Health and Disease (Confronting Global Warming)

Cover......Page 1
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
Natural Factors Cause Some of Earth’s Warming and Cooling......Page 12
The Role of Scientists in Climate Observation and Projection......Page 13
Long-Term Warming May Bring About Extreme Changes Worldwide......Page 15
Strategies for Confronting Climate Change......Page 16
Why Global Warming Is Alarming......Page 19
Human Health and Global Warming: A Complex Relationship......Page 20
The Health Threats of Heat and Drought......Page 21
Extreme Weather: Hurricanes and Floods......Page 22
The Health Threats of Air Pollution and Infectious Disease......Page 24
Food and Water: Access and Safety......Page 27
The Health Effects of Rising Sea Levels and Melting Ice......Page 28
Notes......Page 30
The Effects of Extreme Temperatures on Human Health......Page 32
Severe Heat Waves Are Increasing......Page 33
Heat Waves and Human Mortality and Morbidity......Page 35
The Danger of Heat Waves and the Urban Heat Island for Aging Populations......Page 37
Mitigating the Dangers of Extreme Heat Events......Page 39
Notes......Page 40
Drought and Desertification: Threats to Health......Page 41
Drought: The Precursor to Malnutrition and Famine......Page 46
Drought, Dust Storms, and Health......Page 47
Global Warming, Drought, and Wildfires......Page 48
Coping with the Effects of Drought, Aridity, and Wildfires......Page 50
Notes......Page 52
4. Extreme Weather and Health: Hurricanes and Floods......Page 53
Direct Threats to Health from Extreme Weather......Page 54
Indirect Threats to Health from Extreme Weather......Page 56
Water Contamination and Shortages......Page 58
Long-Lasting Health Effects of Extreme Weather......Page 59
Mental Health Suffers Because of Extreme Weather......Page 60
Preventing the Most Serious Health Risks......Page 62
Notes......Page 63
Global Warming and Air Quality......Page 65
Ozone: Friend and Foe......Page 66
Ozone Is a Serious Threat to Health......Page 67
Smog and Air Quality......Page 69
Particulate Matter: Sources and Spread......Page 71
The Health Effects of Smog and Particulate Pollution......Page 72
Aero-Allergens and Health......Page 73
Life’s Breath: Air Quality in a Warming World......Page 76
Mitigating Harmful Effects......Page 77
Notes......Page 78
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Illnesses......Page 79
An Increase in Water-Borne and Food-Borne Diseases......Page 83
An Increase in Fungal Diseases......Page 86
Global Warming and Forced Migration......Page 87
The Debate over Global Warming and Infectious Diseases......Page 88
Notes......Page 90
Food Availability and Access......Page 91
Food, Health, and Disease......Page 94
The Controversy over Genetically Modified Food......Page 95
The Soaring Demand for Water......Page 98
Coping Strategies for a Thirsty World......Page 99
Food and Water Safety in a Warming World......Page 101
Notes......Page 102
8. Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels: Impacts on Health......Page 104
Projecting Global Sea Rise......Page 105
The Past Offers a Clue to the Present......Page 107
Coastal Areas Are Densely Populated and at Risk......Page 108
The Health Risks of Seawater Incursion......Page 109
Losing Homes to Rising Seas......Page 110
Rising Sea Levels, Melting Ice, and Indigenous Arctic Peoples......Page 112
Coping with Rising Seas......Page 114
Notes......Page 115
9. The Impact of Global Warming on Health: Conclusion......Page 117
The Young and the Old Are at Risk......Page 118
Poor People and Poor Countries Suffer the Most......Page 119
Mitigation and Adaptation......Page 121
Notes......Page 122
Glossary......Page 123
Books......Page 127
Periodicals......Page 129
Internet Sources......Page 131
Web Sites......Page 132
Index......Page 134
About the Author......Page 145
Back Cover......Page 146