- Is there climate change? How health affects our climate change?
- The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the top world authority on the subject, says in its latest report that “warming is unequivocal”, as evidenced by changes observed in many natural systems on all continents and oceans , among which the temperatures rise. In terms of health we can identify the following main effects:

1 .- Increase in average temperatures, days with very high temperatures and heat waves. When temperatures exceed 29 or 30 degrees, also increases mortality, which particularly affects people with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, or with some degree of disability (AD for example).
2 .- Secondly, changes in the flora, since it will produce a greater amount of allergens and more days per year with a high concentration of allergens, particularly pollen.
3 .- Third, the temperature and air pollution are increased, and therefore, in urban areas where pollution levels are higher for the heavy traffic will increase diseases like heart attacks or asthma.

And finally, it is possible that infectious diseases that we do not have to appear because the rising temperatures create an environment more favorable to the vectors (mosquitoes, for example) that currently exist in areas further south.
There are other possible effects, but more studies are needed to realize them.

They are water-borne diseases as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, polio, meningitis and hepatitis A and B. The places that lack adequate sanitation facilities favor the rapid spread of these diseases because feces exposed “open” contain infectious organisms that contaminate food and water.

The most of these diseases can be prevented with improved public sanitation, provision of clean water and hygienic measures like washing hands after using the toilet or before preparing food. The construction of sanitary latrines and sewage treatment to allow the biodegradation of human wastes will help curb diseases caused by pollution.

The lack of adequate water for consumption is a direct source of disease, so to protect the health not only have water. The water’s ability to transmit disease depends on its microbiological quality. Diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria or protozoa.

What is considered microbiologically safe water? It is water that is free of any pathogen (or capable of causing illness) and characteristics of bacteria of fecal contamination. Although water has many beneficial uses, domestic use (drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing) is especially important because of its relationship to disease and health.

The existence of microbiologically unsafe water is a serious public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean, but can reduce the incidence of disease by microbial contamination of water, if water is supplied microbiologically safe and with greater personal and domestic hygiene , and a stronger community participation. The term microbe or microorganism refers to organisms so tiny that can not be seen with the naked eye.

Other Names: Environmental health or Environment and you

Our environment affects our health. Our average life expectancy has almost doubled in the last century mainly because we have clean water to drink.

The contamination of some parts of the environment, such as air, water or soil can cause health problems. For example, asthma may be a result of pollutants and other chemicals in the air and within the home.

Some environmental hazards are part of the natural world, such as radon in the ground. Others result from human activities such as poisoning by lead paint or asbestos or exposure to mercury use in mining and industry.