Open Access
Subscription Access
Open Access
Subscription Access
Awareness and Practices Regarding Global Warming and its Health Hazards among the Medical Students of Meerut
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Background: Global warming refers to an increase in average global temperatures, which in turn causes climate change. Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental threat and there is overwhelming evidence of wide range of implications for human health. Objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) To assess the awareness regarding global warming and its health hazards among the medical students and (2) To know the attitude and practices regarding climate change among the medical students. Settings and Design: This cross sectional study was conducted at Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekananda Subharti University, Meerut. Materials and Method: 400 Medical students from different courses of health sciences. A selfadministered, pre-tested, questionnaire was used. Results: 94.50% students commented that global climate is changing; while 87.50% students opined that human activities are contributing to climate change. 33.75% of the students were aware about green house gases. 61.67% were aware about the meaning of ozone depletion. According to 65.00% students, direct physical hazards of extreme climatic events are most important health-related impact of climate change. Majority (52.50%) commented that deforestation and industrial and vehicular pollution contribute most to climate change. Conclusion: Majority of students had awareness regarding global warming but improvement for mitigation is required. It is suggested that a large nation-wide awareness survey regarding global warming and its health hazards is necessary. Educational campaigns would be effective method in improving knowledge and awareness regarding global warming among the students.
Keywords
Global Warming, Climate Change, Awareness, Health Hazards, Medical Students.
Subscription
Login to verify subscription
User
Font Size
Information
- Battisti, David; Naylor (2009). “Historical warnings of future food insecurity with unprecedented seasonal heat”. Science 323 (5911): 240–4. doi:10.1126/science.1164363. PMID 19131626. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- Meehl et al., Chap.10: Global Climate Projections, Sec. 10.ES:Mean Temperature, in IPCC AR4 WGI 2007.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Fourth Assessment Report. Geneva: IPCC; 2007.
- Nichols A, Maynard V, Goodman B, Richardson J. Health, climate change and sustainability: A systematic review and thematic analysis of the literature. Environ Health Insights 2009;3:63-88.
- International Energy Agency (IEA) (2011), “Executive Summary (English)” (PDF), World Energy Outlook 2011, Paris, France: IEA, p. 2
- Boxall AB, Hardy A, Beulke S, Boucard T, Burgin L, Falloon PD, et al. Hazards of climate change on indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals from agriculture. Environ Health Perspect 2009;117:508-14.
- Majra JP, Acharya D. Protecting health from climate change: Preparedness of medical interns. Indian J Community Med 2009;34:317-20.
- Meehl et al., Chap. 10: Global Climate Projections, Section 10.5: Quantifying the Range of Climate Change, in IPCC AR4 WG1 2007.
- America’s Climate Choices. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. 2011. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-309-14585-5.
- Pandve HT Atul R. . Assessment of awareness regarding climate change and its health hazards among the medical students. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2011; 15:42-5
- IPCC, Synthesis Report, Section 2.4: Attribution of climate change, in IPCC AR4 SYR 2007.
- Lu, Jian; Vechhi, Gabriel A.; Reichler, Thomas (2007). “Expansion of the Hadley cell under global warming” (PDF). Geophysical Research Letters 34 (6): L06805. Bibcode 2007GeoRL..3406805L. doi:10.1029 2006GL028443.
- Pandve HT, Deshmukh PR, Pandve RT, Patil NR. Role of youth in combating climate change. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2009;13:105.
Abstract Views: 302
PDF Views: 0