In today’s society, the health impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident and relevant. Not only does climate change detrimentally impact the environment, but it can stimulate the risk of developing infectious diseases and other chronic or fatal diseases. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the long-term health consequences of climate change.
Before we delve deeper into the consequences of climate change, let’s get into its basics. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates.” Moreover, the United Nations has reported that “Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.”
At first glance, climate change may seem irrelevant when discussing the emergence and spread of new infectious diseases. However, the Oxford Academic Organization has reported that “When temperatures are higher, vector development speeds up, with faster completion of life cycles,” enhancing the conditions for pathogenic growth. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has backed this finding by stating that “Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can boost mosquito and tick populations and make it easier for them to spread harmful pathogens to people. As a result, illnesses like Lyme and West Nile virus diseases are increasing”. On top of this, this same article noticed that an increase in temperature has “…allowed certain disease-causing fungi to spread into new areas that previously were too cold for them to survive.” A prime example is Valley fever, caused by fungi in hot and dry soils. This disease is transmitted through the inhalation of fungal spores and can be deadly if not treated promptly. Fungal diseases such as Valley fever are spreading rapidly due to changes in rainfall patterns and temperatures, all attributed to climate change.
Unfortunately, the extent of climate change on human health doesn’t end with a stimulated spread of infectious disease. Climate change also deteriorates the air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that “climate-driven changes in weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, are expected to increase ground-level ozone and particulate matter (such as windblown dust from droughts or smoke from wildfires)…” which all contribute to a worsened state of air quality. This agency has also concluded that exposure to particle pollution is associated with various respiratory health effects. These effects can be as minor as symptoms such as cough, phlegm, and wheezing to symptoms as intense as premature mortality due to chronic lung disease.
The issues highlighted in this article are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fatal impacts of climate change in the long term. Unfortunately, these issues will only continue to escalate unless addressed. This article emphasizes the importance of understanding and prioritizing the implementation of preventative measures and programs that will help slow the progression of climate change.
Works Cited
CDC. “Climate and Infectious Diseases.” National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), 12 Apr. 2024, www.cdc.gov/ncezid/priorities/climate-infectious-disease.html.
EPA. “Climate Change Impacts on Air Quality.” Www.epa.gov, 19 Oct. 2022, www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-air-quality.
NASA. “What Is Climate Change?” Science.nasa.gov, NASA, Mar. 2024, science.nasa.gov/climate-change/what-is-climate-change/.
Ogden, Lesley Evans. “Climate Change, Pathogens, and People.” BioScience, vol. 68, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 733–39, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biy101.
United Nations. “Causes and Effects of Climate Change.” United Nations, 2024, www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change.
US EPA. “Particle Pollution and Respiratory Effects.” Www.epa.gov, 15 Sept. 2014, www.epa.gov/pmcourse/particle-pollution-and-respiratory-effects.