Life Expectancy Research Paper

Human life expectancy has been on the rise over the past century. Biomedical research and the medical developments that are the result of such research has allowed for this progress occur, are not just major sources of increased life expectancy, but could also aid in reducing the morbidity of our ageing populations that currently threatens our social and economic systems. Improvments to health care and hygiene, healthier life styles, a more reliable agricultural system and enhanced medical applications and decreases adelsoent mortality mean that we can now expect to stay alive much longer than our ancestors just a few generations back (Brown). Life expectancy at birth has increased by about three months per year since 1840 (Easterbrook). The average lifespan of the world population nearly doubled during the 20th century. When the 20th century began, at birth life expectancy in America was 47 years; now newborns in the U.S. are expected to live 79 years (Easterbrook). By the middle of this, the 21st, century, the life expectancy for an American at birth will be 88 years. By the end of the of it it will be 100 years (Easterbrook). New technologies and intellectual advancements are clearly the driving force behind the rise in the world life expectancy …show more content…
Just by living we impact the environment. The problem is that achievements in life expectancy may be associated with an unsustainable use of natural resources and an unsustainable production of wastes. For the most part, bioethics focused on medical developments and ignored environmental issues. (Dwyer). But the environmental issues are more serious and urgent than ever: unmitigated climate change, population growth that could reach nine billion, increased consumption of resources, shortages of fresh water, over harvesting of fish stocks, deforestation, erosion of cropland, and the extinction of species.