Canyon, Deon V. (2008) Environmental Change and Human Health Case Studies I. Australian College of Tropical Medicine, Redhill, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has become increasingly concerned about effect of global environmental change on human health.1 In addition to climate change, biodiversity and natural disasters, there are a number of human interventions that are direct drivers of environmental change, such as land and agricultural practices, irrigation and dams and human behaviour.1 Impacts can be modified or exacerbated by a local population’s current vulnerability, such as population movement into an endemic area for a disease for which they have no immunity. Global changes, including an increase in trade and global warming, which act on the environment, are likely to impact on the evolution of pathogens and hence of diseases. For example, it is likely that climate change is likely to alter the geography of infectious diseases and pests, including the distribution of vector-borne diseases, such as Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, malaria, dengue and Chikungunya, which are highly sensitive to climatic conditions.1 Other diseases may also be influenced by climate, such as meningitis and cholera.2 Also, we have seen how changes to irrigation and dams have previously affected the distribution of diseases, such as schistosomiasis.

This present book, Environmental Change and Human Health: Case Studies I, is a significant contribution to addressing these challenges. The Editor, Deon Canyon, presents a unique publication that is sure to assist professionals and students working in public health and environmental health, as well as related areas such as tropical health or environmental engineering. The main components of the book are an introductory chapter on “Biodiversity, environmental change and the web of life” and a series of case studies, which illustrate and inform the reader about these issues. The cases relate to diverse interests including cholera outbreaks globally, water quality and nutrient loading in the USA, schistosomiasis in China, neurocystercercosis in China, Nipah virus and Malaysia, Hantavirus and Argentina, pneumonic plague and the Congo, skin cancer and Mackay in Australia, the Toowoomba water crisis, schistosomiasis and Ghana, Chikungunya and the west Indian Ocean islands, Chagas’ disease and Guatemala. The major advantage as always with electronically published monographs is the full colour illustrations. This is an important online publication to add to your list of website bookmarks.

Item ID:	9394
Item Type:	Book (Edited)
ISBN:	978-0-9578717-9-3
Keywords:	environment, health, Australia
Date Deposited:	24 Jun 2010 00:24
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920405 Environmental Health @ 100%
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