Global warming serves notice for public health

Researchers link climate change to health risks, taking into consideration regional weather patterns, moderating influences and adaptive measures such as vaccination programs, disease monitoring, public education and disaster preparedness programs

By Environmental News Network staff

March 28, 2000
Web posted at: 2:15 p.m. EST (1915 GMT)

As global temperatures rise, so do health risks associated with the heat, scientists say. But better health care and close monitoring of climate change will do much, at least in the United States, to protect the population from the dangers of a warmer world.

"We found that, at present, most of the U.S. population is protected against adverse health outcomes associated with weather and/or climate, although certain demographic and geographic populations are at increased risk," notes Jonathan Patz of Johns Hopkins University in a recent report.

"We concluded that vigilance in the maintenance and improvement of public health systems and their responsiveness to changing climate conditions and to identified vulnerable sub-populations should help to protect the U.S. population from any adverse health outcomes of projected climate change."

The report is the result of 18 months of research by a diverse team chosen by the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The researchers were asked to assess the relationship between climate change and health in the United States.

"This report puts the best science forward to begin to identify the health risks from global climate change," said Patz, who works at Johns Hopkins' School of Public Health. "Our findings suggest some cause for concern, but if we continue as a nation to make public health a priority, adaptation may be feasible."

The report notes where the United States needs to "fill in the gaps" with research and improved health care as the country faces the effects of climate change.

The researchers began their study by considering the following broad questions:

• What general health conditions and trends currently exist in the United States?
• How might climate variability affect health?
• What is the country's capacity to adapt to climate change?
• What areas must be addressed with research and education to understand and predict the impact of climate change on human health?

The researchers consulted authorities about several issues: morbidity and mortality due to climate change; extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes and extreme precipitation; air pollution; water- and food-borne diseases; vector- and rodent-borne diseases.

Other studies have shown that summer heat waves in urban areas are associated with increased mortality. "Heat and heat waves are projected to increase in severity and frequency with increasing global mean temperatures," Patz and colleagues note in the report.

Air conditioning and increased fluid intake are common ways to reduce the risk of illness from heat. The scientists also suggest implementing emergency programs in communities.

The death rate due to weather is usually higher in winter than in summer, when influenza and other respiratory infections are most common. Studies also show a correlation between snowfall and fatal heart attacks. Patz and colleagues aren't sure how warmer winter months will influence the death rate.

Climate change is expected to alter the frequency, timing, intensity and duration of extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes and extremely heavy rainfall, the researchers note. Direct results of these events are injury or death. Other effects include post-traumatic stress disorder and contamination of drinking water from flooding.

The researchers call for improved climate models "to project trends, if any, in regional extreme events." Such predictions could help communities develop programs to handle weather emergencies.

One area not addressed in the report is the expense involved in averting human health disasters due to climate change. "We can probably adapt to most of these issues, but we do not know how much it will cost us," said Patz.

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John's Hopkins School of Public Health
Global Warming
The executive summary of the report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Global Change Research Program
The U.S. National Assessment
EPA Global Warming Page

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