Environmental Health and Health Effects of Environmental Change

Introduction

Climate change has steadily increased the number of deaths per year. Extreme weather

events such as frequent heavy rains, heat waves, storms and hurricanes, and rising temperatures

affect health’s social and economic determinants. For instance, Europe has been experiencing

severe heat waves recently. These climate change impacts threaten health and safety by affecting

air quality, safe drinking water, and shelter and food security. They also alter the spread of

diseases, increasing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, injuries, and premature deaths.

According to WHO (2021), climate change is expected to cause 250 000 more deaths yearly

between 2030 and 2050. Therefore, environmental disruptions are associated with various health

effects threatening humanity worldwide.

Environmental Factors that Impact Health

Air pollution is the biggest human health threat in the 21st century. Climate change is the

primary driver of worsening air quality. There is growing evidence that air quality is

deteriorating and causing additional deaths yearly (Ingraham, 2019). Fossil fuel combustion

produces large amounts of carbon emissions, causing environmental and human health problems.

The increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration coupled with warming temperatures

have led to increased allergens and harmful hair pollutants.

Short and long-term exposure to air pollutants has been associated with various health

conditions, including increased respiratory diseases, lung diseases, hospitalization and

emergency visits for strokes, heart attacks, and premature deaths. One-third of all deaths from

stroke, heart, and lung disease are attributed to air pollution (WHO, 2018). Inhaling air pollutants

such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and ozone penetrates