Climate change brings health risks, how can we deal with

In Lu Xun's walking street in Tashan Street, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, tourists "cover" all over the body, and sunscreens and parasols are standard. Ling Jian Photo/Guangming Picture

In high temperature weather, the party members of the Liangshan County Power Supply Company of Shandong Province sweat out outdooled, and made every effort to ensure the safety of power supply. Wu Jinghua Photo/Light Picture

At high temperatures for the day, Huaizhong Town, Yongxin County, Ji'an, Jiangxi organized volunteers to send summer supplies to sanitation workers. Photo by Zhou Zhiwei/Guangming Picture

The continuous high temperature weather has led to the rise in production of production and living, and the staff of the Power Supply Company of the Shengshui District of the State Grid of the State Grid is operating outdoors. Shu Jialing Photo/Light Picture

【Medical Master Talk】

Since this summer, the temperature in many places across the country has exceeded historical poles. According to the monitoring and evaluation of the National Climate Center, this year's regional high -temperature event comprehensive intensity has reached the strongest meteorological observation record in 1961, which has the characteristics of long duration, wide range, strong strength, and strong extremes. Healthy events such as heat stroke and thermal irritation caused by high temperature weather frequently set up heat search. In the context of frequent weather, we can't help asking, who is all this "behind -the -scenes pushing hands"?

The sixth evaluation report of the Special Committee of the United Nations Intergovernmental Climate Change (IPCC) pointed out that the global climate system is undergoing significant changes in warming the main characteristics, and the speed of global warming in the past 50 years is unprecedented. At the same time, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather incidents increased significantly, which also led to serious consequences such as glaciers melting and rising sea levels. People have realized that the continuous increase in greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 caused by human activities is an important cause of global warming. In the context of climate change, there is a complex connection between extreme weather, environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity. In addition, the epidemic of new crown pneumonia spreads around the world, and human health is facing huge challenges.

Humans are very sensitive to climate change. The heat waves can induce system diseases such as respiratory and circulation, and even cause premature death; floods can cause water pollution and food shortage, which will cause health risks such as infectious diseases and nutritional deficiency. At the same time, extreme weather events will also bring huge mental and psychological damage to survivors. In the future, climate change is likely to exceed environmental pollution and become the biggest threat to all human health. Under the context of global warming the more frequent weather incidents, the more intense impact, and the widespread influence, how to fully understand the relationship between climate change and health, and effectively cope with the health risks brought by climate change. The severe challenge to be faced in the century.

1. The temperature and health effect in the context of climate change

The main and direct impact of climate change on crowd health is the health effect caused by extreme temperature exposure. China is a sensitive area for global climate change. The heating rate is higher than the global average of the same period. During the period of 1951 to 2021, the average annual temperature in my country rose about 0.26 ° C every 10 years. The temperature is faster than summer, and the heating rate in Qinghai -Tibet is the largest, and North China, Northeast and Northwest are second. In addition to the long -term heating up, climate change has also triggered a more extreme and stronger high -temperature weather incident with a stronger impact on human health -heat waves. In the new century, the frequency and intensity of the heat waves in my country have increased significantly, and high incidence areas have continued to spread in East China and Central China.

Heat waves will not only cause heat stroke, heat irritation and other heat -related diseases, but also increase the risk of disease and death of many diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, and nervous system. When exposed to high temperature, the body temperature regulating center can be adjusted by nerves and body fluids to increase sweat secretion and promote the heat dissipation of the human body. , Thereby intensify cardiovascular burden. The elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and basic diseases are the most affected groups. For example, in Guangzhou's research, the incidence of work injury accidents increased by 1.4%every 1 ° C. In terms of regional differences, the health risks of temperate continental climate areas and temperate monsoon climate areas are far greater than that of the subtropical monsoon climate area.

In the context of global warming, although the temperature in winter will rise, extreme cold waves will also appear. The main reason is that climate change has caused rapid warming in the bipolar regions, the polar vortex reduces the weakening, and the cold air in the polar vortex split southward, which causes a large -scale cold wave in the Asia -Europe and the North American continent. In low temperature environments, the metabolism of human tissues has been strengthened, and the amount of oxygen needs increased, which in turn causes blood vessel contraction, and significantly increases the risk of death of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. A study based on monitoring data based on the death of 272 cities across the country found that low temperatures lead to higher risk of death than high temperature. Climate change can also lead to increased temperature fluctuations in temperature, such as abnormal temperature in the daily, day, season and age. Temperature changes can affect the pathological and physiological reactions of the respiratory epithelial cells at the tissue level, which in turn affects the health of the body. Studies have found that every time the winter temperature changes in my country exceed 1 ° C, the risk of emergency hospitalization of general respiratory diseases, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases by 20%, 15%, and 41%, respectively.

In addition, climate change can also lead to composite extreme temperature events, mainly including high temperature and temperature and humidity composite events day and night. Studies have shown that my country's high temperature incidents have gradually changed from extreme high temperature during the day to night and day and night continuous high temperature events. Compared with simple daytime high temperatures, the continuous high temperature event day and night has a greater impact on the health of the crowd. The complex exposure of extreme temperature and environmental humidity can also bring greater risks to human health. In a high -temperature and high humidity environment, due to the high water vapor content in the air or even saturation, the human body's sweat ability is reduced, and sweating is difficult to evaporate, which makes the human body unable to heat the heat normally, and the body is more likely to produce discomfort and reciprocate. On the contrary, in a low -humidity environment, dry air is more likely to stimulate the human eyes, nose, and throat, which can cause acute attacks on respiratory diseases. 2. The health impact of extreme weather events continues to increase

Climate change has caused the frequency and intensity of extreme weather such as floods, droughts, and typhoons to increase significantly. In recent years, there have been many strong weather events in my country. The floods in the east and southern regions are large and the typhoon has a large intensity and significant extremes. The frequency of meteorological drought in the west and northern regions has increased, and large -scale strong sand and dust weather occurs. Extreme weather events can seriously threaten human survival environment and physical health, which will not only cause direct casualties, but also increase the risk of infectious diseases, non -infectious diseases, and mental and mental diseases. In addition, my country's population base, high population density, complicated climate type, unbalanced socio -economic development, diverse health problems of fragile population, and public health and safety risks caused by extreme weather events have continued to intensify.

Extreme precipitation and the flood disasters caused by it can affect or even destroy infrastructure, change the geographical distribution of the diseased biological groups, cause casualties, and the popularity of the outbreak of infectious diseases. A study based on 254 cities across the country showed that the precipitation of precipitation would significantly increased the risk of premium fever and fever of mouse transmission diseases in my country's temperate, warm temperate and subtropicals. A number of studies in South China also show that the risk of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, influenza, tuberculosis, epidemic meningitis, dengue fever and other infectious diseases after floods have increased significantly.

Droughts can cause shortage and pollution of water resources, causing allergens, dust, and pollutants in the environment to be accumulated for a long time, thereby increasing the incidence of infectious diseases such as insect media, septic mouth, and the risk of respiratory diseases. Under the influence of climate change, the frequent drought and the changes in precipitation mode have increased the popularity and severity of wildfire. Wildfire can affect respiratory diseases through heat damage and smoke exposure, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition, the special weather background formed by drought and high temperature or sandstorm, and sandstorms are one of the most frequent extreme weather events in Northwest China. The dusty dust can damage human skin and respiratory systems, leading to diseases such as bronchitis. In addition, due to the low visibility when sandstorms occur, the risk of accidental damage will be increased.

In recent years, the frequency of strong typhoons and super typhoons has increased significantly. Typhoon and its severe rain, storm trend and other secondary disasters are strong and destructive, which can lead to direct casualties and increase the risk of infectious diseases. Studies in Guangdong have shown that typhoons have led to an increase in residents' mortality, and women, infants, and elderly people are more likely to be affected. Studies in the southeast coastal areas in my country have shown that typhoons have significantly increased the risk of bacterial dysentery, subviation, dengue fever and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Studies in the Pearl River Delta region show that the risk of dengue fever in the affected areas after typhoons has risks significantly. In addition, the typhoon and the following disaster will directly or indirectly affect the mental and mental health of the affected people. For example, the super typhoon Sang Mei causes negative emotions in the Cangnan victims in Zhejiang and stress disorder after trauma.

3. The combination of climate change, air pollution and allergens

The changes in meteorological conditions and the occurrence of extreme weather events will affect the concentration and distribution of air pollutants and gas -derived allergens in the atmosphere. Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the same roots. The combustion of fossil fuel will not only produce a large amount of air pollutants, but also the greenhouse gases will also exacerbate global warming. Climate change can not only affect the concentration of air pollutants in the atmosphere, but also promote optical chemistry The reaction produces secondary pollutants. On the other hand, global warming will extend plant pollen seasons, increase the concentration of pollen in the air, enhance the sensitivity of pollen, and then increase the burden on allergic diseases. Climate change will combine with air pollution and gas -derived allergens, affect the occurrence and popularity of climate -sensitive diseases, and cause complex risks to the health of the crowd.

Extreme incidents such as forest fire and sandstorms will produce more particulate matter, nitride, and sulfide. Meteorological factors will increase the air pollution in the respiratory environment of the crowd's breathing environment by affecting the production, transportation and settlement of air pollutants, and the generation of secondary pollutants. The concentration. High temperature may increase the production of ozone by increasing the main preface concentration of ozone and promoting the production of ozone in optical reactions. Lightning under warm and humid climate will also increase the production of nitrogen oxides. These additional increased air pollution seriously threatened the health of the crowd. The impact of high temperature and air pollution on the health of the population has a synergy effect. The two acts on the human body, which will have a greater health impact, exacerbate the risk of premature death, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and endless pregnancy endings. In addition, the loss of body fluid when the human body is exposed to high temperature will aggravate the bronchial mucosal inflammation caused by air pollutants, reduce the bronchial contraction threshold and more easily induce asthma attacks. Climate change will also directly or indirectly affect the occurrence of allergic diseases through allergens such as pollen, mold, spores. Climate warming will lead to increased frost -free days, so that pollen seasons will be prematurely prolonged, and the increase in greenhouse gases will also stimulate plant growth and breeding. The sensitivity of pollen. In addition, extreme weather such as wind and thunderstorms can lead to higher concentration of allergens in the air and its wider range of communication. For example, the hydrophilic and electrolytic reactions caused by the thunderstorm incident will release more allergens and spores in the air, and drought and heavy winds will spread the air -soluble gums carrying sensitivity. The fine particles with allergens can penetrate the lower respiratory tract of the human body and induce the occurrence of allergic bronchic inflammation. Studies have shown that on the day when the heavy thunderstorms occurred, the concentration of vegetation pollen in the air was as high as 400 capsules per cubic meter, and the number of hospitalizations related to asthma increased by nearly 10 times.

4. Strategy and action to deal with the risk of climate change

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the response to climate change and adopted positive actions, including formulating emergency plans to respond to different disasters such as floods and typhoons. Some cities have established early warning of climate -sensitive diseases, such as the monitoring and early warning system of dengue fever in Guangdong Province. In the future, my country urgently needs to establish a public health system with climate recovery, so as to effectively respond to the impact and pressure related to climate change, and continue to improve the health level of the crowd. For example, the recently released "National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035", for the evaluation of the health risks and adaptive capabilities of climate change in the field of health and public health, strengthen monitoring, early warning and prevention and control of climate -sensitive diseases, enhance the climate toughness of the medical and health system climate toughness And comprehensively promote the adaptation of climate change and health adaptation.

Scientific research is the prerequisite for fully understanding the risk of climate change. my country is still in its infancy, and it is urgent to carry out more in -depth research. Relevant scientific research units should carry out scientific research on climate change health risks, evaluate the current and future climate change health risks, identify climate -sensitive diseases and fragile people. The health department needs to strengthen the close cooperation with the meteorological department to achieve real -time sharing of relevant data resources, and establish a healthy meteorological online database system, and carry out monitoring and predictions on infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and mental and mental diseases. In addition, government departments and scientific research institutions should also carry out popular science education through various forms to enhance the public's cognitive level of impact on climate change, provide high -temperature weather health guidelines, and scientific knowledge on how to properly cope with and self -rescue in the encounter.

Establishing a early warning system for climate change and health risks is an important measure to respond to the impact of climate change health. my country needs to continuously improve the capacity of meteorological science and technology, strengthen the linkage and data sharing of various departments, further develop and improve the prediction model and technology of various time -scale climate change health risks, and establish an early warning system for climate -sensitive diseases, including predicting local weather and identification Extreme weather, determine specific risk trigger thresholds, early warning signal release and dissemination, risk communication, and action recommendations to form a public health emergency response and risk management decision -making method for public health and extreme events. For example, the early early warning system of high temperature heat waves and health risks was piloted, and information based on meteorological or climate predictions was posted to the public to remind the decision makers and health related departments to formulate emergency plans and treatment methods. The mortality and incidence of heat -related diseases.

In view of the high attention of the public and society on health, the government urgently needs to incorporate health into the climate decision -making process, and fully consider the potential impact and synergies of climate policies and action strategies on the health of the crowd, so as to formulate more cost -effective and socially acceptable technical routes Essence From a personal point of view, citizens should strengthen environmental consciousness and form a moderate, green low -carbon, civilized and healthy lifestyle and consumer model. In short, in the face of the severe situation of global warming, we should deepen the correct understanding of the concepts of human destiny community, ecological civilization construction and sustainable development, and promote the development of society in the direction of sustainable use of global resources, human and natural harmony and symbiosis. Essence

(Author: Huang Cunrui, a professor at the School of Public Health and Health of Tsinghua University, Professor of Public Health and Health, Chief Scientist of National Key R & D Plan Project)

- END -