health impacts of global environmental change

population predictions

• the UN updates global population projections through the population division of its department

• most widely used and accepted projections

• calculations surroundings future population growth will need to consider existing and emerging threats

changing attitudes to health

• we have increased understanding of health due to improved technology, education, experiences and research

• even though we are more aware of the risks, we don’t change the behaviour

• rethinking and re establishing opinions and attitudes

ozone and ozone depletion

• the ozone is a naturally occuring layer of gas 15-30km above earth’s surface

• protects the earth from suns harmful radiation

• atmospheric pollution has lead to large holes occurring above the arctic and antarctic

• chlorine and bromine are produced in aerosol sprays, heavy industry usage

• ‘the montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer’ was decided in 1987 that agrees to fade out production of chemicals that destroy the ozone

• signed by 197 states

• estimates ozone will need 50 years to recover

cataracts

• a health condition that causes the lense of the eye to become opaque, resulting in poor vision

• more common in older people

• can lead to blindness

• WHO estimates 12-15 million people become blind from cataracts annually

• 20% may be caused by enhanced UV radiation

• main burden is in Africa, Middle east and South America

skin cancer

• 1/3 of cancers diagnosed is skin cancer

• most common in the uk

• caused by exposure to the sun (UV)

• outdoor working

• family history and age

• being fair-skinned

climate change

• naturally occuring phenomena exacerbated by human actions

• between 2030-50 climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually

• due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea