Climate Change and Health Chapter 2 Quiz

Course Information

• University: Wollo University
• College: College of Medicine and Health Science
• Department: Environmental Health
• Module: Ecology and pollution management
• Course Code: EnvH3143
• Course Title: Climate Change and Health
• Year: III
• Semester: II
• ECTS/CHrs: 2/1

Chapter Two: Effects of Climate Change on Public Health

• Students will be able to identify and explain the effects of climate change on human health.
• Students will evaluate the relationship between climate change-related weather events and their impact on public health.
• Students will describe the fundamentals of epidemiology in relation to climate change and disease propagation.
• Students will identify vulnerability of different populations to climate change-related health impacts.

Climate Change and Global Health

• Climate change poses significant challenges for both developed and developing countries.
• The impacts of climate change on health are diverse, including direct and indirect effects on physical and mental well-being.
• Vulnerable populations (children, elderly, those with pre-existing conditions) are at particular risk.
• Climate change creates new health risks.
• Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.
• Climate change has far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human health.

Effects of Climate Change on Public Health

• Climate change has a wide-ranging impact on public health.
• Impacts include rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and increased frequency/intensity of extreme weather events.
• These changes have implications for ecosystems, food production, water resources, and human health.

Effect of Climate Change on Human Health

• Direct effects: immediate and observable impacts due to changes in climatic conditions; directly linked to temperature changes, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events.
• Direct effects have consequences for ecosystems, infrastructure, and human health.

Heat-related Illnesses

• Rising temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses (heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration).
• During heat waves, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and heat exhaustion, escalating to heatstroke if not managed properly.

Extreme Weather Events

• Climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events (hurricanes, floods, wildfires).
• These events cause injuries, fatalities, and displacement, leading to immediate health risks.

Vector-borne Diseases

• Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns influence the distribution and behavior of disease-carrying vectors (mosquitoes and ticks).
• Climate change impacts the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne diseases.
• Example: As temperatures increase, mosquitoes carrying dengue fever and malaria expand their range, increasing transmission risk in previously unaffected regions.

Air Pollution-Related Illnesses

• Climate change can worsen air quality, increasing pollutant levels (particulate matter, ground-level ozone).
• Exposure to poor air quality can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other related conditions.

Allergies and Respiratory Disorders

• Climate change increases allergies and respiratory disorders (asthma, hay fever).
• Mechanisms include:
  • Lengthening of pollen seasons: warmer temperatures cause plants to release pollen earlier and extend the pollen season, increasing allergic reactions.
  • Expansion of allergenic plants: climate change affects the distribution and growth of pollen-producing plants, exposing larger populations to higher allergen concentrations.
  • Increased pollen production: elevated CO2 levels stimulate plant growth and increase pollen production.
• Experimental research shows that doubling CO2 levels can induce a four-fold increase in ragweed pollen production.

Indirect Effects

• Secondary impacts as a result of direct effects.
• Broader and more complex, occurring through a chain of events.
• Climate change impacts health through effects on ecosystems, social systems, and human behavior.

Waterborne Diseases

• Changes in precipitation patterns and water availability affect water quality and increase the risk of waterborne diseases.
• Example: Heavy rainfall and flooding can contaminate water sources and spread diseases, such as cholera and diarrhea.

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

• Climate change affects agricultural patterns, resulting in crop failures, reduced food production, and increased food insecurity.
• Droughts and extreme weather events reduce crop yields, disrupt food supplies, and result in malnutrition in vulnerable communities.

Mental Health Issues

• Climate change-related events (natural disasters, displacement) can have significant psychological impacts.
• Example: Loss of homes, livelihoods, and trauma from extreme weather events lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.

Economic Disruptions

• Climate change-related events cause significant disruptions to economies, particularly in vulnerable regions dependent on climate-sensitive industries (agriculture, tourism).
• Coastal communities are especially impacted by sea-level rise, erosion and destruction of natural attractions.

Climate Change-Related Weather Events Affect Health

• Have immediate consequences and long-term health effects.
• Examples include heat waves, hurricanes, and floods

Immediate Consequences

• Heat waves: prolonged period of excessively hot weather with high temperatures significantly above average.
• Individuals are susceptible to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration.
• Heat exhaustion: occurs when the body becomes overheated due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate fluid replacement.
• Heatstroke: severe and potentially life-threatening; body's temperature regulation system fails, causing body temperature to rise to dangerous levels; results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially when combined with high humidity and physical exertion.
• Dehydration: condition in which the body loses more fluids than it takes in, due to excessive sweating, insufficient fluid intake, and prolonged exposure to heat.
• Consequences include increased thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, dark-colored urine, dry skin, confusion and rapid heartbeat in severe cases.

Long-Term Health Effects

• Respiratory conditions: climate change-related events worsen air quality and increase respiratory conditions (asthma, allergies). Exposure to pollutants and allergens contribute to chronic respiratory diseases.
• Example: Persistent exposure to air pollution from wildfires can lead to long-term respiratory issues and respiratory-related hospitalizations.
• Mental health issues: climate change-related events (extreme weather, displacement) have lasting psychological impacts.
• Individuals may experience PTSD, anxiety, depression among other mental health issues due to loss of homes, livelihoods, and social support systems.
• Recurrent flooding or hurricanes may result in declining mental well-being with increased rates of anxiety and depression.
• Infectious diseases: climate change affects the distribution and prevalence of infectious diseases due to changes in temperature, humidity, precipitation affecting habitat and behavior of disease vectors (mosquitoes, ticks).
• Example: Expanding geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, as climate change expands the geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, previously unaffected regions may experience outbreaks of diseases like dengue fever, leading in long-term health consequences for affected populations.

Epidemiology Fundamentals

• Study of patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations.
• Plays a crucial role in understanding relationships between climate change and public health.
• Climate change epidemiology focuses on the relationship between climate, weather, and disease propagation.
• Epidemiological studies use surveillance to monitor individuals, groups, or environments, gather information, assess risk factors, and conduct vulnerability analysis.

Epidemiological Concepts related to Climate Change

• Climate Change as an Exposure: Epidemiology examines how climate change impacts population health; investigates how temperature, precipitation, extreme weather events, etc. influence human health outcomes, including incidence/prevalence.
• Health Outcomes: Epidemiology assesses various health outcomes linked to climate change; these include heat-related illnesses, respiratory conditions, vector-borne diseases, mental health challenges.
• Exposure-Response Relationships: establishes relationships between climate exposure and health outcomes (including how temperature/precipitation influence the risk/severity of specific health conditions); assists in identifying vulnerable populations and development of targeted interventions.
• Vulnerability and Susceptibility: Epidemiological research examines vulnerability and susceptibility of populations to climate-related health impacts; investigates factors such as age, pre-existing conditions, socio-economic status, and access to healthcare.
• Surveillance and Monitoring: Epidemiology establishes surveillance systems to track climate change-related health impacts including occurrence/distribution of health outcomes and effectiveness evaluation of interventions.
• Risk Assessment: Epidemiology quantifies potential health risks associated with climate change; integrates data about exposure, vulnerability, and health outcomes to estimate likelihood/magnitude of adverse health effects; supports evidence-based decision-making and prioritization of resources.
• Intervention and Prevention: Epidemiology informs the development and evaluation of interventions and prevention strategies including heat wave response plans, early warning systems, vaccinations/adaptations; assesses effectiveness of interventions to mitigate climate-related health impacts.

How Climate and Weather Affect Disease Propagation

• Climate and weather have significant roles in disease propagation, and their impact on factors such as survival/transmission of pathogens; behavior of disease vectors; and vulnerability of human populations.
• Waterborne diseases are influenced by water availability, quality, and temperature, affecting pathogen survival/transmission.
• Airborne diseases are impacted by climate factors such as wind patterns, temperature, and humidity, affecting the dispersion and viability of infectious agents.
• Temperature: pathogens are sensitive to temperature changes; cold weather may prolong survival of certain pathogens, leading to increased disease transmission during winter months. Warmer temperatures may accelerate pathogen replication and disease progression.

Vulnerability and Strategies for Resilience

• Certain populations (children, elderly, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities) are more vulnerable to climate change health impacts; factors include age, pre-existing conditions, socioeconomic factors, and access to healthcare.
• Climate change affects social/environmental determinants of health, including issues concerning clean air, safe water, sufficient food, and secure shelter.

This quiz focuses on Chapter Two of the Climate Change and Health course, highlighting the effects of climate change on public health. Students will explore the relationship between climate-related weather events and health impacts, alongside fundamentals of epidemiology. Prepare to assess population vulnerability to these health challenges effectively.