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White House Issues Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Human Health

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How climate change effects health conditions

This week, the Obama Administration released a scientific assessment and analysis of how climate change is tied to human health in the U.S.

The [link url=”https://health2016.globalchange.gov/” title=”report”], titled The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment, includes deep analysis of what effect climate change has on public health, and what effect it will have in coming years.

The assessment incorporates research and analysis from more than 100 experts from across different groups and agencies, including:

  • The Department of Defense (DOD)
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • The Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  • The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)

Findings

Overall, the report points out that risks to human health will continue to grow along with the changing climate. The effects will be widespread — existing health threats will be impacted, and new health threats will emerge. All age groups will be impacted, as well.

Some of the most significant findings include:

  • The number of premature deaths will rise due to extreme heat.
  • Allergy and asthma conditions will worsen alongside an increase in air pollution and airborne allergens.
  • The number of water-related illnesses will rise due to warmer water temperatures and runoff from extreme precipitation events.
  • Lyme disease cases will likely increase due to warmer winter and spring temperatures extending the risk period.

Vulnerable populations

The largest health impacts will take place within vulnerable populations, the report noted. And extreme weather events like flooding and drought will impact a number of individual factors, as well. Extreme weather events will increase exposure to toxins and also heighten the risk of food contamination.

Read the entire report link url=”https://health2016.globalchange.gov/” title=”here”].

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