Public health consequences of global climate change. A narrative review
Abstract
Human activities related to the industrialization generated an overall rise of global temperatures with approximately 1 °C since 1880. These increases in temperatures have been accelerating since 1981, with the rate of temperature increase roughly doubling since the 1970s, the average warming rate being of approximately 0.18 °C to 0.20 °C per decade between 1970 to 2015. Even more alarmingly, recent studies indicate that this rate has accelerated to over 0.35 °C per decade since 2015, roughly the double of the previous period. The primarily contributor to the observed extensive climate change is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the effect of which is a significant rise in Earth's surface temperature. Here, we examine the interplay between global warming and climate change, emphasizing their interconnected yet distinct roles. The consequences include extreme weather events, permafrost melting, and biodiversity loss. Most importantly, climate change represents a direct threat for human health. Higher temperatures can produce metabolic imbalances and oxidative stress, that may be responsible for various levels of immunosuppression, increased susceptibility to infections, and ultimately death. Climate change is proven to be associated with increased frequency and emergence of vector-borne diseases, mainly due to significant expansion of the endemic areas for the vectors. It is also related to exacerbation of respiratory, cardiovascular, and infectious…
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