In the throes of climate change, the delicate balance between human activities and the environment teeters on the edge, unleashing severe repercussions on global health. This essay probes the intricate connections between atmospheric shifts and human well-being, dissecting the multifaceted impact of climate change and the urban heat island phenomenon. From rising global sea levels to the surge in carbon dioxide levels, the essay navigates the nexus of environmental alterations and human health risks. Unveiling the urban heat island’s sway, it explores the mechanisms driving cities to become thermal hotspots and the subsequent implications on weather patterns. The escalation of heatwaves, intensified rain showers, and the surge in pollutants all contribute to a dire forecast for human and animal life. Drawing on scientific projections, the study forewarns of escalating ground-level ozone concentrations, particulate matter, extreme weather events, and the pervasive threat to public health.
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Assessment Name: Assessment 1 (A short essay on a critical issue)
“Effects of Climate Change and Urban Heat on Human Health”
In the current times, there is an increased conflict between human activities with environment or
climate which has resulted in significant adverse effects. Species are protected with all necessary
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elements which include water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. In recent times, there has been an
evolution of the atmospheric/environmental quality influenced by domination and progressive
destruction altitude by a human on nature. Research indicates that some process in the
atmosphere like weather and fluctuation of climate for a long-term do affect people's health.
Researchers in bio-meteorological define the term meteor tropism as being organisms change
which has direct correlation with the change in the atmospheric conditions (Henderson-Sellers &
McGuffie 2011).
Ocean warming accounts for 93% of the extra heat stored, while 3% warm the land, another 3 %
melts the ice or glaciers while the remaining percentage warms the atmosphere. However, in
current times, there have been significant changes characterized by rise in the global average sea
levels as well as the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There many factors that may
intensify health risk and include air pollutants emissions mainly from activities involving
anthropogenic in the atmosphere as well as increased temperatures exposure lead by the urban
heat islands.
Urban heat island is one of the consequences of climatic change as a result of pollution. Typically
the cities tend to be warmer than the surrounding rural areas and differences in temperatures
ranging from 3-6 degree Celsius. Due to this warmth cities are referred to be having urban heat
island, which is mainly brought by the difference in loss and gain of energy between towns and
rural areas. As a result of specific factors in urban areas, cities do experience less evaporative
cooling, and its do contribute to higher average temperatures in the air. Some of the factors that
do contribute to this include waste heat from buildings, increased urban water runoff, cars
exhaust and industrial waste, micro scale, and boundary layer and many others. Mainly cities
appear like constructed impermeable substances like concrete onto which heat is conducted more
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efficiently than in vegetation (McMichael et al. 2003). The concept is better understood through
the greenhouse effect caused by the presence of higher levels of CO2 and other greenhouse
gasses in the atmosphere than normal creating a layer that concentrates the heat on the earth
increasing warming effects.
Urban heat island has a severe impact on the local weather pattern. This is mainly through the
creation of motion of thermal induction which does produce instability; activated condensation
nuclei are commonly produced and the last production of low-level turbulence which induces mix
in the urban boundary layer. Island heat has also enhanced rain showers intensity and frequency.
As the city grows, the effect of urban heat island does tend to expand which do increase the
chances of more frequent heat waves and pollution episodes. Currently, heatwaves are becoming
more intense, lasting longer and occurring more often. It’s also projected that the conditions will
worsen in the future with heatwaves being more frequent and cities becoming hotter affecting the
overall human and animal life in the earth.
The statistics show varying pollutant concentrations, population characteristic, weather
conditions and the public health policies (McMichael et al. 2003). The studies show evidence of a
direct correlation between pollution and mortality of human. Extreme heats also causes heat
stroke, heat cramps, and syncope, and it is exacerbates many health conditions which are pre-
existing. Those whole are at higher risk in the population include elderly and infants, those on a
particular medication and people with pre-existing illness especially if they reside in cities.
Several factors are necessary for protection purposes which include the ability to avoid exposures
and low-rise building accommodations. Some cities in North America and Europe have
developed and implemented hot weather response plans in the efforts of preventing heat-related
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illnesses and deaths. Air pollution advisories are also numerous in the cities; however, most are
separate from heat advisories (Dinda 2016).
Climatic changes do affect breathing air for both indoors and outdoors. Shifting weather patterns
and warm temperatures do worsen the quality of air and may lead to asthma and attacks by other
respiratory effects as well as cardiovascular problems. Fires in the wildlife are expected to be
severe and continue if the change in climate continues as it is right now and will create unhealthy
pollutants and smoke which is harmful to life. When carbon dioxide rises to high levels, warm
temperatures are experienced as well as affect airborne allergens e.g. ragweed pollen. It will also
influence the change in rainfall patterns as well as increasing periods of droughts which will
become more frequent increasing the health risks to humans.
According to scientists, they project that warm temperatures due to climatic change shall have a
high rate of frequency of ground level ozone which is a pollutant and very harmful namely smog.
As a result of this, those people who are exposed to high concentrations of ground-level ozone
significant risk to die premature death hospital admission due to respiratory health problems
(Henderson-Sellers & McGuffie 2011). There other effects of ground level ozone which include
damaging of lung tissues, and reduced lung functions which can lead to asthma or other lungs
health problems. Those who are at high risk are children, elderly people, outdoor workers and
asthma patients. If ozone is highly concentrated, it can result in thousands of respiratory and
related illness and premature deaths in every year if no change in air quality policies in most of
the affected countries (McMichael et al. 2003). Mortality rate will also increase as the current
rates of temperature continue to rise causing bleaching. Besides, the world will continue
experiencing increased flooding frequency as the rate of emissions increase leading to an increase
in the number of related deaths and losses. Hence, increased carbon emissions translate to
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temperature rise and a reduction in fossil fuel resources and reserves increasing more global
problems.
There are usually small particles and liquid droplets that get suspended in the atmosphere. This
fine particle is called particulate matter and is caused by human activities like fossil burning in
the production of energy; other occurs naturally through sea spray, wild fires, and dust. Emission
of these particles can either be directly or happens by chemical reaction of gasses like nitrogen
dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and organic compounds. Inhalation of this particulate matter can lead to
cancer problems, cardiovascular health issue, and chronic obstruction pulmonary (COPD)
(Henderson-Sellers & McGuffie 2011). Senior citizens are very sensitive to exposure to
particulate matter. It is not precisely known if the climatic change will increase the levels of
particulate matter in the atmosphere. The only way to remove particulate matter is by avoiding air
pollution or through rainfall (Dinda 2016).
The increase in the severity of extreme weather conditions like flooding, particulate matters,
drought, and storms is a threat to people’s health. Those individuals who are highly at risk are
people with medical conditions, elderly, children, physically challenged people and the have-
nots. In extreme cases, human life can be affected in some ways including, lack of safe food and
drinking water availability. Disruption of accessibility to health facilities like hospitals and
pharmacies due to the destruction of bridges and roads by floods. During the storms, people use
electric generators improperly which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. High intestine and
stomach illness is another effect. Lastly, the extreme condition worsens the mental health
problems, depression & post-trauma stress disorder (Bartlett & International Institute for
Environment and Development 2008). The harsh weather conditions are also bound to increase
the probability of fire in the forests increasing the risks of losing forests or vegetation’s.
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Climatic changes can affect the spread of waterborne diseases and the exposures side of it.
Through changes of temperatures in water makes the presence of vibrio bacteria and toxic algae
produce. When there is runoff and flooding, water is contaminated primarily in lakes, beaches,
and rivers as well as sources of drinking water which transmit waterborne diseases like typhoid
(Norman 2010).
Exposure to high heat leads to dehydration and respiratory diseases as well. Policies should be
put in place to regulate the climatic pollution and necessary measures taken for any violation.
Renewable gasses should be used for the domestic purpose as well as commercial. Solar panels
should be put in place to promote renewable energy. Planting of trees as many helps in absorption
of carbon dioxide in the air and purification pf air. If all necessary measures are taken, we can
avoid the upcoming calamity of humanity health. Conclusively, human actions have developed
negative impact on climate consequently affecting their health in various affects. Continued
exposure to harsh weather conditions promotes adverse health effects such as high heat. In this
regard, there is need to establish policies to reduce the level of emissions in order to safeguard the
population against the associated risks.