Possible Impact of Climate Change on the Health of the UK Population - Coursework Example

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE HEALTH OF THE UK POPULATION By Location Introduction The environmental condition is directly proportional to the health of human beings. When the environment is clean and stable, people will enjoy good health. The nature’s endowments are in the most natural state, and they cause harm to human health. As a result of human activities like industrialization and deforestation, it has led to the increased greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. The top most gas is the carbon dioxide gas. The increase of these gases has led to the creation of a blanket in the atmosphere. The blanket of the greenhouse gases usually block bouncing of the heat waves from the sun back to the atmosphere. Continuous accumulation of the heat energy makes the atmosphere to have warmer temperatures. It is this blanket of greenhouse gases that leads to global warming. The continuous global warming has led to effects like climate change. The health of human beings is affected negatively by the climate change condition. It is because of the extremes in hot temperatures due to the global warming. UK is experiencing health problems in its population because its geographical location is the temperate regions (McMichael 2003, p. 57). Research has shown that the high temperatures are associated with an outbreak of diseases. Pest and vectors thrive well in regions with a hot climate, and this makes UK population vulnerable to diseases. Also they diseases are easily spread over the population affecting massive numbers of people. Most reports have shown a strong correlation between climate change and health of the UK population. Among many impacts that a country can face, the following are possible impacts of climate change on health of the UK population. Effects of heat waves on health Heat waves are harmful and can cause death. In 2003, UK temperatures recorded 38oC and this was the highest. During this year, more than 2000 people died as a result of the heat wave that was in the country (Kreis & Leornadi 2012, p. 223). The young and the old are more vulnerable to the impacts of the heat wave. They suffer from respiratory problems that may cause the heart to overwork and can lead to a heart failure. The human body needs optimum temperatures for the parts to operate well. Any extremes in the environmental temperatures poses risk on health. Heat is essential for supporting life on earth, but it can become a problem when it is at the extremes. In UK, 30oC during the day and 15oC at night will stimulate an alert in the country. These temperatures will affect human health if they heat the atmosphere for more than 48 hours. The heat waves will bring about dehydration of the body cells due to losing a lot of water through sweating into the atmosphere. People become exhausted so fast because of these high temperatures. Even though the heat wave affects UK population, there are people who are at more risk. These are the elderly who are 75 years and above, the young ones under five years, people with heart challenges and those who have body stroke. Extreme weather conditions Extreme weather conditions that are associated with climate change in UK are floods and drought. Floods are a result of heavy down pours and the drought is as a result of insufficient rainfall. If the greenhouse gases are not reduced, then the risk of extreme weather conditions will be ten times higher by the year 2100. In November 2014, there was a serious flood in York as a result of the extremes of weather and it took away great numbers of human life. Once an overflow occurs, life is lost and the property is destroyed (Cowie 2013, p. 397). There are health issues that are associated with drought and flood is decreased chances of getting foods that are fresh from the market. Lack of fresh food puts the human health at risk. It is as a result of the interruption of the transport systems, hence food is hard to get. Once flooding occurs, the population in the UK is at health risk because the health centres have been interrupted, and the communications systems are insufficient. Many people will suffer from drowning and die. There is emission of the poisonous carbon monoxide by the generators that are used to evacuate the waters. Those who survive from floods can suffer from mental illness due to trauma, and others can have gastrointestinal diseases as a result of swallowing the flood water. The air quality has reduced Reduced air quality poses a significant risk towards the health of people living in California. Lack of quality air in the UK has reduced the life expectancy of the population (Great Britain 2010, p. 144). In UK, in the year 2003, 340,000 deaths were recorded as a result of pollution in the atmosphere. There are impacts of the decreased quality of air that lead to health issues. Researchers have concluded that the warmer temperatures caused by the climate change phenomena have increased the levels of unhealthy at the ozone ground level. The ozone ground level increases the risk of respiratory diseases like damaging of the lungs (Commonwealth 2009, p. 34). Once the lungs have been affected, one can get asthma and chronic diseases can be experienced. In US, there is increased poor quality of air as days go by due to the ozone ground level. There is a change in the particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers. These fine particles are produced through chemical reactions of sulphur dioxide, organic compounds that are volatile and the nitrogen dioxide. Breathing in this kind of air has led to early deaths, and respiratory infections in UK population (Zereini & Wiseman 2010, p. 545). Also when these gases mix with rain water, an acidic solution is made that makes the water unsuitable for drinking. Climate change increases the effects of the particulate matter due to the warmer temperatures. Also, climate change has led to increased allergic substance from the ragweed (Butler 2014, p. 100). Climate-related diseases Diseases and weather conditions have a high correlation. There are diseases that are vulnerable to people during cold climatic conditions and other hot climatic conditions. Due to climate change, UK is experiencing warmer temperatures and hence the population is vulnerable diseases (Evidence 2005, p. 219). Climate change has increased the spread and outbreak of diseases. Food related diseases are associated with warm temperatures in the atmosphere. The salmonella bacteria thrive well in warm climatic conditions. It leads to food poisoning that affects the digestion system. Once you take food infected with the salmonella bacteria, you are likely to suffer from gastrointestinal diseases. Symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea are experiencing (Parry 2007, p. 701). When not quickly attended to, the patient can suffer body dehydration and death follows. Also, when floods occur, it leads to blockage of sewage that will outflow on the land. Sewage material like faecal will contaminate the crops. When people feed on such crops, they will have health problems. There are water related diseases that can affect the UK population. Floods and heavy downpours form a suitable medium of parasites like Cryptosporidium that hibernates in stored drinking water and Giardia parasite too. These organisms cause a health risk to the UK residents once floods occur (Percival, Yates, Williams, Chalmers & Gray 2014, p. 33). Drinking infected water can lead to throat diseases, digestion system infections, and eye and ear infections. Those who suffer most from these diseases are the survivors of floods.It is because they have been significantly exposed to the waterborne vectors, (Percival, Yates, Williams, Chalmers & Gray 2014, p. 261). Ticks can largely be influenced by the climate change in the UK (Hemming 2013, p. 35). They thrive well in warmer climatic conditions. Due to the climate change, the UK is experiencing relatively warmer temperatures with high humidity. But with time, it has raised concerned and it is becoming risky since human health is at stake. Tick population is threatening human health because they carry Lyme infections. Ticks have commonly been found in animals but with the recent climatic conditions, they are attacking human beings. They infect the human body with the Lyme (Gaan 2008, p. 88). The infected person will suffer from headaches, skin rashes, fatigue and fever. Food shortage Availability of food is essential for making people live a healthy life. Due to the climate change, the UK has been experiencing floods and droughts (Hester & Harrison 2010, p. 89). Once floods occur, most of the crops are destroyed, and transport systems are at a standstill. Transporting food to the victims has been a challenge and most of them suffer from hunger. Also during droughts there is no enough water (Great Britain 2010, p. 219). Plants and crops do not perform well in the farms and hence the country experience food shortages. The most vulnerable are the young ones and the elderly people. Reduced water quality When there is a heavy downpour, total stable suspensions in the surface water volume increase. It is because of the power of erosion of the water that is flowing (Dam 2003, p. 16). It reduces the potentiality of the water to use for drinking. Also, the water systems can be damaged during a heavy rainy season cutting the supply of water in some regions in the UK. It exposes people to the risk of drinking contaminated water that will lead to health problems (Watson, Zinyowera & Moss 1997, p. 283). The waterborne diseases spread so fast and can cause deaths of many people in a region. The air pollution has greatly influenced reduced quality of water. It is because the atmospheric gases dissolve in water to form acidic and poisonous solutions that are harmful to human health. The mortality rate of the UK population is increasing at an accelerated rate since the year 2003 (Grossbritannien 2006, p. 30). It is as a result of the increased heat energy in the atmosphere that is the leading killing factor in the UK. Most of the human activities have led to the deterioration of the environment and affecting its stability. There should be measures that should be put in place to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that are leading to climate change, (Hoornweg 2011, p. 174). Industrialization is the leading factor that has contributed much to the global climate change. Most of these effects are being felt by human beings because they are being affected directly health wise. Therefore, there is a need to improve the environment so that the UK population will be saved from the massive numbers of deaths that are being caused by the climate change effects. Clean production technology should be embraced and people to be evacuated from the flood vulnerable areas. Through this, the human health will be saved from the waterborne and vector diseases that affect the human health. Conclusion In the UK, human health is at stake due to the effects of the climate change. If the condition is not alleviated, deaths of people will rise ten times higher by the year 2050. The mortality rate will increase because of the long term exposure to the polluted atmosphere, water pollution and the heat energy waves. Also, deaths will increase due to drought spell that is creeping into the land. The policy makers in the UK should be coming up with practical strategies that will help curb this climate change effects. The residents should also be informed on the state of the environment and be engaged in environmental protection activities. For example, planting trees and use of environmental sources of energy like solar energy (Parry 2007, p. 701). Through this, the health of people will be rescued, and the mortality rate will reduce. When the environment is in good condition, the people will enjoy fresh foods, clean water and clean air. More researchers should be involved so that they can help in decision-making. The best alternatives should be always exploited to save the human health. Climate change is an emerging issue globally and it needs an effective approach that will help change the situation. Bibliography (2005). Evidence. London, Stationery Office. 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