Ecological impacts of the absence of birds and lizards (largely insect-eating species) include a rise in the abundance of insects, which may affect crop production. The brown tree snake causes frequent electrical power outages by climbing power lines and getting into transformers and electrical boxes. Snakes have caused more than 1600 power outages in the 20-yr period of 1978-1997 and most recently nearly 200 outages per year.
As with many cancers, the risk of developing throat cancer increases with age, with most people being over the age of 65. Men are two to three times more likely than women to develop throat cancer in their lifetime.
HPV: The Human Papilloma Virus is now thought to be the main cause of throat cancer in people under 50, scientists have warned. HPV is best known as the cause of around 70 per cent of cervical cancers. Since 2008, girls have been vaccinated against the virus aged 12 and 13 in schools.