Health Impacts Of Global Warming And Climate Change

By Rayane Chbouki

As global warming continues to increase over the years, it is a bone of contention not only for biodiversity but also for us as humans. If we keep talking about environmental causes, such as the melting of ice or the increasing aridity, we must also address the consequences on humanity: it is far from a secret to admit that global warming is having a negative impact on our health. We can categorize these consequences into two categories: direct effects and indirect effects.

First of all, excessive increases in heat pose a danger to the body. To avoid overheating, when the temperature exceeds 40°C over several days, blood vessels dilate, breathing and heart rate accelerate, and sweating also increases to cool the body, leading to dehydration. Seniors, households living below the poverty line, ethnic minorities and precarious workers outside are the most exposed to the aftermath of the heat wave.

On top of that, we have the growth and intensification of forest fires, fires that saturate the air with all kinds of other pollutants from the combustion of our manufactured goods, particularly those made of plastic. Short-term and long-term exposure to fumes increases the risk of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and poisoning from polluted food or water. As a result, the resulting inhalation of fumes induces chronic respiratory disorders, and asthma, and weakens the respiratory tract vis-à-vis viruses. The finest particles are the most dangerous because once inhaled, they can enter the respiratory alveoli and pass into the bloodstream.

In addition, floods are very harmful to our health because they are characterized by the contamination of drinking water by dirty water. As a result, these drinking waters become unsuitable for contamination and can be a source of dangerous diseases and viruses. In addition, the storms that result from the encounter of hot and cold air allow pollen production which poses an egregious danger to allergic people, thus exposed, or those suffering from an asthma attack.

We can also speak of indirect, long-term aftermaths that need to be anticipated. Among them is the emergence of new infectious diseases previously foreign to certain areas of the world. Indeed, the melting of the ice threatens to release viruses, and diseases, frozen for thousands or even millions of years, for which humanity is unequivocally not prepared. Also, with rising global temperatures, mosquitoes can survive far away from their geographical origin and their proliferation is immeasurable.

For instance, the tiger mosquito, known for transmitting many diseases, has appeared in metropolitan France since 2004. They thus arouse concern and apprehension among locals who have never before been confronted with certain diseases such as Zika or dengue, originally from the tropics.

According to the World Bank’s Groundswell Report, an estimated 243 million climate refugees are expected in 2050. The displacement of all these people, along with the decrease in food security, would create lasting stress, not to say permanent, a real venom to mental health. To prevent this dystopian-looking future, scientists propose many solutions to mitigate the problems by adapting the health systems in the face of increased respiratory diseases, mental disorders, and pandemics.

As the IPCC so clearly stated on 28 February 2022, “half-measures are no longer an option”.