Health Impacts Of Global Env Change

Question 1

Name health impacts of global environmental change ?

Answer 1

Ozone depletion 
Skin cancer 
Cataracts 
Climate change 
Heatwaves 
Coldspells

Question 2

How is the ozone destroyed ?

Answer 2

Chlorofluorocarbons used in things such as refrigerators.

They react with/ destroy ozone molecules

Destruction occurs in late winter/ early spring.

Question 3

Why is ozone layer important ?

Answer 3

Utilised and filters out much of incoming solar radiation especially damaging shorter wavelength UVR.

Question 4

What happens if ozone becomes greatly depleted ?

Answer 4

More uv rays reach earths surface.

Serious impacts on humans / flora / fauna.

Skin cancers / cataracts

Question 5

How is skin cancer caused?

Answer 5

Long term exposure to sun

Short periods of intense exposure and burning.

Question 6

How does uv create cancer?

Answer 6

Damages dna in skin cells

Question 7

What type of people most likely to develop skin cancer ?

Answer 7

Affluent people

Elderly

People living in sunnier places

Question 8

Where is malignant melanoma rates highest ?

Answer 8

According to office for national statistics- SE and SE of England

Question 9

Which country has highest rates of skin cancer ?

Answer 9

Australia.

Light skinned pop/ tropical latitude / high UV radiation / outdoor activities contributed to this.

2/3 Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by age of 70
2000 die a year
Costs $512 million health system 2010

Question 10

What is cataracts ?

Answer 10

Eye damage causing loss of transparency in lens of eye leading to cloudy vision / blindsss

Question 11

What factors increasing likelihood of cataracts ?

Answer 11

Ageing process 
Diabetes 
Smoke from cigarettes 
Poor nutrition lack of VA
Exposure to UV

Question 12

Which place has highest incidence of cataracts ?

Answer 12

Australia as that’s where ozone depletion is occurring

Question 13

What environmental factors increase likelihood of cataracts ?

Answer 13

Geographic location - UV levels greater in trips near equator.

Altitude - UV levels greater at higher altitudes.

Time of day - UV greatest from 10-2

Setting - Uv levels greater in open space especially in high reflective areas like snow.

Question 14

Misconceptions about uv

Answer 14

That it isn’t there on hazy / overcast days

Question 15

Reduce chance of getting cataracts ?

Answer 15

Good sunglasses to block harmful rays

Shade

Question 16

Treatment for cataracts ?

Answer 16

Surgery to remove cloudy lens.

Curable

But finished site of millions of people.

Less likely to afford treatment in LICs

Question 17

Direct impacts from climate change ?

Answer 17

More/ intense storms 
Flooding 
High winds 
Warmer temps 
Heat waves 
Drought

Question 18

Health related problems from climate change ?

Answer 18

Water bourne diseases

Epidemics

Famine

Question 19

Few benefits from global warming ?

Answer 19

Fewer winter deaths

Increased food production

Question 20

How many more diseases from climate change ?

Answer 20

Between 2030-2050 they will be 250,000 more deaths from malnutrition , malaria

Question 21

Main risk from heat waves?

Answer 21

Dehydration/ over hearting / heat stroke.

Ill/ elderly / children most likely affected

Question 22

Example of heatwave deaths

Answer 22

France August 2003

High temps lead to 15,000 deaths - mostly older people

Question 23

What issues can heatwaves create ?

Answer 23

Smog

Blue green algae

Odour / dust

Wildfires
Water shortages

Question 24

Smog

Answer 24

High conc of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter

Question 25

Blue green algae

Answer 25

Problems for fish

Toxic algae blooms

Question 26

Where are heatwaves biggest issue ?

Answer 26

Densely pop cities

No rural areas

Question 27

Climate change and cold spells

Answer 27

Although cold spells lead to 25% higher death rate than in summer

Global warming is reducing this