Journal of Environmental Hydrology
ISSN 1058-3912


Electronic Journal of the International Association for Environmental Hydrology

JEH Volume 16 (2008), Paper 5    Posted January 25, 2008
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH

A.G. Bobba1
R.S. Bobba2

1Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
2Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT
This paper addresses a number of factors relating to climate change and human health. Following an introduction outlining the overarching issues, a short summary is given on climatic change and its anthropogenic causes. The rest of the paper then focuses on the direct and indirect impacts of climatic change on health. Direct effects comprise changes in hygrothermal stress response of humans, atmospheric pollution, water quality and availability. Indirect effects include the potential for the spread of "vector-borne diseases" outside their current range. The paper concludes with some comments on possible response strategies aimed of alleviating the adverse effects of climatic change on human health.

Reference: Bobba, A.G., and R.S. Bobba. 2008. The impacts of climate change on human health. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 16, Paper 5.
CONTACT:
A.G. Bobba
Research Scientist
Environment Canada
Burlington, Ontario
Canada


E-mail: ghosh.bobba@ec.gc.ca



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