The impact of climate change in Europe on the human health

Klimatske promjene predstavljaju značajan utjecaj na promjene okoliša, flore i faune diljem svijeta. Vidljive su kroz niz različitih pojava koje predstavljaju rastući globalni javnozdravstveni problem te izazov s višestrukim radnim obvezama nužnim za njihovo ublažavanje. Provedenim istraživanjima znanstvenici su izradili projekcije mogućih vremenskih obrazaca u kojim smjerovima će se klimatske promijene nastaviti intenzivirati. Mijenjanje obrazaca utječe na učestalost i različitost u pojavnosti bolesti. Zbog toga što klimatske promijene predstavljaju ozbiljnu prijetnju ljudskome zdravlju postale su jedan od vodećih faktora zdravstvenih problema. Cilj ovog rada jest prikazati utjecaj klimatskih promjena na ljudski organizam i zdravlje čovjeka. Rad razmatra klimatske promjene tijekom godina na području Europe te njihove uzroke. Pojam globalnog zatopljenja čija se vijest ubrzano širila medijskim prostorima uzrokovan je povećanim koncentracijskim emisijama metana (CH4), ugljikovog dioksida (CO2) i dušikovog oksida (N2O) u atmosferi. Zbog pretjeranog izgaranja fosilnih goriva, njihove koncentracije u atmosferi predstavljale su povećanje od 40%, što se odrazilo pojavom ozonskih rupa te učinkom staklenika, odnosno globalnim zatopljenjima. Nadalje se raspravlja o utjecajima i posljedicama tih istih klimatskih promjena koje će se u budućnosti reflektirati na promjene u psihofizičkom statusu osobe u obliku razvijanja različitih vrsta fizičkih (kardioloških, respiratornih) i mentalnih disfunkcija (emocionalne neravnoteže, depresije, anksioznih stanja). Nastavno na navedeno, proučit će se kakve preventivne mjere će pojedinac i društvo poduzeti u okolnostima gdje se brzim i aktivnim djelovanjem trebaju spriječiti posljedice uzrokovane zagađenjem atmosfere i okoliša. Drugi dio rada obrađuje tematiku utjecaja klimatskih promjena na pojavu i širenje zaraznih bolesti uzrokovanih različitim virusima i bakterijama; navedeno uključuje djelovanje novonastalih utjecaja prouzročenih klimatskim promjenama na patogene koji mogu biti izravni (utjecaj na preživljavanje, razmnožavanje te životni ciklus patogena) i neizravni (utjecaj na stanište, okoliš te konkurente patogena). U konačnici će se raspravljati o utjecajima na vektore čija osjetljivost može izravno biti povezana s klimatskim promjenama zbog njihovog nerijetkog izostanka vlastite termoregulacije i putevima prijenosa bolesti. Naposljetku, rad se posvećuje zaraznim bolestima povezanima s klimatskim promjenama, bile one koje se prenose zrakom, hranom, vodom, vektorima, krpeljom, komarcem ili glodavcem, te na ulogu prvostupnika sestrinstva u edukaciji stanovništva o potencijalno mogućim posljedicama globalnog zagrijavanja s imperativom na zdravstvene posljedice. U konačnici se osvrtanjem na zdravstvene implikacije želi podići svijest stanovništva da aktivno sudjeluju u javnim akcijama širenja poruke što bi potaknulo i ostale građane da preispitaju svoje mišljenje i stajalište prema klimatskim promjenama. Prisustvo klimatskih promjena je nemoguće izbjeći zbog čega moramo raditi na načinima sprječavanja ili ublažavanja njihovih posljedica.Climate change undoubtedly has a significant impact on changes in the environment, flora and fauna. This is visible through a number of different phenomena that represent a growing global public health issue and with multiple work commitments necessary to mitigate them. In recent research endeavors, scientists have made projections of possible weather patterns in order to appraise how exactly climate change will continue to intensify. Changing patterns affect the frequency and diversity in the disease incidence; furthermore, as climate change poses a serious threat to human health, it has to be considered one of the leading causes of adverse health. The aim of this thesis was to demonstrate the impact of climate change on the human body and health status of humans. The thesis analyzes climate change over the span of several years in Europe, as well as the underlying causes. Global warming (which was pervasive in the media as a topic) is primarily caused by increased emissions and concentrations of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere. Due to the excessive combustion of fossil fuels, their concentrations in the atmosphere represents an increase of 40%, reflected in the appearance of ozone holes and the greenhouse effect, i.e. global warming. Furthermore, the influences and consequences of these same climate changes are discussed, which in the future will be reflected in changes of the individual’s psychophysical status in the form of different types of physical (cardiac, respiratory) and mental dysfunctions (emotional imbalances, depression, anxiety). In addition to the above, there is a need for specific preventive measures by the individual and society in circumstances where rapid and active action is warranted to prevent the consequences caused by air and environmental pollution. The second part of the thesis consists of topics discussing the impact of climate change on the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases caused by various viral and bacterial agents; this includes the consequent effects of emerging impacts caused by climate change on pathogens that can be direct (impact on survival, reproduction and life cycle of pathogens) as well as indirect (impact on habitat, environment and pathogen competition). Ultimately, the thesis will discuss the impacts on vectors whose susceptibility may be directly related to climate change due to their frequent lack of thermal self-regulation and disease transmission pathways. Finally, the thesis focuses on infectious diseases associated with climate change, regardless of the fact whether they are transmitted by air, food, water, vectors, ticks, mosquitoes or rodents, as well as on the role of Bachelors in Nursing educating on the potential consequences of global warming by concentrating on health consequences in humans. Finally, by looking at the effects of climate and the environment on health implications, the thesis aims to raise awareness of the population to actively participate in public actions to spread the message, which would encourage other citizens to reconsider their opinions and attitudes towards climate change. Climate change is impossible to avoid, which is why we must work on manifold ways to prevent or mitigate their consequences