Global warming threatens the
future and security of humanity and all species struggling to survive the
rapidly changing climate. As humans, we are mostly to blame for the increase in
greenhouse gas emission that has been trapping excess heat in Earth’s atmosphere
and ultimately causing increased temperatures. There are several greenhouse
gases that have been influencing the warming climate and most come from “the
combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories, and electricity production”
along with deforestation (National Geographic). The most detrimental of these
greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. Others, such as methane, are emitted from
landfills and agriculture and nitrous oxide, which are released from
fertilizers and refrigeration and industrial processes. As Earth’s
atmosphere warms, water vapor increases throughout the atmosphere and creates a
positive feedback system
Microorganisms
that cause waterborne disease include include protozoa and bacteria, “many of which are intestinal
parasites, or invade the tissues or circulatory
system through walls of the digestive tract” (Wikipedia.com). Other waterborne
diseases are a result of a viral infection. Our continuing use of these fossil
fuels will increase the risk of infection via waterborne diseases throughout
North America. In fact, “the effects of global climate change are likely to be
most severe” in the Arctic regions of North America (Greer et al., 2008). Climate
change is associated with an increased frequency of heavy rainfall events and
increased temperature, both of which aid in the growth of harmful bacteria in
water sources. Increased frequency of heavy rainfall and extreme weather events
are predicted to increase water-borne gastrointestinal and respiratory
diseases. “Human exposure to water-borne
infections can occur as a result of contact with contaminated drinking water,
recreational water, coastal water, or food. Exposure may be a consequence of
human processes (improper disposal of sewage wastes) or weather events.
Rainfall patterns can influence the transport and dissemination of infectious
agents while temperature can affect their growth and survival” (Patz, 2008). “In
the US for the period 1991 to 1998 there were 230 waterborne outbreaks reported
affecting an estimated 443,000 people” (Craun et al. 2002). “Of 126
drinking-water outbreaks, 109 were reported in public water systems and 17 in
individual water systems. There were also 104 outbreaks associated with
recreational water activities, usually swimming” (Hunter, 2003). The World Health Organization
estimates that climate changes of the past 30 years already claim over
150,000 lives each year.
