on land and the coasts | Increased water temperatures and humidity result in increased diseases from water-borne pathogens | Increasing inland and coastal water temperatures increase the risk of water-borne infections |
| Vector-borne disease | Increased numbers and distribution of mosquitos, ticks, and mites | Changes in seasonal and global weather patterns | Increased reports of diseases from mosquitos, ticks, and mites | Vectors show earlier seasonal activity and are expanding northwards |
| Food-borne disease | Seasonal and geographical shift in farming, livestock, and exposure to pathogens | Increased temperatures, season length, humidity, and proximity of livestock | Outbreaks of infections from contaminated food, including and | Longer seasons and warmer winters impact the incidence of pathogen contamination |
| Mental health | Increased exposure to trauma, illness, and economic insecurity | Reduced availability of food and water, forced migration and uncertainty | Increased levels of anxiety and distress due to grief, illness, and social and economic impacts | Climate change and weather-related events and disasters cause or exacerbate mental illness |
| Modified from: []. | ||||