Researchers Outline Climate Change's Effects on Health

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Climate change can be linked to various adverse health effects, and physicians have a role in communicating potential health concerns to the public, according to a JAMA article published to coincide with the United Nations Climate Summit.

By 2050, the authors calculate, the annual number of days with a temperature of 90 degrees F in New York City is expected to triple from 13 to 39. Similar increases are expected in other U.S. cities. With such climate change, the likelihood of the following health problems increases: heat-related disorders, such as heat stress; respiratory disorders, such as asthma; infectious diseases; food insecurity; and mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Editorialists conclude: "Today, in the early part of the 21st century, it is critical to recognize that climate change poses the same threat to health as the lack of sanitation, clean water, and pollution did in the early 20th century. Understanding and characterizing this threat and educating the medical community, public, and policy makers are crucial if the health of the world's population is to continue to improve."