Question

Choose 1 of the 4 areas addressed below and discuss: the driver, one possible exposure, a related health outcome and impact :

Vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can carry infective pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, which can be transferred from one host (carrier) to another. The seasonality, distribution, and prevalence of vector-borne diseases are influenced significantly by climate factors, primarily high and low temperature extremes and precipitation patterns. While climate variability and climate change both alter the transmission of vector-borne diseases, they will likely interact with many other factors, including how pathogens adapt and change, the availability of hosts, changing ecosystems and land use, demographics, human behavior, and adaptive capacity. These complex interactions make it difficult to predict the effects of climate change on vector-borne diseases. Across most of the United States, climate change is expected to affect fresh and marine water resources in ways that will increase people’s exposure to water-related contaminants that cause illness. Water-related illnesses include waterborne diseases caused by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Water-related illnesses are also caused by toxins produced by certain harmful algae and cyanobacteria and by chemicals introduced into the environment by human activities. Exposure occurs through ingestion, inhalation, or direct contact with contaminated drinking or recreational water and through consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish. Factors related to climate change—including temperature, precipitation and related runoff, hurricanes, and storm surge—affect the growth, survival, spread, and virulence or toxicity of agents (causes) of water-related illness. Whether or not illness results from exposure to contaminated water, fish, or shellfish is dependent on a complex set of factors, including human behavior and social determinants of health that may affect a person’s exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. A safe and nutritious food supply is a vital component of food security. This chapter focuses on some of the less reported aspects of food security, specifically the impacts of climate change on food safety, nutrition, and distribution. There are two overarching means by which increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and climate change alter safety, nutrition, and distribution of food. The first is associated with rising global temperatures and the subsequent changes in weather patterns and extreme climate events. Current and anticipated changes in climate and the physical environment have consequences for contamination, spoilage, and the disruption of food distribution. The second pathway is through the direct CO2 "fertilization" effect on plant photosynthesis. Higher concentrations of CO2 stimulate growth and carbohydrate production in some plants, but can lower the levels of protein and essential minerals in a number of widely consumed crops, including wheat, rice, and potatoes, with potentially negative implications for human nutrition. Food production is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gasses (GHG). Researcher estimate that about one-third of the GHG released by human are from agricultural productions and transport Mental health consequences of climate change range from minimal stress and distress symptoms to clinical disorders, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidality. Other consequences include effects on the everyday life, perceptions, and experiences of individuals and communities attempting to understand and respond appropriately to climate change and its implications. The mental health and well-being consequences of climate change related impacts rarely occur in isolation, but often interact with other social and environmental stressors. The interactive and cumulative nature of climate change effects on health, mental health, and well-being are critical factors in understanding the overall consequences of climate change on human health.

Answer 1

The Driver:
The driver is the vector who is carrying the infective pathogens like viruses,bacteria and protozoa transferred from one carrier to another..Which cause vector bone disease..Vector like mosquitoes,ticks and fleas..climate changes on vector borne diseases make more effect with water-contamination and cause serious illness..
One possible exposure:
Through ingestion,inhalation and contaminated water,fish and shellfish spread water-borne disease..climate like temperature,hurricanes and storm can produce toxins substance can cause water related disease..These factors affect the human exposures,sensitivity and adoptive capacity.
A related health outcomes:
Due to High Co2 and climate changes it can affect fertilization of plants and green house gases can affect human and agricultural productions..it make health outcome like stress and distress symptoms like anxiety,depressions,post-traumatic distress and suicidality..
Impacts:
climate changes make impact on mental health and well being with isolation,social and environmental stress and human health..