Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine
-
Upload
taylor-harper -
Category
Documents
-
view
19 -
download
3
description
Transcript of Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine
![Page 1: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine
Pamela A Gray, [email protected]
www.transition-health.com
![Page 2: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Overview
• What is Peak Oil?• How does oil relate to health?• How is medicine dependent on oil?• Issues with the medical system• Global and local responses• Local solutions and actions
![Page 3: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What is Peak Oil?
• The maximum rate of global oil production, after which it will irreversibly decline
• Oil discovery peaked in the 1960s• Production peak to follow in 40 - 60 years• Not the end of oil, but the end of cheap oil
![Page 4: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
![Page 5: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Peak Oil
Peak oil is a geologically imposed end to the fossil fuel era, whose first manifestation is the peaking of oil extraction, followed by natural gas and then coal.
![Page 6: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Indicators of Oil Problems
• Prices rising to all time high• Demand exceeding supply• Oil extraction rate flat• Wars for control of oil• Press raising issues• Fears of economic collapse
![Page 7: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
The Press Wakes Up
“The age of oil could be ending without our really being aware of it” - NY Times, March 2006
![Page 8: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
“The doubling of oil prices in the past couple of years is not an anomaly but a picture of the future. Peak oil is at hand” – US Army Corps of Engineers, 2006
“The world has never faced a problem like this. Previous energy transitions (wood to coal, and coal to oil) were gradual and evolutionary; oil peaking will be abrupt and revolutionary.” Hirsch Report to DOE, 2005
![Page 9: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Peak Oil
• Oil depletion is a geological fact
• There are as yet no scalable, fully appropriate alternatives or substitutes
![Page 10: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Impact of Oil Depletion
• Drastic reductions in food production• Inadequate heating and cooling systems• Breakdown of transport systems• Problems in distribution of goods• Disruptions in water treatment systems• Increased unemployment• Overload of healthcare systems• Rationing – fuel, food, healthcare
![Page 11: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
The Precautionary Principle
When an activity raises the threat of harm to HUMAN HEALTH or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
![Page 12: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
What Is Health?Freedom from disease
A condition of optimal well-being
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not consisting only
of the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO)
![Page 13: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Factors Influencing Health
Air that we breatheWater that we drinkFood that we eatWaste productsExerciseWorkHome environmentRelationshipsSleep/restBeing in nature
![Page 14: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Fossil Fuels and Health Factors
• Air – pollution
• Water – pollution, purification, transport
• Food – pesticide, transport, packaging
• Housing – building, heating, cooking
• Work – transport, technology
• Relationships – communications, transport
• Waste – transport, incineration, purification
![Page 15: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Oil and Air Pollution
• Burning of fossil fuels results in elevated rates of infant mortality, asthma, cardiovascular problems and respiratory ailments.
• Reducing air pollution in 4 of the world’s largest cities could prevent 64,000 premature deaths and 37 million lost workdays over the next 2 decades
![Page 16: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Oil and Water Pollution• Pollution from oil industry • Pollution from manufacturing processes • Pollution from domestic waste• Leaching from plastic into water• Health effects include: premature deaths,
cancers, birth defects, bronchitis, skin diseases, asthma etc.
![Page 17: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Oil and Food Pollution• Pesticides, additives, colourings, flavourings• Dioxins in meat, dairy, poultry fruit and
vegetable• Irradiation reduces nutritional content• Plastics used in packaging migrate into food, • Health effects include: allergies, obesity,
immune disorders, cancer, skin diseases, birth defects, nutritional deficiency problems, mental illness…
![Page 18: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Fossil Fuel Depletion and Food
• Petroleum is integral to the cultivation processing and distribution of our food.
• “The impact of energy availability on diet will range between the ideal of varied organic food produced in a low energy, closed system requiring minimum transport – and the shock of no food at all.”
![Page 19: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
• Oil-derived hazardous chemicals in household goods – cleaning products, toiletries, paints, carpets, furniture building materials
• Up to 500 man-made chemicals in the human body
• Health effects include sterility, nerve damage, allergies, endocrine disruption, immune disorders, cancers…
Oil and the Home
![Page 20: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Petroleum Products in the Home
• Petrochemical air fresheners• Used by 40% of households• Produce headaches &
depression in mothers, earache and diarrhoea in kids
• Contain dangerous volatile organic compounds
• Problems disputed by manufacturers
Reported in Times, 2004.
![Page 21: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Rise in Childhood Diseases
• Type 2 diabetes in children as young as 10• Childhood obesity, underlying other diseases• Childhood asthma increasing dramatically• Autism at national emergency level• Pediatric MS a silent epidemic• Increase in birth defects linked to
petrochemicals
![Page 22: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Fossil Fuels & Health
Bad news: Pollution from fossil fuels producesdisorders, illnesses and premature death.
Good news: Reducing fossil fuel use will result in improvements in health.
![Page 23: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
When Things Go Wrong
• Consult friends and family• Visit conventional medical practitioners• Try complementary and alternative
practitioners• Attend specialised support groups• Use self help techniques
![Page 24: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Oil and Medicine
![Page 25: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Medical Oil Dependencies
• Pharmaceuticals / Drugs• Energy intensive hospital procedures• Medical materials - plastics, gloves, syringes …• Direct energy requirements – machines, radiation,
storage, heating / cooling, sterilisation • Transport - medical supplies, patients, doctors, food• Emergency services – ambulances, helicopters
![Page 26: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Pharmaceutical Industry
• Pharmaceuticals – $643 billion global market in 2006• The main treatment modality in NHS (10% of costs)• About 50% are not taken as prescribed (waste issues)• 4th leading cause of death in industrial nations• Driven by profits not by improving human health • Developed by same investment groups that control
the global petrochemical industries.
![Page 27: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Pharmaceuticals & OilPhenol, acids and anhydrides, alkanolamines and aldehydesUsed for analgesics, antihistamines, antibiotics, antibacterials, sedatives, tranquilisers
Polyethylene glycols, hydroxyethyl celluloses and water-soluble ethylene oxide polymersUsed as tablet binders and pill coatings
Other: Essential uses in pharmaceutical products, from aspirin to penicillin moulds. Common medications may require ethanol to extract the antibiotic agent.; polyethylene glycol is used in rectal suppositories; phenylpropanolamine is used in cough syrups.
![Page 28: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Medical Materials & OilIn instruments and supplies:Use of plastics in all disposables used for maintaining sterile conditions;specialised plastics used in heart valves; common items such as isopropanol (rubbing alcohol); polyethylene and poly-vinyl acetate used in tubing, sheeting, splints, prostheses, blood bags, disposable syringesand catheters
Sterilisation of equipment uses ethylene oxide; ammonium nitrate is a basic ingredient in “quick cold” applications. Nitrogen mustards are a long-standing part of chemotherapy treatment for cancer; propylene glycol is used for obtaining specimens for sputum cytology.
In all specialties:Radiological dyes and films, dermatological creams, Sigmoidoscopes, speculum probes – in endotracheal tubes, intravenous tubing, oxygen masks.
(Glenn D. The Hidden Energy Crisis, Texas Medicine (72), 1976)
![Page 29: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
“The medical profession must eventually be forced to consider whether in an age of fuel scarcity it will be possible to maintain at their present level hospital procedures consuming large amounts of energy”
Loraine, J.A. in the Lancet, September 1973
![Page 30: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Electrical Blackout August 2003
• 50 million people in US without power• Costs estimated at $6 billion• Trouble with hospital back-up generators• Many donor organs lost• Operations under flashlight or terminated• Air conditioning suspended• Emergency evacuation of patients• A wake-up call – but quickly forgotten
![Page 31: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Low Energy Medical Systems
• Alternative Medicine - Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, Homeopathy
• Complementary Medicine - Acupuncture, Touch Therapies, Counselling
![Page 32: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Issues with Medical Services
• Escalating costs of medical care• Little success with chronic conditions
(asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer)• Few cures for depression• Competition for medical resources• Little time for consultations• Increase in medically induced illness• Disillusion with the medical profession
![Page 33: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Medical Industry Responses
Global
• WHO Global Strategy • Integrated Health Care Movement• Wellness Industry• Focus on Prevention
UK
• Practice-based commissioning• Expert Patient Programme• Healthy Living Initiative
![Page 34: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Integrated Health Care Movement
• Combine conventional medicine and CAM• Improve client / practitioner relationship• Treat whole person – mind / body / soul• Encourage self care and community support• Focus on wellness, not illness
![Page 35: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
• Homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, touch therapies, counselling
• Based on ancient medical practices• Not generally dependent on fossil fuels• Treats whole person – mind, body, spirit• Cost-effective – add to NHS?• How should it be funded?
![Page 36: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Self Treatments• Exercise, nutrition• Deep breathing and relaxation• Meditation and guided imagery• Yoga, Chi Gung, Tai Chi• Positive thinking and prayer• Self medication: spending on CAM is
£1.6 billion/year, OTC medicines £2.3 billion/year
![Page 37: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
UK Practice Based Commissioning
• Central management of NHS not working• Local control handed to Primary Care• Better for health of community• Population-based budgets planned• Allows for integration of other modalities• Not enough funds for everything?
![Page 38: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Expert Patients’ Program (EPP)
• UK Government initiative• Help people with long term conditions
maintain health and quality of life• Lay led self management courses to
encourage development of skills• Taught by volunteers
![Page 39: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Healthy Living Initiative
• UK Government program to encourage people to lead healthier lives
• Focused on families with young children• Aiming to tackle childhood obesity• Encourages 5-A-Day eating (
www.5aday.nhs.uk)• Promoting more active lifestyles
![Page 40: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
West Cornwall Healthy Living Centre
• Health professionals, voluntary and community sector organisations and individuals working together
• Web-based information and support, recommendations of services, project development and support
www.wchlc.org.uk
![Page 41: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Reducing Our Oil Dependency
Without petrol for cars, we can walk or ride a bicycle.
BUT What are the alternatives for the
health system?
![Page 42: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
World War II
• Oil, food & clothes rationed. Government mandates for nutritional supplements
• Medical facilities greatly restricted, women trained to offer basic medical help
• Medicines in short supply – pharmacists made up old remedies.
• Ethical decisions, demonstrations, armed guards
• People forced to be self-sufficient (Dig for Victory)
![Page 43: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Cuba
• Education and medical system free• Primary Care Focus after Revolution• ‘Special Period’ - oil imports cut after
fall of Russia • Healthy low fat, nearly vegetarian
diet and outdoor lifestyle (cycling, walking..)
• 1 doctor/167 people, 60% women doctors, living where they work
• Life expectancy same as US, infant mortality below that of US
![Page 44: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Transition Movement Responseto Impact of Peak Oil
Plan to work together to define, implement and promote reduced fossil fuel dependent medical systems in local communities in anticipation of oil depletion.
![Page 45: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Transition Action Plan
• Identify the future health system we want• Back-cast from the future to today• Define an implementation program• Focus on wellness programs, not illness• Educate on preventative methods• Secure funding for new programs• Encourage self and community help
![Page 46: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Specific Actions Now• Localise medicine as much as possible• Identify medical resources available locally
(conventional & complementary / alternative)• Partner with existing health initiatives• Work with renewable energy providers to ensure
support for critical care• Develop and promote “green” herbal medicines• Increase exercise programs – chi gung, tai chi, yoga,
swimming, walking, cycling …• Support local organic food production• Teach local people to treat minor problems• Remember ancient wisdom, folk remedies
![Page 47: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
TP Health & Medicine Group• Open to all interested people• Formed to answer questions of how to shift
to a low energy, integrated health system• Aims to identify health assets, healthcare
professionals, specialties, art therapies, working in partnerships with others
• Building an energy descent action plan for localised provision of medical care for all
![Page 48: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Discussion Points
• Ethics– Decision-making when resources are scarce
• Self Care– What can people safely do for themselves?
• Specialised Patient Groups– What specialties and what support is needed?
• Secondary Care– Based in Centres of Excellence?– Alternative energy supplies for critical needs?
• Do We Have an Emergency Plan?
![Page 49: Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032806/56813480550346895d9b5f7f/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Impact of Peak Oil on Health and Medicine
Pamela A Gray, [email protected]
www.transition-health.com