TITLE:
Climate change: Impact of increased ultraviolet radiation and water changes on eye health
AUTHORS:
Jyoti Jaggernath, Dominic Haslam, Kovin S. Naidoo
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change; Environment; Eye Diseases; Ultraviolet Radiation; Water Diseases; Human Exposure
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
27,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Global climate change, a significant
addition to the spectrum of environmental health threats, is projected to have
widespread adverse effects on the earth over a multi-decadal time period.
Consequently the planet’s geological, biological and ecological systems,
including human biology
and health are expected to be altered. These effects are set to include an increase in adverse climate and weather events. The developing world carries a
disproportionate burden of health
implications that result from extreme climate and weather events, largely because
they have limited capacity to respond to the cumulative impacts resulting
from climate change. The developed world, however, is not immune to the impacts
of climate change despite being highly industrialised and well serviced. In addition, there are a range of documented health impacts associated
with climatic factors and a growing number of papers theorising how long-term
climate change could impact on health. This article examines literature
on the impact of climate change, specifically ultraviolet and water changes on eye health. Geographic and environmental factors
that influence eye health, such as location and the spread of blindness
causing diseases such as trachoma (bacterial infection of the eye) and
onchocerciasis (parasitic disease in the eye) are also examined. The article
aims to provide valuable information on the impacts of ultraviolet and water
changes that are related to climate change and to propose recommendations
that contribute to public health.