Glossary
Aerobic Respiration
A type of cellular respiration that requires oxygen to break down glucose and produce a large amount of ATP, along with carbon dioxide and water.
Example:
When you exercise intensely, your muscles primarily use aerobic respiration to generate energy as long as enough oxygen is available.
Allergies and respiratory diseases
Conditions affecting the respiratory system, often exacerbated by environmental factors like increased allergens and air pollutants.
Example:
Higher pollen counts and increased ground-level ozone due to climate change can worsen symptoms for individuals with allergies and respiratory diseases like asthma.
Anaerobic Respiration
A type of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, producing less ATP than aerobic respiration and often lactic acid or ethanol as byproducts.
Example:
During a short, intense sprint, your muscle cells switch to anaerobic respiration when oxygen supply can't keep up, leading to a buildup of lactic acid.
Antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea
A sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that has developed resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics.
Example:
Public health officials are concerned about antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea because it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat, raising the risk of untreatable infections.
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
A family of bacteria that are difficult to treat because they have become resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, which are considered last-resort drugs.
Example:
The emergence of CRE is a serious public health threat, as these “nightmare bacteria” can cause infections with very limited treatment options.
Drug-Resistant Pathogens
Microorganisms that have evolved the ability to withstand the effects of antimicrobial drugs, making infections harder to treat.
Example:
The rise of drug-resistant pathogens means that common infections, once easily cured, now pose significant public health challenges.
Dysentery
An inflammatory disorder of the intestine, typically caused by bacteria or parasites, resulting in severe diarrhea often with blood and mucus.
Example:
After a natural disaster, contaminated water supplies can lead to widespread outbreaks of dysentery in affected communities.
Food-borne diseases
Illnesses resulting from the consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins.
Example:
Extreme weather events can disrupt food supply chains and storage, increasing the risk of food-borne diseases from spoiled or contaminated produce.
Heat-related illnesses
A range of conditions, from heat cramps to heat stroke, caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate hydration.
Example:
During severe heatwaves, emergency rooms see a significant increase in patients suffering from heat-related illnesses, especially among vulnerable populations.
Hypercapnia
A condition characterized by an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, typically caused by inadequate respiration.
Example:
In cases of severe asthma attacks, a person might experience hypercapnia if their lungs cannot effectively expel carbon dioxide.
Hypoxia
A condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level.
Example:
Climbers ascending Mount Everest must acclimatize slowly to avoid hypoxia, which can cause severe symptoms like confusion and loss of coordination.
Infectious Diseases
Illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that can be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another.
Example:
The rapid global spread of COVID-19 highlighted how quickly infectious diseases can impact societies worldwide.
Lack of Proper Medical Care
Insufficient access to healthcare facilities, trained professionals, and essential medicines, hindering disease diagnosis, treatment, and control.
Example:
In remote areas, the lack of proper medical care can turn a treatable infection into a life-threatening condition due to delayed intervention.
Malnutrition
A condition resulting from a diet that does not provide adequate nutrients for proper body function, leading to a weakened immune system.
Example:
In regions facing food insecurity, widespread malnutrition can make communities highly vulnerable to outbreaks of common illnesses.
Mesothelioma
A rare and aggressive cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue covering many internal organs, most commonly caused by asbestos exposure.
Example:
Workers involved in demolition of old buildings must take precautions against asbestos exposure to prevent the long-term risk of developing mesothelioma.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
A type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that has become resistant to many common antibiotics, including methicillin.
Example:
Hospitals often implement strict hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of MRSA among patients, as it can cause severe and difficult-to-treat infections.
Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
A form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that are resistant to at least two of the most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs.
Example:
Treating MDR-TB requires longer courses of more toxic and expensive drugs, posing a significant challenge in global health efforts.
Overcrowding
A condition where too many people occupy a given space, leading to increased person-to-person contact and facilitated disease transmission.
Example:
In densely packed refugee camps, overcrowding makes it extremely difficult to control the spread of highly contagious diseases like measles or tuberculosis.
Poor Sanitation & Unclean Water
The absence of adequate waste disposal systems and access to safe drinking water, which facilitates the spread of waterborne pathogens.
Example:
A village without proper latrines and relying on a contaminated river for drinking water faces high risks from diseases spread by poor sanitation & unclean water.
Population Growth
An increase in the number of individuals in a population, which can intensify pressures on resources and infrastructure, especially in urban areas.
Example:
Unchecked population growth can strain existing sanitation systems, leading to overcrowded conditions and a higher potential for disease transmission.
Respiration
The metabolic process by which organisms convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), releasing waste products.
Example:
All living organisms, from microscopic bacteria to large mammals, rely on respiration to power their cellular activities and maintain life.
Secondary pollutant
A pollutant that is not directly emitted from a source but forms in the atmosphere through chemical reactions of primary pollutants.
Example:
Tropospheric ozone is a classic example of a secondary pollutant because it forms from reactions involving other emitted chemicals like VOCs and NOx.
Tropospheric Ozone
A harmful air pollutant found in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, formed from reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in sunlight.
Example:
On hot, sunny days in urban areas, high levels of tropospheric ozone can trigger respiratory problems and damage vegetation.
Urbanization
The process by which populations shift from rural to urban areas, leading to the growth of cities and associated environmental and social changes.
Example:
Rapid urbanization in developing countries often leads to the formation of informal settlements with inadequate infrastructure, increasing disease risk.
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
A type of bacteria that has developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin, often found in hospitals and healthcare settings.
Example:
Healthcare providers are vigilant about isolating patients with VRE to prevent its spread, as it can cause serious infections, especially in vulnerable individuals.
Vector-borne diseases
Illnesses transmitted to humans or other animals by arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas, which act as vectors.
Example:
Climate change is expanding the geographic range of mosquitoes, leading to an increase in cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue fever in new areas.
Waterborne diseases
Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms that are transmitted through contaminated water, typically from fecal matter.
Example:
Following a major flood, communities often see a surge in waterborne diseases like cholera due to contaminated drinking water sources.