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Background Information:
A recent review article in NEJM evaluated what effects globalization and climate change can be expected to have on human health. If global population increases and temperatures continue to rise, diseases that were once limited by either remoteness or climatologic regions may have new geographical spread.
Pertinent Conclusions:
There are three primary ways which climate change may be expected to affect health:
- Primary: Direct biologic consequences (i.e. heat waves, extreme weather events, air pollution)
- Secondary: Risks caused by process changes (i.e. decreased crop yields, tropical vectors with increased spread)
-Tertiary: More diffuse effects (mental health issues in failed farmers, conflict due to scarce water)
Bottom Line:
No matter what your views are on the causes, the current trend is that the overall climate is getting warmer and human population is increasing. Anticipation of possible consequences is key to planning for the future.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH
References
McMichael AJ. Globalization, Climate Change, and Human Health. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:1335-1343.