Physicians can take measures to mitigate the impact of climate change, the British Medical Association urged in an online report.
Rising temperatures, changing sea levels, and extreme weather patterns have resulted in a broad range of climate change that has affected all countries, especially developing nations. The results include a range of consequences from economic development to the transmission patterns of communicable diseases.
The BMA said the purpose of its report is to highlight practical actions that health professionals and health organizations can take to “reduce their carbon footprint and to protect and promote the health of the public.”
Specifically, climate change will result in an increase in water-borne infections and food-related illnesses, and will have acute consequences for health, according to the report.
If unaddressed, growing greenhouse emissions could contribute to more cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Still, the BMA wrote, there are practical measures physicians can take to address climate change and to encourage environmental responsibility.
Those measures include:
▸ Unplugging electrical appliances when not in use.
▸ Reducing heat and air-conditioning.
▸ Minimizing waste.
▸ Recycling items when possible and not oversupplying products that may reach their expiration date before use.
In addition, physicians are urged to opt for spray faucets to conserve water, and they should convert their toilets to models that have more efficient systems for flushing.
Health care providers also should report or repair leaks and make use of natural ventilation in their offices.
The report also promotes the use of teleconferences, electronic communication with patients and other physicians, and a shift to electronic health records to avoid unnecessary printouts.
For a copy of the full report and other recommendations for reducing one's carbon footprint, go to http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/climatechange~climatechangerecommendations