Renew On Line (UK) 32

Extracts from the July-August 2001 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

Climate Change

Government Heath Warning

According to the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Liam Donaldson "If global climate changes continue unchecked there will be an impact on the health of the population of this country. Heat related deaths will increase, particularly in urban areas. Cases of food poisoning will rise. Skin cancer and cataracts would also increase. Other diseases currently found in sub-tropical countries could also increase - such as malaria and some other insect borne diseases".

He was responding to a new report published by the Department of Health and produced by the Expert Group on Climate Change and Health, which was established at the request of Ministers in 1999. See http:// www.doh.gov.uk .

However, not all the effects will be negative - a substantial fall in cold weather deaths in winter could occur - and the report suggests that the NHS should cope well with the impact of climate change, given adequate planning and resources. The report suggest that:

• Cold-related winter deaths are likely to decrease substantially, by perhaps 20,000 p.a. but heat related summer deaths are likely to increase by around 2800 p.a.;
• Cases of food poisoning are likely to increase significantly, by perhaps 10,000 cases per annum;
• Insect-borne diseases may present local problems, but the increase in their overall impact is likely to be small;
• Water-borne diseases may increase, but the overall impact is likely to be small;
• The risk from disasters caused by severe winter gales and coastal flooding is likely to increase;
• In general, the effects of air pollutants on health are likely to decline but the effects of ozone during the summer are likely to increase: several thousand extra deaths and a similar number of hospital admissions may occur each year;
• Cases of skin cancer are likely to increase by up to 5,000 cases per year and cataracts by 2000 cases per year;
• Measures taken to reduce the rate of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions could produce secondary beneficial effects on health.

The report recommends that the Government’s programme on climate change be continued and expanded, particularly the work of the UK Climate Impacts Programme.