Health impacts of global environmental change Flashcards
What has the UN estimated the world population will be by 2030?
9 billion
What is ozone depletion caused by?
halogenated chemicals such as chlorofluorcarbons
What are CFC’s used in?
- refrigeration
- insulation
- spray cans
What do CFC’s react with and cause?
the ozone molecule in the extreme cold and polar stratosphere and destroy it
What does the stratospheric ozone layer utilise?
much incoming solar radiation
What happens if the ozone becomes depleted?
more UV rays will reach the earth causing serious impacts on humans, flora and fauna
What are most skin cancers caused by?
long term exposure to the sun or short periods of intense sun exposure/burning
Incident rates of malignant melanoma?
have increased by 5 times since the mid 1970’s
What do risk factors of skin cancer include?
- exposure to UV radiation
- outdoor workers
- fair skinned
- age/family history
- weakened immune system
Why do Australia have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world?
- light skinned population
- tropical latitude
- outdoor activities
Australian facts on skin cancer?
- 2/3 will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age of 70
- 2,000 die of skin cancer each year
- more likely to develop skin cancer than other cancers
- costs the healthcare system AU$512.3 million in 2010
What is a cataract?
a form of eye damage which causes a loss of transparency in the lens leading to cloudiness of vision/blindness
What causes cataracts?
- ageing
- diabetes
- smoke burning fuel wood
- cigarettes
What does the extent of the risk of getting cataracts include?
- location
- altitude
- time of day
- setting
What are UV levels not significantly affected by?
cloud cover as UV is invisible and penetrates clouds
