uncertainty

Uncertainty in health care and climate change

decision making

Roman Fishchuk

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, August 2008

Uncertainty in health care and climate change

decision making

Uncertainty?

Uncertainty

Lack of sureness about someone or something that may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

What are we certain about concerning climate change and health?

Climate changes!

These changes influence healthcare sector as well.

About Mount Pinatubo

On June 15, 1991 the second largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century took place on the island of Luzon in the Phillippines.

Millions of tons of sulphur dioxide were discharged into the atmosphere, resulting in a decrease in the temperature worldwide over the next few years.

Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere mixes with water and oxygen to become sulphuric acid, which in turn triggers ozone depletion.

The eruption is believed to have influenced such events as 1993 floods along the Mississippi river and the drought in the Sahel region of Africa.

Overall, the cooling effects of the Mount Pinatubo eruption were greater than those of the El Niño that was taking place at the time or of the greenhouse gas warming of the planet.

Interesting suggestion

Paul Crutzen, the 1995 Nobel prize winner for chemistry, suggests to inject about 1 million of sulphur a year into the stratosphere.

Interesting suggestion

Paul Crutzen, the 1995 Nobel prize winner for chemistry, suggests to inject about 1 million of sulphur a year into the stratosphere.

The added layer of sulphates located 10 miles above the surface would increase the reflectivity (albedo) of the Earth and add a "positive cooling effect".

About sulphur

Elemental sulphur is not toxic, but many simple sulphur derivates are, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulphide.

Sulphur can be found commonly in nature as sulphides. During several processes sulphur bonds are added to the environment that are damaging to animals, as well as humans.

The sulphur cycle

Globally sulphuric substances can have the following effects on human health:

- Neurological effects and behavioural changes- Disturbance of blood circulation- Heart damage- Effects on eyes and eyesight- Reproductive failure- Damage to immune systems- Stomach and gastrointestinal disorder- Damage to liver and kidney functions- Hearing defects- Disturbance of the hormonal metabolism- Dermatological effects- Suffocation and lung embolism

So are YOU certain about your decision?

Thank you for attention)

Roman Fishchuk

froman@ukr.net

+38 050 433 2119