Global warming, greenhouse effect and impact on human life
Global warming, greenhouse effect and impact on human life
Adeola Joseph, USER ID (adeola28)
Student of Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Research (APGDPHR), James
Lind Institute, INDIA
The objective of this paper is to explain global warming, greenhouse effect and the ways
global warming impact human life.
Greenhouse gases and Global warming it would be impossible1. However, if the
Global warming generally describes the greenhouse effect continues to be stronger, it
process of steady heating of Earth's could make the earth warmer than normal, and
atmosphere and surface, a net effect of actions this may cause problems for humans, plants,
of greenhouse gases1. and animals2.
Certain gases (water vapour, carbon Some human activities like the production
dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, etc.) form a and consumption of fossil fuels, deforestation
blanket in the earth’s atmosphere through and many industrial activities have led to this
which sunlight reaches the earth's surface and increase in the concentration of some
some of its energy is absorbed by land, water, greenhouse gases14.
and the biosphere and the rest is sent back into
the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes Impacts of global warming on human life
back into space, but much remains trapped in Increases in concentrations of atmospheric
the atmosphere by these gases causing our greenhouse gases have led to a popular
world to heat up2. These gases are referred to phenomenon called “Climate Change”1. This
as greenhouse gases, and without them, all the term is often used to refer generally to the
energy from the sunlight would escape back adverse consequences of rising global
into outer space2. temperature1. Changes in regional climates
could have other severe natural and societal
Greenhouse effect and climate alteration impact, some of which are already
This refers to the rise in temperature that manifesting2456.
the earth experiences due to activities of
greenhouse gases2. The existence of Impact on water resources
greenhouse effect is what keeps the average Water levels in many regions would drop
global temperature from being too low for the due to increased evaporation and this could
earth to be habitable1. cause torrential rainfalls, thereby increasing
The word “greenhouse effect” was first the chances of flooding47.
used in the late 1800s merely to term the Sea levels have already risen; glaciers
naturally occurring activities of trace gases in retreats are taking place often, and the Arctic
the atmosphere1. It was not until mid-1950s Circle is shrinking4. Rising sea levels could
that the term became associated with concern lead to more frequent coastal flooding.
over climate alterations1. The concerns are Between 1870 and 2000, sea level increased
linked to the potential impacts of an increase by an average of 1.7 millimetres per year, for a
in the concentration of greenhouse gases, total sea level rise of 221 millimetres4.
particularly carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and The increase in flooding occurrence as
methane, in the atmosphere to unsafe levels3. well as damage to water and sewage
It is important to remember that without infrastructure could further enhance water
the greenhouse effect, life on earth as we know bodies’ contamination8 and pollution4.
1
Global warming, greenhouse effect and impact on human life
Storms and droughts will generally Changes in infectious diseases distribution
increase in severity with changes in and outbreaks are associated with temperature
precipitation patterns4. Hurricanes intensity extremes11. For instance, if global temperature
may increase due to warmer ocean surface increases by 2-3°C, the population at risk of
temperatures4. malaria could increase by 3-5%12.
Heat waves leads to increases in mortality
Impact on agriculture and nutrition rates9. Patients with chronic diseases such as
Food production is threatened by hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and
prolonged periods of drought or excessive obesity are more vulnerable to drastic
rainfall9, thus global warming increases the temperature changes. Hospitalization of
risk of crop failures4. asthma patients increases during extreme heat
Higher temperatures may also facilitate and precipitation periods9. There is an upsurge
deforestation, wildfires and loss of in incidence of urolithiasis during hot seasons,
biodiversity, which could all lead to soil and this is associated with increases in kidney
aridity and degradation9. stone incidence in hotter climates9.
Introduction of new vectors, pathogens Frequent flooding events increase the risk
and hosts would increase the need for of microbiological water pollution as well as
pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture 9. Such transmission of water-borne pathogens and
rate could increase toxicity of these substances bacterial growth9. The increase in sea surface
which may accumulate in the food chain, temperature and sea level has resulted in a rise
pollute ground water resources, and could be in water-borne infections and toxin-related
easily spread through the atmosphere9. illnesses such as cholera and shellfish
The loss of crops or livestock has an poisoning11.
immediate consequence on the nutritional
status of humans, causing malnutrition, under- References
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Global warming, greenhouse effect and impact on human life
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