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11:51:00 PM EDT
Global Warming and Poison Ivy
This Is One I Was Itching to Write About: Sorry about that, had to do it. I love a bad pun.
But seriously, how about this story, "Poison Ivy Itchier, More Plentiful With Warming, Study Says," in which we learn that poison ivy will grow faster -- and be more poisonous -- in global warming conditions with increased levels of carbon dioxide.
This is bad news for me, because I'm allergic to poison ivy. I've been through the steroid-treatment-and-oatmeal-baths routine. It's not fun and it's hard not to scratch, but it's not the end of the world.
On the face of it, this seems like one of the lesser evils of climate change. If weeds grow faster, what's the big deal? Well, it would be a real pain for gardeners and folks who like a nice lush carpet of green lawn. If weeds outgrow the pretty flowers and stuff, we'd be upset.
But farther down in the article, the reporter describes how similar studies show that ragweed and some pine trees produce more pollen in environments with more carbon dioxide. This has some serious health implications.
"Increases in asthma have already been detected, Dr. Epstein said, as pollen and other airborne allergens combine with particles from truck and bus exhaust to reach deep into the lungs."
In addition to more asthma cases, we could see an increase in hay fever cases.
I know the impact of pollen on asthmatics, because my wife has asthma. This year, we've gotten a lot more pollen (and less rain) in the Washington, D.C., area. The increase in pollen has made her lungs more susceptible to irritation from other sources -- perfumes, for example. It's basically made her asthma worse. She's had to get new medications in higher doses, and she has to use her rescue inhaler more often.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 20 million Americans have asthma, or about one out of every 15 people. Some 5,000 Americans die from asthma every year. Direct health care costs for asthma in the United States total more than $11.5 billion annually; indirect costs (lost productivity) add another $4.6 billion for a total of $16.1 billion. Prescription drugs represented the largest single direct medical expenditure, over $5 billion.
If the poison ivy and weed studies portend a future trend, the result could be more people with asthma -- more kids who have to play indoors, adults who must exercise inside and a general decline in quality of life for part of our population. That would be sad.
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What a total load of bull crap by people who live off government grants for their silly and stupid studies.
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You people need to get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Climate goes in cycles, remember the ice age? You should have learned about it in school. It was much colder then. Why would you worry about something that you can't control???? Get a life!!!!! -
Dan, I did not know I else to ask you the following questions, so I reply to this blog, below is my questions, thank you.
You are a farmer growing vegetable crops that depended on a very delicate species of bee for pollination. Your crops have been invaded by a destructive beetle that reproduces rapidly. In past years this type of beetle has destroyed up to 60 percent of your harvest. Which form of pest control would you choose to save your crops? Detail why you would choose this method. Is there any method you would not use? Explain your answer. -
Dan and AOL need to take a long hike on a short pier when it comes to Global Warming!!! Bye
7/7/06 4:13 PM