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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand «‘ °ƒµ°“√≥å ‚≈°√â Õπ°— ∫ªí ≠À“ ÿ ¢¿“æ Vol. 32 No. 4 Oct.-Dec. 2007 838 Jan 1, 2001. ÛÙ. Patz J. Alarming health effects of global warming. Available from: http://www. medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews. php?newsid=33768. Accessed 22/5/ 2550. Ûı. Health Effects-Conclusions-Global Warming-Sierra Club.Global warming impacts: health effects-conclusions. Available from: http://www.sierraclub. org/globalwarming/health/conclusions. asp. Accessed 12/7/2550. Abstract Global Warming and Human Health Orawan Siriratpiriya Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn Univiersity, Bangkok 10330. Piamsak Menasveta Fellow of the Academy of Science, The Royal Institute, Thailand; Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330. Somchai Bovornkitti Fellow of the Academy of Science, The Royal Institute, Thailand Global warming is a specific example of climate change. In common usage the term refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface environment in recent decades and its projected continuation on increasing levels of greenhouse gases attributed to human activities. As the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase, more of the infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface is being trapped and the planet loses less heat. As a result we experience “Global Warming”. Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities; deforestation is the second largest source of carbon dioxide. The second-most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, methane, is produced by domesticated animals, e.g., cattle, dairy cows, buffalo, sheep, pigs and horses, from enteric fermentation of food by microbes in their digestive tracts; other sources are the decomposition of animal manure, anaerobic garbage decomposition, and emissions from coastal sediments. Fertilizer use increases nitrous oxide emissions from the natural processes of nitrification and denitrification that carried out by microbes in the soil. Developed in the 1920s, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been used as propellants in aerosol cans, in the manufacture of plastic foams, in the cooling coils of refrigerators and air conditioners, as fire extinguishing materials, and as solvents for cleaning. An increase in global temperatures can cause many changes, including sea level rise, changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, agriculture yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer stream flows, potential species extinctions, increases in the ranges of disease vectors, and other adverse impacts on human health. Heat waves, flooding, storms, and drought can cause deaths and injuries, famine, the displacement of populations, disease outbreaks, and psychological disorders. Local declines in food production would lead to more malnutrition and hunger, with long-term health consequences. Higher temperatures may alter the geographical distribution of species that transmit disease. In a warmer world, mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents could expand their range to higher latitudes and higher altitudes. The seasonal transmission and distribution of many diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes (malaria, dengue, yellow fever) and by ticks (Lyme disease, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, tick-borne encephalitis) may be accentuated by climate change. In addition, climate-induced changes in the formation and persistence of pollens, spores, and certain pollutants could promote more asthma, allergic disorders, and cardio-respiratory diseases. Warmer seas could influence the spread of disease, i.e., a correlation between cholera cases and sea surface temperature, an association between El Nino and epidemics of malaria and dengue, enhanced production of aquatic pathogens and biotoxins jeopardizing the safety of sea foods, and the increasing occurrence of toxic algal blooms. Key words : global warming, greenhouse gas, human health