MARK D TITLE Global Changes in Climate and Health AUTHOR Dragana Stojisavljević, MD Prof. Miroslava Kristoforović-IlićProf. MD, PhD, ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE (incl. fax and email) KEYWORDS Assistant Dragana Stojisavljević Institute of Public Health, Medical Faculty Banjaluka Jovana Ducica 1, 51000 Banjaluka Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina Tel. +387 51 216 509; Fax +387 51 216 510 E-mail: dada.bl@inecco.net and Prof. Miroslava Kristoforović-IlićProf. MD, PhD, Institute of Public Health Novi Sad, Medical Faculty Novi Sad Futoska 121, 21000 Novi Sad, FR Yugoslavia Tel. +381 21 42 22 55; Fax +381 21 61 39 83 E-mail: kristof@eunet.yu climate changes, health, effects of climate changes on human health Postgraduates students and the public health professionals should be familiar with different types of climate, climatic elements and their individual influence on human health (direct and indirect), environmental, agriculture, trade and tourism. Man's different discoveries, some considered to be of historic importance (i.e. discovery of freon) had a strong impact on climate changes. Increased urbanisation, population migration, need for opening new jobs, development of industry and agriculture, and ruthless deforestation have brought about LEARNING OBJECTIVES changes in global climate. (expected outcomes) The student should be at the end of this topic familiar with: - different types of climate - climate elements - relationship between man-climate - air pollution and climate changes-"Greenhouse gases" - legislation of air quality controllig, and definition of standards for air pollutants according to WHO recommendations - climate factors' effects on human health 1 SYNOPSIS This topics covers: - climate, microclimate, urban climate, man and climate - climatic elements and their influence on health - indirect effects climate on human health - NEHAP CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1. Microclimate 1.2. Urban climate 2. Man and climate 3. Climatic elements and their individual influence on human health 3.1. Air temperature 3.1.1. The influence of air temperature on human organism 3.1.2. Health effects of high temperatures 3.1.3. Health effects of low temperatures 3.2. Air pressure 3.2.1. Health effects of high atmospheric pressure 3.2.2. Health effects of low atmospheric pressure 3.3. Air humidity 3.4. Air movement 3.5. Indirect effects of climatic factors on human health 4. Conclusions and directions 5. References The teaching method recommended by the author is: TEACHING METHODS SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS work in the small groups (5 students) discussion about problem within each group decide about the best way for considering of problem the discussion among groups presentation of work each group Read this document and find artical with similar text in your country (data about temperature, pressure, movement, humidity, cloudiness and precipitation). Find in your country data abaut direct and indirect effects of climate changes on human health write on a seminar abaut problem which you are considering Written or oral test (type of examination) 2 Global Changes in Climate and Health Stojisavljević Dragana Ass.1, Kristoforović-Ilić Miroslava Prof. Dr.2 1. Introduction The climate of one place is characterized by the regime of climatic types, which includes the moving in, staying, and replacing of an air mass by a new, physically and chemically different, air mass. The climate of one region is defined on the basis of longterm observations of climatic elements, such as: temperature, air humidity, cloudiness, duration of solar insolation, precipitation, wind direction, frequency and velocity. On the basis of climatic elements, general climatology distinguishes seven major climate regions: equatorial, two tropical, two temperate and two polar. Between them there are also six transitive types. 1.1. Microclimate Microclimate is the climate of a small site, in the air two meters above the ground. It's mainly influenced by the local relief, flora, as well as by the water surface. The differences in microclimate are bigger in clear and calm weather, and less distinct in windy and cloudy weather. 1.2. Urban climate Urban climate is significantly different from the climate of the surrounding area. A city has lots of buildings, large concrete and asphalt surfaces, few green surfaces, heavy traffic, developed industry, etc. With more industrial plants and without adequate filters at the sources of air pollution, with adequate weather conditions (presence of temperature inversions) that last longer in the air, a cloud of pollutants is formed over the city, gathering beneath the inversive layer, blocking the penetration of radiation and preventing the vertical movement of air, which leads to impaired health (as described in some cities in Europe and America). Together with the above-mentioned factors the particles of air pollutants can increase the condensation of water vapor causing increased precipitation, which can also be very harmful (acid rains), depending on the emitted fumes, which again, directly or indirectly, affects human health, i.e. toxic fog or smog in big cities. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, the average annual temperatures are higher in urban surroundings, both in winter and summer, than in the surrounding areas. The air humidity is lower and air movement is slower inside than outside the city. We often find big climatic differences from one town to another, which is due to geographical characteristics and general city planning. The cities with more green surfaces, broader streets, big squares with fountains, lying on a river or a lake, have a more favorable climate. With regard to an increased migration of the population to urban areas, which has been the case in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the last decade, heavier traffic and a great number of old vehicles, petrol of varying quality, different industrial plants, it is of great importance to put an emphasis on the importance of air conditions and less air pollution. EPA warns that the global climate changes are caused by the accumulation of «Greenhouse gases» in the lower layers of the atmosphere. Together with deforestation the above-mentioned activities of man are the main causes of this increase. USEPA informs that since the industrial revolution the concentration of the following «greenhouse» gases has increased: CO2=+30%, methane=+100%, NOx=+15%. It is assumed that the concentration of these gases will have doubled by 2060 in comparison to the preindustrial level of concentration. Many of these gases remain in the atmosphere for a long time. With regard to these changes WHO argues that the global average 3 temperature will rise by 1.5-3.5 degrees C, which, due to the melting of glaciers, will bring about the rising of the sea level from 15 to 95 cm in the year 2100, thus changing the width of the geographic zones by 150-550 km. The emission (EPA; IPCC, 1995) of CO2 is to be 250% higher by the end of the century than it was in the beginning. Table 1 illustrates the expected changes in the concentration of some pollutants that make the «greenhouse gases» phenomenon (USEPA) Table 1. The illustration of the expected changes in the concentration of some pollutants that are part of the «Greenhouse gases» phenomenon (USEPA) Concentration in the preindustrial era Concentration in 1994 Assessment of the change in concentration1 Atmospheric life – expressed in years Legend: CO2 CH4 N2O 280 ppmv 700 ppbv 275 ppbv 358 ppmv 1720 ppbv 312 ppbv/2 1,5 ppmv/god 10 ppbv/god 0,8 ppbv/god 50-200* 12** 120 1 time when changes take place expected on the basis of the data taken in 1992-1993 *individual lifetime of CO2 cannot be determined owing to different assessments conditioned by different processes **defined as time regulation which takes place owing to indirect effects of methane during its lifetime 2 2. Man and climate Climatic changes, such as the rise and drop of temperature, have occurred on our planet throughout its geologic history. The effect of climate changes on human health has been a matter of special interest since it was first brought up in the First Assessment Report of IPCCU in 1992. The Second Assessment Report ( Mc Michel et al.1996) designed a special chapter on health. At the same time WHO, WMO and UNEP together formed a working group, which started working on the first large-scale assessment of the effects of climate changes on human health (WHO, WMO, UNEP, 1996). The Third Assessment Report of IPCC (published in 2001) deals with the influence of the environment on the health of the whole population. Man’s different discoveries, some considered to be of historic importance (i.e. discovery of freon) had a strong impact on climate changes. Increased urbanization, population migration, need for opening new jobs, development of industry and agriculture, and ruthless deforestation have brought about changes in global climate. The global effects of air pollution are brought into a direct relationship with climate changes on earth. It is assumed that airborne particles can disperse sun’s rays, thus decreasing insolation. Man burns enormous quantities of fossil fuels, which releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide and water into the atmosphere. A long-term observation of carbon dioxide points to an increase in its concentration even in the atmosphere of the Antarctic. The problem is that this could cause the “greenhouse” effect with an increase in average annual temperature, the melting of snow in Polar Regions, as well as long periods of drought on earth. Bioclimatology is a science that deals with the influence of the external environment on men and other living beings. It includes the elements of physics, meteorology, biology and medicine. Climate can have both direct and indirect influence on human health: 4 The direct influence of climate on man’s health was described in many books and bioclimatology is well acquainted with it. Today, it is often talked about when speaking of global changes, especially in urban surroundings. Epidemiological studies have proved that physiological functions of a healthy organism are under the influence of climatic factors on both daily and seasonal bases (body temperature, glycemia, the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes is higher during the second half of the day). Different seasonal variations in physiological functions within cardiovascular, neurovegetative and endocrine system (meteothropic disorders) have been found. In spring, there are more cardiovascular disorders, especially thromboembolic states, neurosis, psychosis, ulcer cases, even tuberculosis fatalities. Many allergens are present in the air during a certain time of the year (spring, late summer), so different allergic reactions are season conditioned. A great number of infective diseases are seasonal, which is influenced by the virulence of the causative agent, organism immunity and lifestyle. 5 3. Climatic elements and their individual influence on human health The basic climatic elements that determine the weather and climate of one region are: solar radiation, (insolation), air temperature, air pressure, air movement (winds). air humidity, cloudiness and precipitation. All these elements are interrelated and interdependent. In the further text we’ll discuss the direct and indirect influence of individual factors on human health. Figure 1. Direct and indirect influence of climatic elements on human health Heat/Cold Temper atur e Humidity Wind Radiation Infr ar ed Light UV Air pollution Par ticles Liquids Gases Noise 3.1. Air temperature The atmosphere absorbs only 15% of solar radiation, so it receives very little heat in this way. Land and water surfaces absorb the greatest part of solar thermic energy and thus get warm. At the same time these surfaces start emitting the heat, so the air is warmed from the ground upwards. Air temperature is a thermic condition of air measured by thermometers and expressed mainly in Celsius, Kelvin, and Fahrenheit thermometric scale. 3.1.1. The influence of air temperature on human organism Body temperature is regulated by complex thermoregulatory mechanisms ranging from 36.1 to 37.5 degrees C. The human organism emits heat by physical methods of thermoregulation, which are: heat radiation around 45%, convection and conduction, evaporation around 25% of heat. All the mentioned physical methods of heat emission are greatly influenced by the microclimatic conditions of one’s surroundings. The chemical form of thermoregulation is controlled by the thermoregulation center in the hypothalamus. The change of air temperature causes a change in the intensity of oxidative processes in the human body. In lower temperatures the oxidative processes are intensified and temperature is preserved by way of vasoconstriction, whereas in higher temperatures the process is reversed. 3.1.2 Health effects of high temperatures High temperature, together with other microclimatic factors, can have the following effects on health: Heatstroke – caused by impaired thermoregulation. 6 Cardiovascular disorder – which manifests as hypotension and tachycardia, caused by a big loss of water and electrolytes through sweating. Heat spasms, which can ensue due to the prolongation of the previous state or in very hostile microclimatic conditions together with hard physical labor and a lack of adequate rehydration. Gastrointestinal disorders, due to a quick intake of too much water when the organism has been exposed to high temperatures, which leads to hypoacidity followed by loss of appetite and dyspepsia. Functional changes in the central nervous system manifesting as loss of concentration, fatigue, sleepiness, decreased attention, precision and reflex responses of the organism. Thermic exhaustion – thermic collapse resulting in fatigue, dizziness, tachycardia, due to the inability of the organism to overcome the hypovolemia as a result of a big loss of fluid. Sunstroke is the outcome of a direct head exposure to sun’s rays. The pathogenesis of this disorder is characterized by vasodilatation in the head region and brain edema. The symptoms develop acutely: headache, vomiting, tachycardia, hypertension, loss of consciousness and spasms. A chronic exposure of the organism to high environment temperatures can lead to urolithiasis. A chronic exposure to high temperatures and direct solar radiation can lead to different forms of skin cancer, which, due to greater frequency in certain parts of the world, attracts more and more attention. Figure 2. Demonstration of high temperature effects on KVS in some USA cities. 200 NEW Y ORK NEW ORLEA NS 100 90 80 70 60 50 CHICA GO 40 Average number of deaths f rom K V I (log) 30 SA N FRA NCISCO 20 M I NNEA POLI S 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 DA LL A S ATLA NTA M EM PHIS 3 2 1 -20 -29 0 -18 20 -7 40 4 60 16 80 27 100 F 38 C Average daily temperature 7 3.1.3 Health effects of low temperatures Human organism shivers in its reflex reaction to low temperature, which is a reflex defense mechanism at the start of exposure. This involuntary activity is enhanced by conscious activities: stamping, hopping, etc. Vasoconstriction is another reaction, followed by raised blood pressure and increased activity of the anterior pituitary lobe, adrenal and thyroid gland so that the redox processes in the body can be increased up to 57 times. Under the influence of low temperatures thermic emission usually occurs at the uncovered body parts (hands, nose, ears) by way of convection and conduction. Low temperature makes cells less motile, causes the formation of transudates and, due to stagnation, enhances the development of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, low temperature causes leukopenia with decreased phagocytic capacity of leukocytes, which accounts for more frequent infections of respiratory tracts in winter months. Elderly people and small children are the most vulnerable category. Frostbites – form at the exposed parts of the body due to decreased blood circulation. They can be of 1st and 2nd degree when reversible and of 3rd and 4th degree when the tissue is permanently damaged or has even become gangrenous. Trench foot – it was named after the place where it’s usually found – trenches. This phenomenon is caused by multiple factors – low temperature, increased air humidity, lack of movement, tight footwear. In the beginning the changes resemble frostbites of 1st and 2nd degree, but later the changes become irreversible with the onset of stasis, edema and foot gangrene. 3.2. Air pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted on all surfaces by the atmosphere. It’s expressed in millibars. It decreases in higher altitudes and when temperature and relative air humidity increase, and increases below the sea level and when temperature and relative air humidity drop. Atmospheric pressure acts on man mechanically – it is exerted on the surface of the body, and is also partially exerted by some gases. An increase in pressure in cold weather suits healthy people and they feel full of energy. But such weather conditions don’t suit those with hypertension, angina pectoris, atherosclerosis and serious lung diseases. As opposed to the above-mentioned, when the air pressure drops in cloudy weather, the increase in temperature and air humidity has a negative effect on the health of those suffering from hypotension, anemia, chronic bronchitis and asthma. In those with neurovegetative disorders negative effects are present in both cases. 3.2.1 Health effects of high atmospheric pressure High atmospheric pressure acts by the high pressure mechanism itself, mechanically causing dented tympanic membrane, pain, hearing problems, faster pulse and breathing. Professional scuba divers and caisson workers can develop caisson disease – Decompression Syndrome. 3.2.2 Health effects of low atmospheric pressure When atmospheric pressure is decreased there is a proportional decrease in the partial pressure of the gases that make up the normal composition of the air. Human organism is most sensitive to the drop of partial oxygen pressure, which manifests in deeper and faster breathing; the heart volume per minute is increased, there is a mobilization of blood from 8 the storages and faster erythropoiesis. This phenomenon is made use of when sending children or anemic, weak, exhausted patients into the mountains for recovery, or for the training of athletes. 3.3. Air humidity Air humidity means the presence of water vapor in the air due to the evaporating of water from the land and sea. The evaporating speed is determined by the air temperature and the velocity of air movement. Increased air humidity is a favorable condition for the development of microorganism. If increased air humidity is followed by low temperatures and faster air movement, the human body feels colder. If temperature is high and there is no movement of air, increased humidity prevents heat emission and leads to the overheating of the body. Decreased humidity is also harmful to the human body – the skin and mucous surfaces become dry and chapped and are prone to infections. 3.4 Air movement Air moves due to the difference in air pressure, which depends on the air temperature and the relief. The horizontally directed movement of air in the atmosphere from anticyclone towards cyclone is called wind. The wind rose is a diagram showing for a given place the frequency of winds over a shorter or longer period. The wind rose is of special importance when it comes to the planning and zoning of urban places, i.e. the making of general and detailed urbanistic plans, which has become more significant for urban areas in modern times as regards the global climate changes. Besides the horizontal movement of air (winds), it can also move vertically – air turbulence, caused by the difference of air temperature on the ground and in the higher atmospheric layers. This movement is especially important for urban and industrial areas because pollutants move from lower to higher atmospheric layers, directly influencing microclimatic changes. Some winds can have a depressive, irritating effect on human organism, causing headaches, insomnia and decreased working capacity. 3.5. Indirect effects of climatic factors on human health So far we have been dealing mainly with direct effects of climatic factors on human health. As far as indirect effects are concerned, we’ll be dealing with agricultural, socioeconomic, political and environmental aspects, as well as with the source and development of certain vector transmittable diseases. 9 Figure 3. A diagram of climatic factors’ effects on human health Termic shock Nutricion H U M A N Food production Organic diseases Fishery Agriculture Urban areas Air heating Vectors Allergic disorders r tal Allergens Vector caused diseases Chronic diseases mo Forests Moist soils and The forming of pollen Infectuous diseases i ty C H A N G E S i ty Reproduction effects mo r bi d C L I M A T E When speaking of indirect effects of climate changes on human health through agriculture, we speak of the effects of various climatic factors that reduce agricultural crops (long droughts, rain periods, floods, increased humidity). A shortage of necessary food and drinkable water leads to malnutrition and famine, which in turn leads to the second segment of indirect effects of climatic factors on human health – the socioeconomic segment. It brings about the migration of population, which are looking for food and water, leading in turn to the third segment of indirect effects – the diseases transmitted by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks). In the past different populations were protected against vectors of infectious diseases and crop pests. Today, the global interconnection, overpopulation and the frequency of international traveling make the separation of risk factors impossible (e.g. a dangerous carrier of Aedes albopictus disease was brought into the USA in a cargo of car tires coming from the East Asia and spread all over the continent, four different serotypes of virus, each from a different geographic range, are now distributed all around the world). Vectors are sensitive to high temperature and increased humidity, floods and winds, i.e. climatic changes. Human influence on such diseases is enormous. There is a great danger of the distribution of these diseases to the areas that have never been affected but have weather conditions similar to those regions they come from. Malaria is one of the most serious and complicated public health problems, and is consider today as a disease most likely to appear due to climatic changes (WHO, WMO; UNEP, 1996). Countries facing the greatest risk of malaria are the countries touching the edges of the countries with the permanent distribution of malaria and the countries with a failed program for malaria control (The Central Asia and East Europe). It is important to mention dengue, an infectious disease caused by an arbovirus and transmitted by mosquitoes. More than half of the world’s population live in places that are at risk of this infection and 100 million new cases is reported every year (RigauPerez et al. 1998). First of all, dengue is a disease of urban areas in tropical countries with considerable demographic changes. The migration of population from rural areas to cities and towns has resulted in the spreading of urban areas and a lack of adequate housing and water supply systems. These are ideal conditions for the development of vectors (Gubler and Clark, 1995). Schistosomiasis is caused by flat worms whose intermediate host is a small water snail. The prevalence of this disease is increasing all around the world due to the developing of irrigation systems in the warm regions with a population of snails as human parasite transmitters of the disease. 10 4. Conclusions and directions: The primary aim of adaptation to climatic changes is to reduce the development of a disease, its consequences, the accompanying disabiliti es, pain and fatality. Many effects of climatic changes, including health effects, can be reduced or avoided by different adaptations (Mac Iver and Klein, 1999). The mechanisms of adaptation include different sectors: healthcare, water supplies, education, agriculture, purchase and sale, tourism, transportation, development. Not having these aspects in mind, the improvement of public health is going to be an extremely hard job. The primary and secondary adaptation measures, a strategy of adaptation based on cooperation between similar and different sectors are all necessary for the reduction of the effects that climatic changes have on human health. In these areas it is necessary to monitor the course of climatic changes and make predictions of possible consequences for human health accordingly. The more data we have on potential climatic changes the better we can prepare for the future events. These preparations should be aimed at the reduction of those human activities that have been proved as a potential threat to climatic conditions and human health under certain circumstances. By examining the quality of the soil, as part of agricultural research, and with the help of the data about climatic tendencies, it is possible to plan which crops can be grown successfully in the given area. By keeping track of certain vectors, adequate measures can be taken to prevent their spreading and adequate immunization campaigns can be conducted. As part of general urbanistic plans in city developments, the esthetic aspect should be of great concern (more green surfaces and vegetation), new codes of practice and design standards should be introduced for building. Educational programs should include instructions for the population on how to protect themselves from natural disasters and how to protect and improve (prevent pollution) their environment. A list of polluters should be made and penalties imposed on them unless they take the necessary measures to stop the emission of harmful gases. The principles of the trash disposal strategy are to be strictly followed. The population is to be informed through media about the tendencies of climatic changes and their possible effects on their health. As part of scientific research there should be a monitoring of the course of climatic changes, diseases and vector control. 11 Recommended readings: 1. WHO (2000) Climate change and human health: Impact RESOURCES recommended readings et al.) and adaptation. Prepared by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization, European Centre for Environment and Health Roma, Protection of the Human Environment Geneva. R. Sari Kovats Bettina Menne Anthony J. McMichael Carlos Corvalan Roberto Bertollini. 2. WHO: Health 21: the impact for all policy framework for the WHO Europen Region, Europen Health for All Series; No. 6, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, 1999., 64112. 3. WHO: The World Health Report 1998.: Life in the 21st century A vision for all, Report of the Director-General, Geneva, 1998., 124-126. 5. References 1. Gubler DJ and Clark GG (1995) Dengue and haemoralgic fever: the emergence of a global health problem. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 1:55-57 REFERENCES (as in I-JPHE: alphabetic order, citation in the text by first author and year) 2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1996) Summary for policymakers: scientific-technical analyses of impacts, adaptations, and mitigation of climate change. In: Watson RT, Zinyowera MC and Moss RH (eds.) Climate change 1995— impacts, adaptations and mitigation of climate change: scientific-technical analyses. Contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp.1-18. 3. MacIver DC and Klein RJT (eds.) (1999) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Workshop on Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change: Methodological Issues. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 4 (3-4):189-361. 4. McMichael AJ, Ando M, Carcavallo R, et al. (1996) Human population health. In: Watson RT, Zinyowera MC and Moss RH (eds.) Climate change 1995— impacts, adaptations and mitigation of climate change: scientific-technical analyses. Contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 561-584. 5. Rigau-Perez JG, Clark GG, et al. (1998) Dengue and haemorrhagic fever. Lancet, 352:971-977. 6. Vajagić L. : Klima u Kristoforović-Ilić M. i saradnici (1998) Komunalna higijena, Prometej, Novi Sad, 162173. 7. WHO/WMO/UNEP (1996) Climate change and human health: an assessment prepared by a Task Group on behalf of the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations Environment Programme. McMichael AJ, Haines A, Slooff R, and Kovats S, eds. Geneva, WHO 12 (WHO/EHG/96.7). 8. WHO (2000) Climate change and human health: Impact and adaptation. Prepared by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization, European Centre for Environment and Health Roma, Protection of the Human Environment Geneva. R. Sari Kovats Bettina Menne Anthony J. McMichael Carlos Corvalan Roberto Bertollini. EVALUATION OF UNIT BY STUDENTS (student questionnaire) 13