| It is common to see news in the paper or on | | | | cases of skin cancer will be reported in the US in |
| television about flashfloods in the country or in | | | | 2008. In fact, this type of cancer is the most |
| other parts of the world. These are all caused by | | | | common in the country today. Although efforts in |
| changes in the weather and environment which | | | | dramatically reducing the production of |
| are usually attributed to global warming. Although | | | | chlorofluourocarbons (more commonly known as |
| you may know that these phenomena are | | | | CFCs) were successful, the damage has already |
| serious and can wreak havoc in the future, you | | | | been done in the ozone layer. As a result, more |
| may not be aware that environmental changes | | | | deadly ultraviolet rays are penetrating the earth. |
| may actually have a direct effect on your health. | | | | Toxic Seafood |
| While the melting of the polar caps should be a | | | | The rising ocean temperature is making sea-borne |
| cause for alarm, you should be more concerned | | | | bacteria flourish. In the past decade, you will see a |
| about the little changes in your body that global | | | | rising trend of red tide outbreaks in clams, |
| warming can bring. | | | | oysters, mussels and other shellfishes that did not |
| Here are some health concerns linked to | | | | only affect fish, but also humans. Aside from |
| environmental changes: | | | | making shellfish unfit to eat, these sedimentary |
| Extreme Rashes | | | | organisms are also responsible for turning regular |
| Due to the rise in greenhouse gases, deadlier | | | | mercury into methylmercury, a more toxic form, |
| strains of poison ivy are on the rise. As a result, | | | | which can be found in aquatic animals like shark, |
| the rashes expected from more lethal strains | | | | tilefish, tuna, king mackerel and swordfish. |
| would be worse. A Duke University study found | | | | Severe Allergic Reactions |
| that urushiol oil, which is the one responsible for | | | | People allergic to pollen are sneezing and coughing |
| making poison ivy dangerous, when exposed to | | | | a lot more as the spring and summer seasons |
| higher levels of carbon dioxide are 30% more | | | | seem to be longer due to global warming. The |
| potent than those that are exposed in prevalent | | | | increase in CO2 is also making plants produce |
| CO2 levels. In fact, some experts believe that the | | | | bigger and more pollen. Furthermore, the |
| toxicity of poison in plants like poison ivy is | | | | greenhouse gases are also encouraging more |
| already higher today than decades ago. | | | | fungi spores to grow. |
| Heatstroke | | | | What You Need To Do |
| For the past few years, more and more people in | | | | The first thing you need to do is to start caring |
| the US have died from heatstroke. The people | | | | for the environment. The little things that you do |
| who are at a higher risk of getting heatstroke are | | | | in saving electricity and resources or minimizing |
| the elderly and the very young children. One of | | | | garbage and pollution can go a long way in |
| the main reasons why temperature is high in | | | | stopping the further deterioration of the planet. |
| some places in the country, particularly during | | | | Secondly, it would be wise for you to start |
| summer, is that changes in climatic patterns are | | | | protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the |
| affecting the region's nighttime cooling. In Europe | | | | sun by using sunscreen every time you go |
| back in 2003, figures have shown that about | | | | outdoors during the day. Make sure that the sun |
| 35,000 people were killed during heat waves. | | | | block that you buy protects you from both UVA |
| Skin Cancer | | | | and UVB rays. |
| Experts have estimated that over 1 million new | | | | |