Health Impacts
How Does Climate Change Pose Human Health Risks?
Climate change is a pressing risk to human health. Global warming results in a multitude of health-related challenges. Rising temperatures can lead to more frequent and severe heat waves, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and even heatstroke, especially among vulnerable populations. Changes in climate patterns can extend the transmission of seasons of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease. Additionally, extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can have direct and indirect health consequences, including injuries, mental health issues, and disruptions to healthcare services. Climate change can also influence air quality, leading to increased respiratory problems due to a rise in allergens, air pollution, and wildfires. Waterborne diseases may become more prevalent with changing precipitation patterns and flooding. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk. Adapting to these health impacts requires public health preparedness, improved healthcare infrastructure, and community resilience strategies to protect individuals from the growing physical risks associated with climate change.
Heat-Related Deaths
Climate change brings forth global warming, which escalates global temperatures over time. This can pose a threat to human health, making heat due to climate change an important risk to explore. Increased heat can negatively impact health, ecosystems, and society.
| Year | Underlying and Contributing Causes of Death (May-Sept) | Underlying Cause of Death (all year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.24038954 | |
| 1980 | 2.87259485 | |
| 1981 | 0.48804399 | |
| 1982 | 0.32369244 | |
| 1983 | 0.87260877 | |
| 1984 | 0.39419784 | |
| 1985 | 0.47477852 | |
| 1986 | 0.57038206 | |
| 1987 | 0.62295006 | |
| 1988 | 0.85836222 | |
| 1989 | 0.38056409 | |
| 1990 | 0.59054617 | |
| 1991 | 0.39116818 | |
| 1992 | 0.26110021 | |
| 1993 | 0.46149473 | |
| 1994 | 0.38367814 | |
| 1995 | 1.36643512 | |
| 1996 | 0.45262168 | |
| 1997 | 0.35193625 | |
| 1998 | 0.81512038 | |
| 1999 | 2.128725783 | 3.612383146 |
| 2000 | 1.069568479 | 1.620342945 |
| 2001 | 1.052746254 | 1.730013011 |
| 2002 | 1.216861417 | 1.967838749 |
| 2003 | 0.941029076 | 1.299516342 |
| 2004 | 0.771843958 | 0.898207791 |
| 2005 | 1.576899577 | 2.219841465 |
| 2006 | 2.084590735 | 3.173806151 |
| 2007 | 1.025790133 | 1.656534876 |
| 2008 | 0.973383339 | 1.443632722 |
| 2009 | 1.147433731 | 1.603799419 |
| 2010 | 1.535244859 | 2.400034685 |
| 2011 | 1.883874285 | 3.087371487 |
| 2012 | 1.509967506 | 2.507055753 |
| 2013 | 1.176735413 | 1.939082818 |
| 2014 | 0.765233183 | 1.088261945 |
| Year | Crude summer death rate per million, general population | Crude summer death rate per million, age 65+ population | Crude summer death rate per million, non-white population | Crude summer death rate per million, non-Hispanic black population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.082281458 | 5.977382332 | 2.244183979 | 3.139198754 |
| 2000 | 0.3695519 | 2.200518505 | 0.79865757 | 1.054377105 |
| 2001 | 0.477244969 | 2.833640561 | 0.701072408 | 0.925967782 |
| 2002 | 0.563232999 | 3.012200227 | 0.983217443 | 1.359226921 |
| 2003 | 0.224054542 | 1.059572247 | 0.272812286 | 0.384380902 |
| 2004 | 0.078550491 | 0.276217769 | 0.053442342 | 0.027137785 |
| 2005 | 0.382381228 | 2.155537119 | 0.610505892 | 0.858582455 |
| 2006 | 0.777532235 | 3.955429361 | 1.160911938 | 1.643712356 |
| 2007 | 0.371807427 | 1.744844928 | 0.56817822 | 0.838032009 |
| 2008 | 0.322268808 | 1.598860332 | 0.572572904 | 0.802033896 |
| 2009 | 0.299897452 | 1.564740837 | 0.416782244 | 0.511445969 |
| 2010 | 0.5149872 | 2.384027966 | 0.852781516 | 1.369267893 |
| 2011 | 0.77665686 | 3.551227214 | 1.085311937 | 1.627241688 |
| 2012 | 0.618003578 | 2.665408532 | 0.806826213 | 1.163614382 |
| 2013 | 0.446020681 | 1.879023375 | 0.479154238 | 0.661730873 |
| 2014 | 0.137992869 | 0.605494285 | 0.073285211 | 0.096813577 |
| 2015 | 0.308009344 | 1.193446047 | 0.345106418 | 0.478726782 |
| 2016 | 0.495160559 | 2.030696207 | 0.454386039 | 0.73561396 |
| 2017 | 0.429818105 | 1.76960947 | 0.320407768 | 0.281529141 |
| 2018 | 0.565459703 | 2.326859128 | 0.509619425 | 0.675442355 |
Air Pollution Impacts on Human Health
Not only is heat a major concern, so is air pollution caused by climate change and greenhouse gases. Pollutants in air are harmful to human health. Industrial activity, fossil fuel burning, and emissions from vehicles are some examples of harmful pollutants. These pollutants can lead to various diseases upon inhalation. A study conducted in Gujarat, India depicts the increase in air pollutants over time and compares urban and rural areas.
