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THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE - Coggle Diagram
THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
CATARACTS
OZONE DEPLETION
The depletion of ozone is a recent phenomenon, caused by halogenated chemicals used in refrigeration, insulation and spray-can propellants.
These chemicals react with and destroy the ozone molecule in the extreme cold of the polar stratosphere
The destruction of ozone occurs mainly in the late winter and early spring
The stratospheric ozone layer utilises and filters out much of the incoming solar ultraviolet radiation, especially the more damaging ultraviolet radiation.
If the ozone becomes depleted, then more UV rays will reach the earth.
Which can have serious impacts on humans
Extended exposure to UV rays can cause increase prevelance of skin cancer, cataract formation, increase in other eye diseases and other infectious diseases due to exessive UV radiation weakening the human immune system
SKIN CANCER
Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun, this may be long term or short periods of intensive sun exposure and burning The ultraviolet light damages the DNA in the skin cells There are two main types of skin cancer:
Melanoma
Mailignant melanoma is less common but a more dangerous cancer, as it is more likely to spread if not treated early
Incidence rates have risen faster than any other type of cancer over the past 50 years to become the 19th most common With over 300,000 cases worldwide in 2018
Melanomas are more likely to effect: Fair skinned populations, older people, those living in lower latitudes and males this is becuase it’s beleived more males work outdoors
Non-melanoma
The fifth most commonly occurring cancer globally, over a million diagnoses in 2018
Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world 33.3 and 33.6 per 100,000
The combination of predominantly light-skinned population, lower latitudes and high levels of ultraviolet radiation and cultural emphasis on outdoor activities have contributed to this problem
Out of all the new cancers diagnosed in Austraila about 80% of them are skin cancers, with 11% that are malignant, contributing to 3% of all deaths from cancer
At least 2 out of 3 Australians will be diagnosed with a form of skin cancer by the age of 70
It has been calculated that all skin cancers cost the Australian health system about 900 million in 2017
Around 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year