Also discussed here: Full Report:The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States (312 pp,Crimmins, A., J. Balbus, J.L. Gamble, C.B. Beard, J.E. Bell, D. Dodgen, R.J. Eisen, N. Fann, M.D. Hawkins, S.C. Herring, L. Jantarasami, D.M. Mills, S. Saha, M.C. Sarofim, J. Trtanj, and L. Ziska, Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, Apr. 12, 2016)
Today we review a report that provide a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of climate change on health of Americans and an estimate of the risk they pose. These impacts come about in two ways: changing the severity and frequency of health impacts from the current weather and by creating threats to health in places that have not experienced them before. The specific impacts range from many more deaths from extreme heat especially form the elderly and children, to more air pollution from particulates form wildfires and from greater exposure to allergens to impacts from extreme events, such as flooding, drought and wildfires to mental distress and trauma (PTSD) for people experiencing these extreme events.
Key Quotes:
“we have observed climate-related increases in our exposure to elevated temperatures; more frequent, severe, or longer-lasting extreme events; degraded air quality; diseases transmitted through food, water, and disease vectors (such as ticks and mosquitoes); and stresses to our mental health and well-being.”
“Climate change can therefore affect human health in two main ways: first, by changing the severity or frequency of health problems that are already affected by climate or weather factors; and second, by creating unprecedented or unanticipated health problems or health threats in places where they have not previously occurred.”
Some Findings:
- “an increase of thousands to tens of thousands of premature heat-related deaths in the summer ... and a decrease of premature cold-related deaths in the winter …. are projected each year as a result of climate change by the end of the century.”
- “An increase in population tolerance to extreme heat has been observed over time … Expected future increases in this tolerance will reduce the projected increase in deaths from heat”
- “Older adults and children have a higher risk of dying or becoming ill due to extreme heat” “climate-driven increases in ozone will cause premature deaths, hospital visits, lost school days, and acute respiratory symptoms”
- “Climate change is projected to increase the number and severity of naturally occurring wildfires in parts of the United States, increasing emissions of particulate matter and ozone precursors and resulting in additional adverse health outcomes”
- “Changes in climate, … are expected to contribute to increases in the levels of some airborne allergens and associated increases in asthma episodes” “Climate change will increase exposure risk in some regions of the United States due to projected increases in the frequency and/or intensity of drought, wildfires, and flooding”
- “Many types of extreme events related to climate change cause disruption of infrastructure”
- “Climate change will increase exposure risk to coastal flooding” “Longer seasonal activity and expanding geographic range of these ticks [Lyme disease]will increase the risk of human exposure to ticks”
- “Alterations in the distribution, abundance, and infection rate of mosquitoes will influence human exposure to bites from infected mosquitoes” “Increases in water temperatures associated with climate change will alter the seasonal windows of growth and the geographic range of suitable habitat for freshwater toxin-producing harmful algae”
- “Rising carbon dioxide concentrations and climate change will alter incidence and distribution of pests, parasites, and microbes”
- “Many people exposed to climate-related or weather-related disasters experience stress and serious mental health consequences….these consequences include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and general anxiety
- “Increases in extreme heat will increase the risk of disease and death for people with mental illness”
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