Climate Change and Human Health

Effects of temperature extremes

• July, 1995. Chicago.
  • 93 to 104°F
  • number of deaths increased 85%
• August, 2003. Europe.
  • 35,000 lives

Preciptiation extremes

• Hurricane Mitch- Central America, 1998
  • Six feet of rain
  • 11,000 lives
• East Pakistan, 1970 cyclone
  • 2,000,000 deaths

Air PolLution

• CO2 in the atmosphere
• Respiratory conditions
• Cardiovascular systems
• Ground-level ozone
• “Particulate Matter”
• Who is at risk?

Food and Water

What does this mean to us?

• “The future vulnerability of the U.S. population to the health impacts of climate change depends on our capacity to adapt any adverse changes through legislative, administrative, institutional, technological, educational, and research-related measures, concludes the health report made by the U.S. National Assessment on Climate Change.”