Health Impacts Of Global Env Change Flashcards
Name health impacts of global environmental change ?
Ozone depletion Skin cancer Cataracts Climate change Heatwaves Coldspells
How is the ozone destroyed ?
Chlorofluorocarbons used in things such as refrigerators.
They react with/ destroy ozone molecules
Destruction occurs in late winter/ early spring.
Why is ozone layer important ?
Utilised and filters out much of incoming solar radiation especially damaging shorter wavelength UVR.
What happens if ozone becomes greatly depleted ?
More uv rays reach earths surface.
Serious impacts on humans / flora / fauna.
Skin cancers / cataracts
How is skin cancer caused?
Long term exposure to sun
Short periods of intense exposure and burning.
How does uv create cancer?
Damages dna in skin cells
What type of people most likely to develop skin cancer ?
Affluent people
Elderly
People living in sunnier places
Where is malignant melanoma rates highest ?
According to office for national statistics- SE and SE of England
Which country has highest rates of skin cancer ?
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
What is cataracts ?
Eye damage causing loss of transparency in lens of eye leading to cloudy vision / blindsss
What factors increasing likelihood of cataracts ?
Ageing process Diabetes Smoke from cigarettes Poor nutrition lack of VA Exposure to UV
Which place has highest incidence of cataracts ?
Australia as that’s where ozone depletion is occurring
What environmental factors increase likelihood of cataracts ?
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.
Misconceptions about uv
That it isn’t there on hazy / overcast days
Reduce chance of getting cataracts ?
Good sunglasses to block harmful rays
Shade
Treatment for cataracts ?
Surgery to remove cloudy lens.
Curable
But finished site of millions of people.
Less likely to afford treatment in LICs
Direct impacts from climate change ?
More/ intense storms Flooding High winds Warmer temps Heat waves Drought
Health related problems from climate change ?
Water bourne diseases
Epidemics
Famine
Few benefits from global warming ?
Fewer winter deaths
Increased food production
How many more diseases from climate change ?
Between 2030-2050 they will be 250,000 more deaths from malnutrition , malaria
Main risk from heat waves?
Dehydration/ over hearting / heat stroke.
Ill/ elderly / children most likely affected
Example of heatwave deaths
France August 2003
High temps lead to 15,000 deaths - mostly older people
What issues can heatwaves create ?
Smog
Blue green algae
Odour / dust
Wildfires
Water shortages
Smog
High conc of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter
