Health And Disease
The impacts of global warming will be felt across the globe. These are a few of the many examples of the impacts of climate changes on health and disease.
Infectious Diseases
Cold winter weather reduces the spread of infectious diseases by killing infectious organisms and carrier species, such as mosquitoes. Warmer, wetter weather could increase the spread of malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. The possible increase in flooding and damage to water and sewage infrastructure can further encourage the spread of disease.
Increased Air Pollution
Three out of four of the world’s highest-density cities are in rapidly developing countries, where vehicle pollution is high. In Central Europe alone, 21,000 deaths are tied to air pollution each year. The concentration of photochemical pollutants, such as ozone, tends to increase with warmer temperatures. Ozone damages lung tissue and is especially harmful to people with asthma and other lung conditions.
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Increased Air Pollution
Air pollution in high-density cities can be a health hazard to individuals with asthma. Photochemical pollutants tend to increase with warmer temperatures. |
Hotter Summers & Warmer Winters
A 1995 heat wave killed more than 500 people in the Chicago area, and heat intensity is likely to rise in the future. Statistical studies estimate that a temperature rise of 2°F could double or triple the number of heat-related deaths in Atlanta, in part because the heat index will increase exponentially as temperature rises. But warmer weather may save lives in the winter by reducing hypothermia and driving-related fatalities.
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