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

FROM VOLUME 8, NUMBER 5, MAY 1995

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
OF GENERAL INTEREST: HEALTH IMPACTS

Item #d95may19

"Possible Human Health Impacts of a Global Warming," M.C. Nichols (Dept. Geog., Univ. Delaware, Newark DE 19716), L.S. Kalkstein, S. Cheng, World Resour. Rev., 7(1), 77-103, Mar. 1995.

Applied regression and synoptic climatological analysis to the U.S., Canada, China and Egypt, representing developed and developing countries which may be particularly susceptible to global warming and for which detailed mortality data bases were available. Significant increases in heat-related mortality are likely, particularly in developing countries. Certain vector-borne diseases are expected to spread into areas where they do not currently exist. Two of them (onchocerciasis and malaria) have been selected for a detailed international study, the initial phases of which are described. Recommends actions to be taken in anticipation of possible global warming, including developing a weather/health watch/warning system; improvements in public health procedures, vector control and surveillance; and study of additional infectious diseases.

Item #d95may20

"Public Health and Forced Climate Change: Extreme Temperature Exposure and Infectious Disease," R.L. Hayes (Coll. Medicine, Howard Univ., Washington DC 20059), S.T. Hussain, ibid., 63-76.

Analyzed the incidence of selected infectious diseases (whooping cough, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, Lyme disease and malaria) along with climatological data for the year 1895 and for the summer of 1993. Exposure to extreme increased temperature may alter the incidence of certain infectious diseases. Efforts to stabilize climate change may promote public health and reduce the cost of critical care. The threat of climate change should be considered in a national health security plan.

Item #d95may21

"Assessing the Public Health Effects of Global Warming: New and Ongoing International Efforts," J. Patz (Div. Environ. Medicine, John Hopkins Sch. Hygiene & Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Rm. 7041, Baltimore MD 21205), ibid., 104-112.

Discusses the institutional organizations already in place that have begun to assemble the climate research and monitoring programs necessary to assess and possibly mitigate health impacts. The World Health Organization is sponsoring CLIMEDAT, a new database designed to provide a network for international scientists addressing health-related issues.