Climate and Health Resources:
ARKANSAS
v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Climate change poses risks to human health. Already in the United States, we are seeing rising
temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of some types of extreme weather, sea level rise, and
other changes in weather and climate patterns. We are all vulnerable to the health impacts associated
with climate change. However, these climate and health risks vary across the country.
In Arkansas, annual rainfall has increased. This and other climate impacts mean increasing risks to
health. Examples of risks and actions for Arkansas residents include:
-	Higher temperatures and other weather changes will increase levels of ozone pollution (a
component of smog), increasing health risks like asthma-related hospital visits. Learn how you
can take action to protect against poor air quality, such as:
o Prepare: Check news or airnow.gov for the local air quality index,
o Respond: Reduce outdoor activity when pollution levels are high.
-	More carbon dioxide causes some plants to produce more pollen. This will combine with
longer growing seasons and other changes to result in more allergy and asthma episodes. Learn
how you can take action to prevent asthma attacks and allergy symptoms, such as:
o Prepare Talk to a doctor and make an Asthma Action Plan,
o Prepare: Clean and replace air conditioner filters often.
-	Rising temperatures and changing rain patterns will lead to more mosquitoes. Mosquito bites
can transmit diseases like West Nile virus to humans. Learn how you can take action to protect
against mosquitoes, such as:
o Prepare: Get rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed,
o Prepare: Keep window and door screens in good condition.
Learn more in the USGCRP Climate and Health Assessment.
The examples of risks and actions provided in this document are not a comprehensive list. They
provide users with illustrative impacts and resources for further information. Examples were
selected based on relevance to the state or region and representation of a diversity of health
threats. Selection does not imply ranking of severity of impacts nor prioritization of actions. The
examples of impacts are based on "The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the
United States: A Scientific Assessment," available at https://health2016.globalchange.gov, as well
as the National Climate Assessment at http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/
June 2016

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RESOURCES FOR ARKANSAS RESIDENTS
Resource Topic
Information
Source
Climate Change
Impacts
Learn more: What Climate Change Means for
Arkansas
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency

Learn more: National Climate Assessment:
Southeast
U.S. Global Change
Research Program. 2014.

Find Resources: EPA Region 6 (South Central)
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
Public Health
Information
Find Resources: Arkansas Department of Health
State of Arkansas

Find Resources: Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management
State of Arkansas
June 2016

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