Role of Technology to Predict Impacts of Climate Change on Health Toxicity
摘要
Climate change (CC) can lead, expectedly, to changes in the development, growth, and organism activity. In order to reduce possible dangers to human well-being, technology plays a critical role in forecasting how CC would affect health toxicity. In this chapter, the potential for real-time monitoring and response systems toward climate changes as well as biomarkers of exposures and biological changes on human health were discussed. Traditional epidemiological methods have been the main approach to define the associations between hazardous substances’ exposures and the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer. Molecular epidemiology is a promising branch in the epidemiological studies, as it is addressing the genetic susceptibility and the mechanisms of disease induction, through usage of reliable biodetectors in these investigations for prediction of diseases and implementation in disease prevention programs. Thanks to technology, enormous volumes of information about the climate, the environment, and public health can be gathered. Environmental monitoring of air pollutants is an important sector in technological methods done to design the strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Monitoring suspended particulate matters (SPM) with different fraction sizes could be carried out at different indoor areas either in residential or work places. Monitoring gaseous pollutants in the indoor of residential or workplaces, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could be estimated. Each gaseous pollutant needs special sensor to detect the air concentrations. Environmental organic emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds (PAHs) could be collected and extracted for identification and evaluation of the concentration levels. This data is processed and analyzed with the aid of sophisticated analytical tools in order to find patterns, trends, and possible connections between health toxicity and climate change. Advanced climate models make use of technology to simulate different climate scenarios and forecast future patterns of the climate. These models aid in the comprehension of how variations in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather can affect the environment and, in turn, affect the toxicity to human health. Technologies that use remote sensing, such as drones and satellites, can gather useful data about the state of the environment over wide geographic areas. They can assist in determining the possible health concerns linked to climate change by monitoring changes in vegetation cover, air quality, water pollution, and land use. Satellite images are pictures of Earth obtained via satellites from orbit. Numerous applications, including natural resource management, urban planning, and weather forecasting, are possible with these photos. Disease outbreaks, vector-borne infections, and other health-related indicators are tracked by health surveillance systems, which are developed and implemented with the use of technology. These technologies make it possible to identify new health risks associated with climate change early on, which enables prompt resource allocation and response. To predict the spread of infectious illnesses, the growth of toxic algal blooms, and other health risks impacted by climate change, machine learning algorithms and other predictive modeling techniques are used. Policymakers and medical professionals can better anticipate and address future health issues by using these models. With the use of technology, decision support systems can be developed to help policymakers decide on public health interventions and adaption plans. These technologies improve the efficacy of response initiatives to reduce health hazards linked to climate change by combining data from multiple sources and offering real-time updates. Technology plays a vital role in increasing public awareness about climate change impacts on health and promoting behavior changes that reduce vulnerability. Digital platforms, social media, and interactive tools are utilized to disseminate information, engage communities, and empower populations to use proactive measures to safeguard the health impacts due to the changing climate. In summary, technology serves as a cornerstone in understanding, predicting, and assessing the impacts of climatic changes on health toxicity by enabling data-driven analysis, modeling, surveillance, and decision-making processes. Risk Assessment (RA) tools that produce decisions are composed of four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Its continued advancement is essential for enhancing our ability to define the complex challenges results from climate-related health risks.