Human Health Issues and Adaptations to Climate Change
Communities adapting to face human health issues for the future
need to examine present risk factors. Managing community health
for changing risk factors increased by a changing climate is
vital. Emergency Measures protocols, communications, and procedures
need to be in place for protection of community health.
Lessons from Walkerton water and respiratory diseases like SARS
should lead to implementation of preventative measures as well
as emergency procedures. Protocols to reduce the number of hospital-caused infections should be reviewed. Prevention and response
measures to extreme heat and/or smog days are continuing health
concerns especially when experiencing increasing temperatures
due to climate change.
Increased temperatures in cities are due to both the
changing climate and the albedo effect in urban heat islands.
The "urban heat island effect" is the tendency of cities
to retain heat by changing the landscape.
Removal of trees; replacement plantings of young trees or smaller
canopy trees; more asphalt and less green space; more buildings
without increased in insulation of glass or wall surfaces, roofs
and vehicles with darker colors - all affect the reflectivity
of the city. The darker the color, the more heat is absorbed
from the sun to be released after sundown.
The urban heat island effect of cities increases the temperatures
beyond those expected for rural areas. This adds to the urgency
of acting now to put in place all reasonable adaptive measures
and to develop plans to reduce emissions. See also Albedo in
Sections 3.2.6 and 3.3.1a for activities.
Extreme Weather Events
Source : H. Hengeveld et al., (2002) Science and Impacts
of Climate Change CD -Presentation Graphics MSC Environment
Canada/ ESS Natural Resources Canada, December
Ice storms and floods have shown that maintenance of water storage
and water quality need precautionary measures now. Heavy precipitation
or thawing events demand separating runoff from sewage lines.
See Peterborough flood July 2004.
Public health workers, home care workers, volunteers for programs
such as Meals on Wheels and Good Neighbours must all work together
and be supported as they care for the elderly in heat stress
and smog days.
Degraded Air Quality
Smog Day Alert - Degraded Urban Air Quality
The orange-tinged brown smog layer in the atmosphere above this
city - as other urban centres - is the result of a mixture of
nitrogen oxides, small particles, and gases reacting with ground
level ozone and ultraviolet light. Most of these emissions are
from vehicles, industry, and fossil fuel power generation. See
also Sulphate and Nitrate graphs in earlier sections and the "Tying
it all Together" figure below.
Increased demand for electricity for air conditioning as a response
to increased summer temperatures of climate change will add to
the mix unless adaptive measures are taken - not by individuals
alone but by all corporations and governments.
Ontario local environmental and economic conditions and public
health infrastructure are the key factors influencing actual
occurrence of disease. Water quality, air quality, disease and
illness are continuing concerns - with the added pressure of
increased temperatures due to climate change.
The number of hospital admissions of those suffering asthma
and other respiratory illnesses rises under conditions of poor air
quality.
ACTIVITY 1
- Research and graph the relationship between hospital admissions
and respiratory conditions in your local hospital and in the
province of Ontario over the last 10 years.
New Diseases
Some new to Ontario diseases such as West Nile virus have been
faced. Announcements were delivered many different ways from
TV spots to mass mailings, to enclosures with household mailings - in
several languages. All information recommended avoidance of dawn
and dusk hours outside and proper applications of insect repellant.
Public awareness of mosquito breeding grounds and encouragement
to remove standing water sources such as birdbaths and old tires
was undertaken. Some communities undertook a pellet delivery
system to runoff basins - timed for effectiveness both in kill
rates and dollars spent. Communities will have to evaluate whether
or not each program is cost effective.
Reducing risk factors for those weakened immune systems of the
young, elderly and those under the added stress of suppressed
immune systems while experiencing higher daily temperatures would
help to reduce total health care costs. Heat Stress Respiratory
admissions graphs indicate there is a relationship. Check also
for another relationship of these statistics - between the distance
from hospital and number of deaths.
Risk factors for those with weaker immune systems such as the
young, elderly and patients with suppressed immune systems under
the added stress of higher daily temperatures need to be addressed.
Measures such as mandatory inoculation of preschoolers and youth
for childhood diseases reduce chances of outbreaks. Inoculation
of the elderly against influenza and pneumonia is needed where
appropriate. Ontario has recently undertaken advertising campaigns
and made vaccines available to encourage individuals to protect
themselves.
Protective vaccines and treatments for the coming outbreaks
need to be under development, for example, anti-malaria research.
The recommendations below are from the scientists and specialists
in these areas as part of the IJC report of 2003.
Source : International Joint Commission (IJC) Climate
Change and Water Quality in the Great Lakes Region. May2003 www.ijc.org
ACTIVITY 2
- Choose one of the above recommendations and carry out
research for actions that have been taken a) in your municipality
b) in Ontario.
Tying it All Together!
Source: Solar UV in our World (2002) ACER, Environment
Canada, Health Canada www.acer-acre.org
ACTIVITY 3
- Reread this section on Human Health and Adaptations for Climate
Change.
- List preventative actions that can be taken by individuals,
by corporations by government to reduce the risks to humans
seen in this diagram.
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