Climate change has affected our ways of living in so many ways, and according to a new study, it is creating an impact on global health. An analysis of 56 past studies on climate change-related health problems has found that severe weather conditions and global temperature changes will continue to affect us.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin revealed that in the United States alone, a number of cities are expected to undergo more hot days by the year 2050. Examples of these cities are New York City and Milwaukee, which may have three times the current average hot day temperature. The researchers describe such conditions as largely human-driven consequences of climate change. Ninety-seven percent of scientists agree that climate change is a result of human activity.
The new study, published in JAMA, listed down climate change's wide range of effects on public health.
Respiratory Problems
Pollution triggers respiratory problems, often as a result of poor air quality. An example of this is the situation in Beijing, China. In the U.S., over 43 million people line in places that have gone beyond the EPA's health standards for fine particulate matter in the air, which can be due to forest fires. It is also suggested that pollen increases with climate change, which affects people with seasonal allergies.
Waterborne Diseases
Heavier rain is another result of climate change, which increases the incidence of gastrointestinal disease among children, as observed in the U.S. and India. In Ohio, citizens were banned from drinking tap water due to an algae bloom partly caused by agricultural runoff which contaminated drinking water.
Mental Health Problems
According to the researchers, serious weather events brought about by climate change can affect people's psyche, leaving them with feelings of hopelessness, displacement, and anxiety. An example is Hurricane Katrina, which has caused post-traumatic stress disorder to a number of people affected.