Human Health
Heat waves are dangerous, but...
The IPCC estimates that temperature increases of 6 degrees Fahrenheit will cause increased mortality rates from heat waves, floods and droughts, while an 8-degree increase will increase incidences of respiratory problems (caused by ozone) and infectious diseases, placing a "substantial burden" on health services.
Environment Illinois estimates that the mid-century's predicted couple degrees of warming will increase heat-related deaths in Chicago from 110 per summer to 243 per summer. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program estimates that heat-related deaths in Chicago may increase to 1200 per summer in higher emissions scenarios where the temperature rises more than 10 degrees.
One silver lining is that cold-related deaths will likely decrease. However, The Climate Change Science Program estimates that cold snaps cause only a 1.6% increase in deaths, while heat waves cause a 5.7% mortality increase.
Nevertheless, adaptation can greatly reduce heat-related deaths. Though the 1995 Chicago heat wave is often mentioned, officials admitted to handling the event poorly with inadequate warnings, power failures, unreliable ambulance and hospital service, and lack of preparedness. Most of those who died didn't have or couldn't afford to turn on their air conditioning. Susan Farner, human health lecturer at the University of Illinois, said of the 1995 heat wave, "A lot of it was, nobody knew how to handle it." Heat-related deaths can be mitigated with cooling centers, adoption of air conditioning, and better preparedness.
In addition, a heat wave is measured relative to normal weather for an area, so as our weather changes, the threshold for a heat wave (and possibly our ability to handle hotter temperatures) will also increase.
Our waters become polluted
Increased flooding from extreme rain events has several negative effects:
- Agricultural waste such as nitrogen, pesticides, and herbicides, may contaminate our drinking water.
- More runoff during rainfall can cause other pollutants and sediment to enter beach and drinking water supplies during floods.
- Lake temperatures will rise, while water levels will fall.
- Less oxygen at high water temperatures decreases the water's ability to self purify.
As water quality declines, conflicts over water use increase. The Union of Concerned Scientists predicts that temperature increases will exacerbate current debates about how to use Great Lakes water. The IPCC estimates that water availability may become a concern after an 8-degree Fahrenheit temperature increase.
The good news: Illinois is (currently) food secure
Lisa Ainsworth, assistant professor of plant biology at the University of Illinois, says that Illinois is not as likely to suffer from food shortages as other parts of the world. Illinois has fertile lands that are capable of producing great amounts of food, and we are surrounded by other agriculture-rich states.
Insect-borne diseases may increase
The Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that warmer temperatures may help increase the reproduction and survival of disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks, which spread West Nile virus and Lyme disease, among others.
"The occurrence of many infectious diseases is strongly seasonal, suggesting that climate plays a role in transmission," says the UCS.
Water-borne diseases may also rise
Extreme rainstorms may increase the prevalence of diseases spread by contaminated water, such as the intestinal infections cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, according to the UCS.
In addition, warming may cause a growth of ocean organisms, which could increase contamination of seafood and seafood-induced food poisoning, according to Robert Friis, author of Essentials of Environmental Health.
More information about the health impacts of climate change can be found through The U.S. Climate Change Science Program.
Nobody knew how to handle it."