Climate change and human health

How far can air pollution travel from its source?

Around the world

Is air quality in the U.S. better or worse on average than it was 20 years ago?

Better

Which of the following activities contributes the most to carbon emissions globally?

Energy Supply (According to the IPCC energy supply contributes over a quarter (25.9%) of carbon emissions followed by industry (19.4%), forestry (17.4 %), agriculture (13.5%), transport (13.1%), residential and commercial buildings (7.9%), waste and wastewater (2.8%).)

US is a signatory country and has also ratified the Kyoto Protocol

False

In global climate projection, heat waves are projected to be likely to be

It is very likely that heat waves will be more intense, more frequent and longer lasting in a future warmer climate

The world's first agreement between nations to cut greenhouse-gas emissions is called

Kyoto protocol

Different foods have different impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Which food(s) below have the worst carbon footprint?

Lamb is the highest while vegetables and fruits are among the lowest

What are aerosols?

Minute particles suspended in the atmosphere. Aerosols range in size from smaller than the smallest virus to about the diameter of a human hair and can remain aloft anywhere from a few days to years.

Which statement below is NOT correct?

New technologies and inexpensive energy made it possible to irrigate large areas with groundwater, which is unsustainable

The indirect health impacts from extreme weather events

The indirect health impacts from extreme weather events: Can be less observable, Can take time to develop, May reflect a loss of access to critical resources, Can result from disruption to routines

Serious effects of global warming have become evident

True

Which statement below is not correct?

Urbanized populations are well equipped to deal with climate change

Under changing climate conditions, extreme weather events and changes in temperature and precipitation patterns are anticipated to

chronic problem

How many °C increase is projected to occur in winter in the northernmost parts of Alaska and Canada?

10 (The largest warming is projected to occur in winter over northern parts of Alaska and Canada, reaching 10°C in the northernmost parts, due to the positive feedback from a reduced period of snow cover.)

For how long do dust and soot generally remain in the air?

10 days

People have been concerned about the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the result of human activity, since what period of time?

19th Century

How high will the sea rise if the Arctic and western shelf of the Antarctic melt away?

20 ft

Increasing temperatures from climate change are causing ticks that carry Lyme disease to become active earlier in the year and expand their distribution north. How many cases of Lyme disease per year are reported in the United States on average?

30,500 (Changing conditions could make disease-carrying pests (such as ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas) more common. Climate change could also allow these pests to move into new regions or survive for a longer part of the year. People who spend the most time outdoors (such as outdoor workers and children) carry the most risk of contact with disease-carrying pests. the range of Lyme disease currently reported of 30,500 cases per year in the US is expected to expand northward as the range of the deer tick th)

What is the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

400 ppm

According to the United Nations Development Program, ? of the world population are currently malnourished

50%

Which of the following changes in climate has NOT already occurred?

A decrease in the sea ice around Antartica (While the Arctic has experienced sea ice losses, expected decreases of sea ice around Antarctica have not occurred. Scientists believe this is primarily due to changes in winds linked to global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. The increases in temperature, sea level and heatwave frequency have already been observed. Further increases in these markers are projected, and in most cases the extent of the increase depends on the concentration of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.)

In the Greenough et al. paper published in the journal of Environmental Health Perspectives in 2001 with the tornado data from 1945 to 1989 in the US, which state had the lowest frequency of severe tornadoes?

Alaska

The health care infrastructure in the U is vulnerable to climate change in a number of very important ways

All of the Above Disasters can severely hinder the delivery of health care with long-term impacts Changes in the numbers of patients and the spectrum of diseases with which they present could occur in some regions as the climate changes The types of advice offered to patients with chronic conditions and the infrastructure to support them may need to be adapted to protect against climate-induced changes that may make these individuals more vulnerable

How can the changing climate and weather affect human health?

All of the Above (With climate change, existing health risks may worsen. For example, heat waves and floods may become more frequent and intense. Climate change can also bring unfamiliar health risks to new areas (such as when Lyme disease-carrying ticks expand their territory). Periodic health risks, like allergy seasons, may shift in timing or have a longer window.)

Several approaches to land management have been developed in the face of high uncertainty concerning the outcomes of management actions, which may include

All of the above

What is the relationship between the increase in risk and the health impacts from future extreme weather events?

All of the above

What are the potential reasons below that may be the foundation for the first US Dust Bowl to happen?

All of the above A drought hit the region in the late 1880s that ran from 1889 through 1892 and led to certain shifts in agricultural production and agronomic techniques Farmers shifted to deeper plowing to utilize moisture deeper in the soil Demand for grain increased in the US and abroad and the expansion of railroads A drought in 1910-1913 affected the southern plains

Which are possible solutions for climate change?

All of the above Carbon capture and storage Hybrid technology Creating carbon emission caps More wind power

Which one is the most dangerous to human health and disease development?

All of the above Heat, Ozone, PM

Numerous scientific studies have linked exposure to fine particle pollution to

All of the above Numerous scientific studies have linked exposure to fine particle pollution to only respiratory problems, such as increased respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, development of chronic bronchitis, and other systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular adverse effects

What are sources of nitrogen dioxide?

All of the above While nitrogen dioxide is produced naturally by lightning and bacterial processes involved in plant growth and decay, the strongest sources are man-made, from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas. From space we can see that nitrogen dioxide collects mainly around large cities and industrialized areas.

The following exposures may (possibly) cause lung cancer

All of the above air pollutoin cigarette smoking climate change

The climate of the Midwest has already changed measurably over the last half century including

All of the above average annual temperatures rise a number of major heat waves in the last few years fewer cold snaps ice and snow are melting sooner in the spring and arriving later in the fall heavy rains are occurring about twice as frequently as they did a century ago and increasing the risk of flooding

As a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions like CO2, which is building up in our atmosphere to the level that could produce severe effects including

All of the above extreme heat prolong droughts intense storms sea-level rise

Another air contaminant of particular concern in Ohio is small particulate pollution (or soot), which may

All of the above increase the severity of asthma attacks in children increase the number of heart attacks and hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease cause early deaths from heart and lung disease

Climate change on human health impact, which may include

All of the above Climate change does have health impact on both infectious and non-infectious diseases

How can climate change affect the frequency of West Nile virus infections?

All of the above West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-carried illness in the United States. Traditionally, the peak time for outbreaks is June through September. Birds are the natural hosts for West Nile virus, but mosquitoes can also pass the illness to humans after biting an infected bird. Climate influences the number and distribution of both birds and mosquitoes capable of transmitting West Nile virus in different regions.

Carbon dioxide is not the only carbon-containing compound in the atmosphere researchers are studying. What else are scientists looking at?

All of the above (Carbon dioxide is not the only carbon-containing compound in the atmosphere that affects our climate. Methane (which comes from livestock, leakage from natural gas systems and wetlands) is a potent heat-trapping greenhouse gas. Carbon monoxide (which comes from unvented heaters and generators and other gasoline-powered equipment) affects methane, carbon dioxide and ozone levels in the atmosphere. Because carbon monoxide lingers in the air for about a month it can travel long distances, making it)

In global climate projection, almost everywhere, daily minimum temperatures are projected to

Almost everywhere, daily minimum temperatures are projected to increase faster than daily maximum temperatures, leading to a decrease in diurnal temperature range

Which illness does NOT increase in frequency along with higher temperatures?

Arthritis

Which statement below is not correct?

At this point we can be certain that changes will occur, but we do not yet know the mode, timing, or magnitude of changes or environmental responses even at a regional scale

Is ozone good or bad for humans?

Both

The urban built environment can ? the effects of heat

Both The urban built environment can both exacerbate and alleviate the effects of heat

Which population below are likely to suffer the most from fossil fuel addition?

Children

Climate change mitigation policies and actions should be taken by

Climate change mitigation policies and actions taken by national governments, the private sector and other areas of civil society are inherently interlinked

Will rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide ? the nutritional value of wheat and rice?

Decrease More carbon dioxide is in the air. Plants like wheat, rice, barley, and potatoes react by building more carbohydrates into their tissues. They also draw less water into their roots. So less essential minerals make it into our food. This results in less nutritional value (lower amounts of protein, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc) in our food.

In most of North America, snow season length and snow depth are very likely to

Decrease ( Snow season length and snow depth are very likely to decrease in most of North America)

Cardiovascular mortality associated with extreme heat or extreme cold has been ? due to global warming

Decrease to heat, constant when cold Cardiovascular mortality associated with heat has been declining over time, presumably the result of increased air conditioning use; mortality associated with extreme cold has remained constant.

It is well regarded that,

Developing regions have been disproportionately affected by climate change, an imbalance that stands in stark contrast to the imbalance in greenhouse-gas emissions, which are almost entirely attributable to developed and emerging countries

Sea levels are likely to stabilize globally

False

Guiding Principles for Program Design has two critical features: cap on emissions and accountability

False (3: Cap on Emissions, Accountability Simplicity)

Greenhouse gas chlorofluorocarbons was present in the atmosphere in pre-industrial times (before 1750)

False (Fluorocarbons were not present in the atmosphere before 1750 but have been since then. Since the industrial revolution concentrations of pre-existing greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have also risen significantly)

Increases in extreme temperature events in North America, shortened hot spells and increased diurnal temperature range

False (Increases in extreme temperature events, both as distribution percentiles and threshold events, prolonged hot spells and increased diurnal temperature range)

In the 10,000 years before the industrial Revolution in 1751, carbon dioxide levels in the air rose by less than 10 percent. In 2012, the increase rate has been doubled.

False (It should be 43%. In 2012, 92 percent (rose by 43%) of all human-produced CO2 originated from burning coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline)

Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor and methane are all greenhouse gases that trap heat?

False (Nitrogen, which makes up 80 percent of Earth's atmosphere, is not a greenhouse gas. This is because its molecules, which contain two atoms of the same element (nitrogen), are unaffected by infrared light.)

Warming is very likely to be smaller than the global annual mean warming throughout the African continent

False (Warming is very likely to be larger than the global annual mean warming throughout the continent and in all seasons, with drier subtropical regions warming more than the moister tropics)

In the Greenough et al. paper published in the journal of Environmental Health Perspectives in 2001 with the tornado data from 1945 to 1989 in the US, which state had the highest frequency of severe tornadoes?

Florida

The risk of extreme weather events is expected to be ? even global warming occurs

Global Warming in Increasing the Risk of Extreme Weather Events

Which statement below is wrong?

Global average temperatures are projected to increase between 1.8 and 4°C by end of this century

The Greenhouse effect is caused by

Greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere absorbing radiation from the Earth's surface and preventing much of it escaping into space

Which statement below is NOT correct?

Greenland and Iceland are relatively near each other with a distance of only about 175 km at their closest- this settlement was relatively easy

What type of pollution is not pumped out directly from cars and trucks?

Ground-level ozone (as opposed to ozone in the ozone layer high up in the atmosphere) is a pollutant that burns the lungs when inhaled. Ozone at the Earth's surface is a main ingredient in smog but is not emitted directly from car exhausts. It is formed when pollution from vehicles, factories and other sources reacts in sunlight.

If global temperatures increase by 2 to 3°C, as expected, it is estimated that the population at risk for malaria will

If global temperatures increase by 2 to 3°C, as expected, it is estimated that the population at risk for malaria will increase by 3 to 5% (millions of additional people would probably become infected with malaria each year)

In the US, the waterborne diseases could affect

In the US, the majority of waterborne disease is gastrointestinal, though waterborne pathogens affect most human organ systems and the epidemiology is dynamic

Will climate change lead to ? in asthma attacks

Increase

The adverse health impacts from air pollution on respiratory diseases globally ? as temperatures rise

Increase In recent decades, the world has seen a sharp rise in prevalence as well as severity of such respiratory diseases The incidence of respiratory diseases grew markedly in the United States over the last several decades but has begun to plateau in recent years. Some experts speculate that the global rise in asthma was indirectly related to climate change

Which case below may not be regarded as an increase in "Susceptibility" in terms of health effects from multiple stresses and vulnerable populations?

Ind. living conditions ("Susceptibility" refers to intrinsic biological factors that can increase the health risk of an individual at a given exposure level. C refers to vulnerability

Which theories below have NOT been proposed to account for the Viking Settlement disappearance?

It is very possible that low winter temperatures would have been more difficult than low summer temperatures for the Vikings

Which state below is NOT included in the US Dust Bowl area?

Nebraska This area corresponds to the states of Oklahoma, and portions of Kansas, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico

Studies have shown that within the displaced population that evacuated New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, older people who were of low income were the slowest to recover from the disaster. This specific population can be best described as

Populations with both susceptibility and vulnerability factors are referred to as "sensitive" populations

What are some forms of air pollution?

Smoke, Haze or smog, Dust

Why do levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere fall during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

The Northern Hemisphere is covered by a significant amount of vegetation. During the summer this vegetation takes up more carbon dioxide, and during the winter, when it decays, it releases more carbon dioxide. In contrast to the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is covered by more ocean than vegetation.

What are the following factors that are included in the WHO "environment" definition?

The World Health Organization defines "environment" as "all modifiable physical, chemical, and biological factors external to the human host, and all related behaviors that are critical to establishing and maintaining a healthy livable environment,

What role do the oceans play in the carbon cycle?

The surface of the oceans both releases carbon dioxide into the air and absorbs or stores it. One-third of all carbon dioxide emitted by humanity has been absorbed by the world's oceans. This is making them more acidic than they have been for tens of millions of years. More acidic seawater has negative effects on coral reefs, slowing their growth and bleaching them. A more acidic ocean is affecting plankton (which provide half of the oxygen we breathe) and many marine organisms. Due to global warming

All models assessed for all the non-mitigation scenarios considered, project increases in global mean surface air temperature (SAT)

True

CO2 is the most significant of the greenhouse gases causing global warming

True

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology being developed in an attempt to slow global warming

True

Extreme rainfall and winds associated with tropical cyclones are likely to increase in most of Asian regions

True

Fifth IPCC report presents that the total anthropogenic radiative forcing estimate for 2011 is substantially higher (43%) than the estimate reported in AR4 for the year 2005

True

Human activities may have caused an imbalance in the natural cycle of the greenhouse effect and related processes

True

The market-based approach enshrined in the U.S. Acid Rain program has demonstrated that environmental protections need not compete with economic well-being

True

The surface warming in the US is projected to exceed 4°C by some projections

True

Some kinds of pollution in the atmosphere can act to cool the planet by reducing the amount of solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface

True (Air pollution can take the form of fine particles called "aerosols," which both absorb and scatter the sun's radiation. Both natural and man-made aerosols, such as dust, sea salt, soot and sulfates, affect the climate by reflecting radiation that is transmitted through the atmosphere)

Which of these greenhouse gases is most abundant in the atmosphere?

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the next most abundant gas. So if it's not the most abundant gas, why are climate change scientists so concerned about carbon dioxide? While methane actually has a much stronger warming effect than CO2, carbon dioxide is responsible for over 60 per cent of the enhanced greenhouse effect. It can also stay in the atmosphere a lot longer than methane, with a lifetime of five to 200 years as opposed to methane

Which statement below is NOT correct in terms of extreme weather events?

While appropriate to summarize health impacts of extreme weather events it would be inappropriate to try and convey a sense of "average" impacts over time

How can more frequent intense storms affect drinking water sources?

a and b Climate change can increase water-related illnesses in different ways. As mentioned in the question, heavy downpours can pollute some drinking water sources (such as lakes and rivers) with unhealthy bacteria and chemicals. Swimming in polluted water also carries health risks. Pollution combined with higher water temperatures can help blooms of harmful algae grow in drinking water sources or recreational waters.

EPA warns that a climate change-induced increase in ozone could

a,b,c damage to human health increase human death damage plant life

Which statement below is not correct?

increase the world by 2%