The Earth's climate
is changing in ways
that could have serious
consequences for public
health. In addition
to the direct effects of
higher temperatures,
climate change will likely
increase the number of
people suffering from
illness and injury due to
floods, storms, droughts,
and fires, as well as
allergies and infectious
diseases. This fact sheet
describes some of the key
ways in which climate
change is expected to
affect peoples health.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Climate Change and
Health Effects
Heat-Related Illnesses and Deaths
When people are exposed to extreme heat, they can suffer from potentially deadly illnesses such
as elevated body temperatures, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. As the world's
average temperature gets warmer, some areas are already experiencing an increase in the number
of extremely hot days, and scientists expect severe heat waves to become more frequent and more
intense in the future.
Heat is already the
leading cause of
weather-related deaths
in the United States,
with more than 6,300
deaths resulting from
exposure to extremely
hot weather between
1979 and 2006. Rising
temperatures, however,
might result in fewer
deaths from extreme
cold.
Respiratory Problems
In some parts of the
United States, smog
(ground-level ozone)
levels are expected to
increase as temperatures
rise. Smog can irritate
the respiratory system,
reduce lung capacity,
and aggravate asthma.
People with existing
respiratory or heart
problems would be at
increased risk.
Heat-Related Deaths in the United States,
1979-2006
o
1975
Year
Befween J 998 and J 999, the World Health Organization revised the
international codes used to classify causes of death. As a result, data
from before 1999 cannot easily be compared with data from 1999
and later.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009.
http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html
Heat is already the. leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United
States, with more than 6,300 deaths resulting from exposure to extremely
hot weather between 1979 and 2006.
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Diseases and Allergies
Diseases such as cholera and salmonella, which are transmitted through
contaminated food or water, could become more widespread with climate
change because of increased flooding.
Changes in temperature and rainfall in some areas are likely to increase
the range and the length of activity for ticks and mosquitoes, which can
spread diseases such as Lyme disease, malaria, and West Nile virus. In
fact, the large transmissions of West Nile virus during the summers of 2002
through 2004 in the United States have been linked to the above average
temperatures seen in these years. These impacts may be more prevalent in
developing countries, however, since many climate-sensitive diseases such
as malaria have been virtually eliminated in the United States due in part to
public health measures.
Climate change could also cause more severe allergy symptoms because
a warmer climate is expected to promote the growth of the molds, weeds,
grasses, and trees that cause allergic reactions in some people. Climate
change has already caused the spring pollen season to begin earier in
North America. Ragweed has been observed to grow faster and flower
earier in urban areas where effects of climate change are enhanced
compared with rural areas.
Who Is at Risk?
Certain people are more at risk of experiencing the health impacts of climate
change than others, including those who:
• Are elderly, very young, disabled, poor, or living alone.
• Have existing medical conditions such as heart disease or asthma.
• Live in urban neighborhoods that are already stressed by air pollution, aging
infrastructure, and the heat island effect, which makes cities hotter than
surrounding rural areas.
The degree to which people will be affected also depends on the ability of
a region to prepare for and respond to risks. Improvements in emergency
preparedness, health-care systems, and other response measures can all help
reduce the health impacts of climate change.
For More Information
For detailed information about greenhouse gas emissions,
the effects of climate change, EPA efforts underway,
and tips on what you can do, visit EPA's Climate Change
Web site atwww.epa.gov/climatechange.
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