research paper

Global Warming and Human Health

Nouf Alshahri

Mr. Elliot

3/6/17

Global Warming and Human Health

Introduction

Human health refers to the state of soberness in terms of the mind, the body and the soul. The world health organization has defined health as the state of the body being free from illnesses or injuries. Environment on the other hand, is the immediate environment of the human being which affects all aspects in life. The environment is in control of the healthy and unhealthy environment and thus can moderate on the effects on the health of the human beings. One of the environmental factors that affect the human health to a great extent is the global warming (Martens, 2014). Global warming is the rise of the atmospheric temperatures above the optimal levels and thus affecting the human operations.

Global warming has significant effects of the health of human beings. For example, through poor air quality, natural disasters, allergens and other possible nuisances, spreading diseases and also extreme heat human health is tampered. The combination if the pollution from the plants, warm air, and sunlight develops another ozone layer that is on a lower level as compared to the normal one. In this case, it means that the air remains in the atmosphere and is not released to higher levels. In this manner, the air becomes polluted and when inhaled, it causes respiratory related illnesses.

Natural disaster – increased global warming also brings about effects that cause natural disaster and thus endangering the health and safety of humans. For example, the increased and long droughts, increases the chances of forest fires and therefore engendering the life of the population as well as the firefighters. Also, the increased temperatures in the ocean increase the chances of tropical hurricanes as well as floods through raising sea levels.

Allergens and other nuisances- high temperatures as well as the increased concentrations of the carbon dioxide, accelerate the growth and maturity of some plants which thus produces potential allergens (Change., 2014). For example, the ragweed grows more with increased temperatures and the carbon dioxide. In this manner, the allergy related illnesses increase with the global warming. The human health is affected and thus productivity in general will be below normal levels.

Spreading diseases- increased temperatures are proofed to be a conducive environment for the disease vectors as well as growth and their spreading. Also, warm water bodies’ means great outbreak of diseases such as cholera. Additionally, the insect that had been sent away by the cold winters come back with the increased temperatures and are observed to be moving towards the poles.

References

Change., I. P. (2014). Climate Change 2014–Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Regional Aspects. Cambridge University Press.

Martens, P. (2014). Health and climate change: modelling the impacts of global warming and ozone depletion. Routledge.