Global environmental change : the effects on health in small island states

Abstract

In the past environment and health concerns were largely focused on local risks arising from chemicals and biological contamination of the air, water and soil. The environmental threats that we face today however, have large-scale and global reach. This study aims at looking into the interrelationships between global environmental change and human health, focusing especially on the vulnerabilities experienced by small island states. Questionnaires were sent to medical professionals working in small island states in an attempt to explore what these professionals believe are human impacts on the environment, how environmental change is affecting human health and how small island states can be more vulnerable in dealing with these effects. 40 questionnaires were received, from the Caribbean region (3 5% ), the Pacific region (50%) and from the African region (15%). Ruman activity is disrupting at a global level some of the critical support systems that provide environmental stabilization and replenishment. Climate change, loss of biodiversity, overpopulation, globalization land degradation and stresses on food-producing systems can all create global environmental hazards to human health. The large majority of the participants in this study agreed that human health is largely adversely effected by global environmental change. They identified dengue fever, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases as most likely to be affected by global environmental change. Such respondents identified global warming and extreme weather events as the changes that will have the most adverse effects on health. Participants also identified direct physical injuries and water-borne diseases as being mostly affected by extreme weather events. Furthermore, they agreed that small islands states lack the effective capacity to respond to such challenges they might face. The increasing impact of global environmental issues affects countries throughout the world; but inequalities between countries create huge global asymmetries. Due to their vulnerabilities, small island states are particularly at risk to the challenge posed by global environmental change and its effect on health. Respondents in this study mentioned inadequate infrastructure, natural disasters and smallness as the factors rendering small islands states at a more vulnerable situation.