Global Warming: Implications on Public Health Essay -- Climate Change,

Theories of global warming surfaced in the nineties as the decade proved to be the warmest on record. Since then, nations have come together to attempt to reverse the effects, if that is at all possible. Some refused and some have made great strides in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions hoping that this will lead a reversal in the direction of the temperature pattern. Many nations have a great stake in the future of the World’s climate, as it is the dictator of our very existence. The nations with the most stake in threats of sea level rising and destructive weather tend to be those whose economies are already weak or teetering. Haughty nations with vast resources such as the United States have a little more time to relax. However, new projections of disease vectors, driven by warm weather, finding their way into temperate climates of the economic giants. Diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and cholera which usually spare the Americas could be moving North. Cases of such diseases are popping up as far north as New York and Canada striking fear and genuine concern. Models have lead to projections of potential outbreaks of such diseases in industrialized nations. Many say that a warm climate could be what makes the difference. Others still fear not a plague resulting from global climate change and rest assured that industrialized nations are protected by modern conveniences such as advanced medicine, sanitation, and proper housing. Both sides have valid points and credible scientists supporting them. This paper will detail both sides of the argument citing evidence of those who see disaster on the way and those who downgrade the threat to just hype. Introduction Global ... ...mperate regions global warming foster spread of disease into other regions.† World Disease Weekly Plus 23 Mar 1998: 11-12. Kocin, Paul J., Graf, Daniel H. and Gartner, William E. â€Å"Snow. (snowfall records in the US) (Cover Story).† Weatherwise 12 Feb 1995: 24-29. Meyer, Tara. â€Å"Disease, climate experts debate effects of global warming on health.† AP Online 10 Mar 1998: PG. Morris, Kelly. Global-warming predictions may not always be what they seem. Lancet 350 (9094) (1998): 1825. Reiter, Paul. â€Å"Don’t Blame the Heat.† The New Scientist 6 Feb 1999. PG. Simon, Tamar. â€Å"Canadian malaria cases on the rise.† Discovery Channel Canada 25 May 1998: PG. Taubes, Gary. â€Å"GLOBAL WARMING: Apocalypse Not.† Science 7 Nov 1997: PG. Wilton, Peter. â€Å" Malaria may be on move to `tropical' Canada.† CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 158 (2) (1998): 160.