Yoganathan D, Rom W N
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2001 Aug;40(2):199-210. doi: 10.1002/ajim.1088.
Global warming is caused by increased carbon dioxide (CO2)resulting in a greenhouse effect with enhanced warming of the earth. Measurements of CO2 show a steady increase over the past 30 years caused by the burning of fossil fuels and from the loss of natural CO2 sinks. A 100-year increase in global temperature by 0.3 to 0.6 degrees C is reflected in atmospheric warming, glacier shrinkage, and rising sea levels.
Planetary ecosystem dynamics are being altered, challenging public health. It is predicted that morbidity and mortality will increase as a result of heat stress, as seen in recent heat waves in the U.S. Weather disaster effects will increase in number and magnitude, and both noninfectious and infectious diseases may flourish. A significant challenge will be the changes in life cycles of microbial species due to the warmer environs. Specific increases in incidence have been noted for vector-borne diseases, in addition to pulmonary findings, cardiovascular morbidity, neurological diseases, and occupational diseases.
Warming can be demonstrated by the observed changes that have already occurred in the environment, particularly the thinning of polar ice caps. The United States Global Research Program has been established to coordinate research activities, which responds to issues deemed important by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Research issues pertain to the scientific uncertainties in the greenhouse effect, temperature measurements at various atmospheric levels and latitudes, and impact on biota redistribution. The Kyoto Protocol has mandated specific solutions, e.g., a 7% reduction in CO2 levels within 10 years. Future recommendations involve supporting new technologies that are available to decrease emissions as well as understanding the role that occupational and environmental specialists have in global warming recognition.
全球变暖是由二氧化碳（CO₂）增加所致，会引发温室效应，使地球变暖加剧。对CO₂的测量显示，在过去30年中，由于化石燃料的燃烧以及天然CO₂汇的丧失，其含量呈稳步上升趋势。全球气温在100年内上升0.3至0.6摄氏度，这在大气变暖、冰川萎缩和海平面上升中得以体现。
地球生态系统动态正在发生改变，给公共卫生带来挑战。预计热应激会导致发病率和死亡率上升，如美国近期热浪期间所见。气象灾害的影响在数量和规模上都会增加，非传染性疾病和传染性疾病可能都会增多。一个重大挑战将是微生物物种生命周期因环境变暖而发生变化。除肺部疾病、心血管疾病、神经系统疾病和职业病外，媒介传播疾病的发病率也有特定增加。
观测到的环境变化，尤其是极地冰盖变薄，能够证明气候正在变暖。美国已设立全球研究计划以协调研究活动，该计划回应了《联合国气候变化框架公约》认为重要的问题。研究问题涉及温室效应中的科学不确定性、不同大气高度和纬度的温度测量以及对生物群重新分布的影响。《京都议定书》已规定了具体的解决方案，例如在10年内将CO₂水平降低7%。未来的建议包括支持可用于减少排放的新技术，以及了解职业和环境专家在认识全球变暖方面所起的作用。
