What it is
Climate is the average weather in a place over time. Climate change is a major change in temperature, rainfall, snow or wind patterns that lasts for many years.
- It can come from natural factors or human activities.
- Today, the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate.
How it can affect health
| Change | What it can lead to |
|---|---|
| More heat | more heat-related illness and deaths |
| More pollen, mold and air pollution | more allergies, asthma and breathing problems |
| Warmer places | mosquitoes and other insects that carry disease spreading to areas that used to be too cold for them |
| More floods and rising sea levels | more contamination of food and water |
| More extreme weather, such as hurricanes and wildfires | death, injuries, stress and mental health problems |
What's being done
Researchers are studying the best ways to lessen climate change and reduce its impact on health.
Sources
Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Climate Change," National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
LanguagesEnglish
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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