HUMAN BIOMETEOROLOGY - THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE-CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH -SOME INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS

The objective of this study is to discuss the potential impact of a gl obal warming on various aspects of human health. Changes in heat-relat ed mortality are estimated for four countries: the United States, Cana da, the People's Republic of China and Egypt. In addition, the potenti al confounding impact of increased air pollution is considered. Finall y, a framework to analyze two vector-borne diseases, onchocerciasis an d malaria, which may spread if temperatures increase, is discussed. Ou r findings suggest that heat-related mortality is estimated to rise si gnificantly in all four countries if the earth warms, with the greates t impacts in China and Egypt. The most sensitive areas are those with intense but irregular heat waves. In the United States, air pollution does not appear to impact daily mortality significantly when severe we ather is present, although it seems to have a slight influence when we ather conditions are not stressful.