The Impact of Global Warming on Human Health

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When one hears the phrase “global warming,” what often comes to mind is melting ice caps and warmer winters but most people are horribly unaware of the effects that global warming will have on human health. Food shortages, contaminated water, extreme weather, and deadly heat threaten the world because of the warming temperatures of our earth. The effects of these can be seen today and their influence will be magnified in the not-so-distant future. But the most dangerous threat we face from global warming is the spread of disease. The term global warming refers to an unnatural and accelerated increase in temperature. These increases are mostly due to the release of heat trapping gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons, and ozone. Almost all of these are byproducts of human commerce and activity. Things like car emissions, raising livestock, producing industrial chemicals and even deforestation add more of these chemicals to our air, throwing off the natural balance of our atmosphere (Berger 30). The mean temperature on Earth has risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit since the industrial revolution. It has been predicted that the climate could increase about 2.2 to 10 degrees in the next 100 years (EPA 2 0f 2). This data is supported by countless satellites, weather studies, oceanic studies and computer models of world wide climate patterns and this warming is inevitable (Shute et al 44). When doing global warming research one must be cautious, because the biggest source of misinformation on global warming is the fossil fuel companies who will have you believe that global warming and it’s ill effects are nothing but scientific hype. These ruthless companies go to great lengths to ensure that their business will... ... middle of paper ... ...Health.” Futurist 26.2 (1992): 34-38. Shute, Nancy et al. “The Weather Turns Wild Global warming could cause droughts, disease, and political upheaval.” US News and World Report 5 Feb. 2001: 44-52. Sierra Club. 11 March 2003 . Other Works “Green House Effects.” Time Dec. 1999: 78-9 Global Warming International Center. 11 Nov. 2001. 11 Mar. 2003 . “Global Warming Disease Scares Are Based on Hype, Not Science, Notes Lancet Letter.” Consumer Alert. Apr. 1998. 11 Mar 2003 . Kaiser, Jocely. “NAS backs study of health, global change.” Science. 269.5231 (1995): 1659. Last, John M. “New causes for new diseases.” World Health. 50.1 (1997): 12-13.

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