Interactive Influences of the Greenhouse Effect and the Stratospheric Ozone Depletion on Human Health, Particularly on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Abstract

The greenhouse effect cools stratosphere. This affects ozone depletion, of which there are two types. In one of them substances are all in gas phase. Processes belong to homogeneous chemistry and are suppressed at low temperatures. In the other they are in mixed phases and processes belong to heterogeneous chemistry. Their temperature dependence is complicated, but in the type initiated by PSC (polar stratospheric cloud) stratospheric cooling increases PSC formation rate and enhances ozone depletion. The final result of the greenhouse effect is not clear, but probably enhances ozone depletion. Using data of ozone depletion increases in skin cancers by resultant increase of ultraviolet radiations (UV) are estimated between 1970 and 2000. The UV increase could also promote acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) either by decrease of immunoresistance or by direct activation of human immunodeficiency virus. Epidemiological investigations are made, and it is found that AIDS prevalence is higher at lower latitudes and at similar latitudes it is higher in Caucasian countries than in non-Caucasian countries, suggesting that AIDS is promoted by UV. Then UV increase expected in future might cause the global increase of AIDS.