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http://chge.med.harvard.edu/program...te Change and Health in the United States.pdf
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES
The Earth is warming due to fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Over the past 30 years the world has warmed faster and more extensively than any time period recorded in ice cores. By the end of this century, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international collaboration involving over 2,500 scientists, projects that average global temperature will increase between 2.5°F and 9°F, creating a climate never before experienced by humans. This document summarizes the health impacts of climate change in the U.S. and has been reviewed by Harvard Medical School faculty who specialize in the health impacts of global environmental change, with degrees in medicine and public health.
CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH RELEVANT TO HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE UNITED STATES
Increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have already, and will continue to, change the climate in the U.S.
Temperatures have risen throughout the U.S. over the past 3 decades, with nighttime and winter temperatures rising twice as fast as average warming (Easterling et al. 1997).
Heavier precipitation events are becoming more frequent.
From the 1970s to the 1990s, daily rain events 2”, 4” and 6” rose 14%, 20% and 27%, respectively (Groisman & Knight 2008).
More winter precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow, increasing risks of ice storms (IPCC 2007).
The ocean is the engine for climate change (warming and changing weather patterns).
Since 1950, the world’s oceans have accumulated 22 times as much heat as has the atmosphere (Levitus et al. 2005)
.
MAJOR HEALTH EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES
More respiratory disease, heart disease and death from heatwaves are projected.
From 1979-2003, extreme heat exposure killed more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, lightning and earthquakes combined (SCEIGW 2006).
Heatwaves disproportionately affect children, the elderly and the chronically ill.
The 10-day Chicago heatwave (June 1995) resulted in 738 excess deaths (Semenza et al. 1996). 1/3 of 58 patients admitted with heat stroke had severe neurological impairment that did not improve after 1 year (Dematte et al., 1998).
The frequency, duration and extent of heatwaves are projected to increase.
By the end of this century, Chicago is projected to experience 25% more heat waves – and LA up to 400% more – annually (UCS 2009).
Climate change increases the lethality of heatwaves due to disproportionate rise in nighttime temperatures and higher humidity.
Heat-trapping (greenhouse) gases elevate nighttime temperatures more so than daytime temperatures and warm air holds more water vapor.
The “urban heat island effect” from heat retention by pavement and buildings makes cities up to 7°F warmer than surrounding regions. Nighttime temperatures are even higher.
Northern city residents are especially vulnerable due to greater warming at high latitudes.
Ground-level ozone, local accumulation of CO2 and black carbon (soot) – all byproducts of burning fossil fuels – amplify the urban heat island effect.
Black carbon is a newly recognized contributor to global warming; it traps heat in the atmosphere and settles in ice and snow, increasing the heat uptake (Ramanathan & Carmichael 2008).
http://chge.med.harvard.edu/program...te Change and Health in the United States.pdf
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES
The Earth is warming due to fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Over the past 30 years the world has warmed faster and more extensively than any time period recorded in ice cores. By the end of this century, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international collaboration involving over 2,500 scientists, projects that average global temperature will increase between 2.5°F and 9°F, creating a climate never before experienced by humans. This document summarizes the health impacts of climate change in the U.S. and has been reviewed by Harvard Medical School faculty who specialize in the health impacts of global environmental change, with degrees in medicine and public health.
CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH RELEVANT TO HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE UNITED STATES
Increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have already, and will continue to, change the climate in the U.S.
Temperatures have risen throughout the U.S. over the past 3 decades, with nighttime and winter temperatures rising twice as fast as average warming (Easterling et al. 1997).
Heavier precipitation events are becoming more frequent.
From the 1970s to the 1990s, daily rain events 2”, 4” and 6” rose 14%, 20% and 27%, respectively (Groisman & Knight 2008).
More winter precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow, increasing risks of ice storms (IPCC 2007).
The ocean is the engine for climate change (warming and changing weather patterns).
Since 1950, the world’s oceans have accumulated 22 times as much heat as has the atmosphere (Levitus et al. 2005)
.
MAJOR HEALTH EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES
More respiratory disease, heart disease and death from heatwaves are projected.
From 1979-2003, extreme heat exposure killed more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, lightning and earthquakes combined (SCEIGW 2006).
Heatwaves disproportionately affect children, the elderly and the chronically ill.
The 10-day Chicago heatwave (June 1995) resulted in 738 excess deaths (Semenza et al. 1996). 1/3 of 58 patients admitted with heat stroke had severe neurological impairment that did not improve after 1 year (Dematte et al., 1998).
The frequency, duration and extent of heatwaves are projected to increase.
By the end of this century, Chicago is projected to experience 25% more heat waves – and LA up to 400% more – annually (UCS 2009).
Climate change increases the lethality of heatwaves due to disproportionate rise in nighttime temperatures and higher humidity.
Heat-trapping (greenhouse) gases elevate nighttime temperatures more so than daytime temperatures and warm air holds more water vapor.
The “urban heat island effect” from heat retention by pavement and buildings makes cities up to 7°F warmer than surrounding regions. Nighttime temperatures are even higher.
Northern city residents are especially vulnerable due to greater warming at high latitudes.
Ground-level ozone, local accumulation of CO2 and black carbon (soot) – all byproducts of burning fossil fuels – amplify the urban heat island effect.
Black carbon is a newly recognized contributor to global warming; it traps heat in the atmosphere and settles in ice and snow, increasing the heat uptake (Ramanathan & Carmichael 2008).