Archives of the
Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

The articles in this section appeared in The Lancet, Vol. 342, last fall. The first introduces the series, and the next three review the science of climate change, ozone depletion and biodiversity. Bound copies of the entire series, "Health and Climate Change," are available from The Lancet, 42 Bedford Sq., London WC1 3SL, UK; £8.95/$13.50.

"Medicine in a Warmer World," P.R. Epstein (Harvard Med. Sch., Cambridge MA 02139), D. Sharp, 1003-1004, Oct. 23.

"Basic Science of Climate Change," K. Maskell (IPCC, Hadley Ctr. Clim. Prediction, London Rd., Bracknell RG12 2SY, UK), I.M. Mintzer, B.A. Callander, 1027-1031, Oct. 23.

"Biodiversity," A. Dobson (Ecol. & Evolut. Biol., Princeton Univ., Princeton NJ 08544), R. Carper, 1096-1099, Oct. 30.

"Stratospheric Ozone Depletion," S.A. Lloyd (Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel MD 20723), 1156-1158, Nov. 6.

"Ozone Depletion and the Immune System," A. Jeevan, M.L. Kripke (Dept. Immunol., Univ. Texas Cancer Ctr., Houston TX 77030), 1159-1160, Nov. 6. Presents possible mechanisms of UV-B induced immune suppression.

"Marine Ecosystems," P.R. Epstein (Harvard Med. Sch., Cambridge MA 02139), T.E. Ford, R.R. Colwell, 1216-1219, Nov. 13. Impacts of algae overgrowth include increased incidence of waterborne diseases and biotoxins.

"Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis," J.E. Freier (Ctr. Epidemiol. & Animal Health, USDA, 555 S. Howes St., Fort Collins CO 80525), 1281-1282, Nov. 20. Among potential impacts of global warming are greater winter survival of the mosquito larva and greater density of the birds that carry the virus, and shorter incubation periods.

"Vector-Borne Diseases, Models, and Global Change," D.J. Rogers (Dept. Zool., Univ. Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK), M.J. Packer, 1282-1284, Nov. 20. Vectors now confined to the tropics will spread if global warming occurs.

"El Niño-Southern Oscillation [ENSO] and Vector-Borne Disease," N. Nicholls (Bur. Meteor. Res. Ctr., POB 1289K, Melbourne 3001, Australia), 1284-1285, Nov. 20. Change in the behavior of ENSO caused by global warming may be more important than change in the mean climate.

"Food Supply and Risk of Hunger," M.L. Parry (Environ. Change Unit, Univ. Oxford, 1a Mansfield Rd., Oxford OX1 3TB, UK), C. Rosenzweig, 1345-1347, Nov. 27. Presents climate change impact data produced by climate and crop yield models.

"Direct Impacts in Cities," L.S. Kalkstein (Ctr. Clim. Res., Univ. Delaware, Newark DE 19716), 1397-1399, Dec. 4. Looks at a potential increase in heat-related mortality and heat/pollution interactions, and discusses air conditioning as a mitigating factor.

"Critical Regions: A Profile of Honduras," J. Almendares, . . P.R. Epstein (Harvard Med. Sch., Cambridge MA 02139), 1400-1402, Dec. 4. Reports on vector-borne diseases in a country especially vulnerable to climate change and instability.

"Global Health Watch: Monitoring Impacts of Environmental Change," A. Haines (Dept. Primary Health Care, UCLMS, Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NF, UK), P.R. Epstein, A.J. McMichael, 1464-69, Dec. 11. An international panel considers biological, environmental and human health indicators, monitoring data and technologies, organizations involved, information gaps, and a future role for the World Health Organization.