Climate and Air Pollutions - Week 3

By the end of the century , the global temperatures can rise by about 3 .2 to 7 .2 degree F . Scientists are also not sure at the rate at which human activities can cause changes in climate . Climate changes can cause melting of the polar caps , a rise in the sea levels , alterations in the manner in which plants and animals are distributed , changes to seasons etc . Several areas in the world are likely to heat up , whereas some areas are likely to warm more than other areas . The warming is especially

high in the Arctic and the Antarctic regions . The climate in many regions of the world is also becoming drier . In several regions of the world , there are also a rise in the number of storms and cyclones These climatic changes are having a serious impact on global health Several climate-sensitive diseases including malaria are on the rise even in the areas it was previously non-existent (EPA , 2009

Improvements in air quality would have strong implications and hence would be worth the economic costs . Once the quality of air is improved there would be a reduction in several illnesses , including asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses . A study conducted by the Air Resources Board - California EPA found that there is a reduction in the morbidity and mortality from 15 respiratory cardiac and cardiovascular diseases . When the quality of air is bad , there are chances that these pollutants may be inhaled and accumulate in the body over time , causing several long-term illnesses such as cancers . The safety levels of these toxic substances are not known . More than 90 of the California population would be breathing polluted . Frequently , the ill-effects of population would be more serious to elders , infants and children . An improvement in the quality of air would help...