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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 |
Sponsored Newspapers In Education Content
How will climate change affect our health?
1.
Air Quality
Climate change and air quality are highly interconnected—each contributes to the other. Pollutants such as wildfire smoke, fine particles and
toxins in vehicle exhaust, and ozone air pollution contribute to climate change and poor air quality. When airborne pollutants are inhaled, they
can cause lung irritation, chest pain, coughing and congestion, or aggravate pre-existing diseases. Effects may be experienced short term, as
breathing difficulties during outdoor exercise or activities, or longer term. Long term exposure risks include damage to the lungs, heart disease,
and cancer.
2.
Drinking Water
Extreme weather conditions affect clean drinking water by limiting supply and compromising quality. Summer droughts and faster evaporation
rates yield smaller supply amounts of clean, drinkable water. Heavy rainfall during winter increase flood risks. Floods pose immediate safety
risks to people, and can damage and contaminate wells and water treatment plants. Pathogens may also be introduced into drinking water via
increased runoff, surface water intakes, and flooding of the wells themselves.
3.
Extreme Heat
Higher temperatures lead to higher prevalence of heat-related illness (i.e. heat exhaustion and stroke). A correlation has been observed
between rising temperatures and rising hospitalizations in King County. Numbers also indicate increasing human mortality as a result
of more hot weather. In the greater Seattle area: risk of death due to all non-traumatic causes and circulatory causes rose for the overall
population aged 45 years and above beginning during the first four days of heat events (Jackson et al. 2010). Heat-related illnesses
are particularly dangerous for the elderly.
4.
Shellfish Safety and Toxic Algae
Increasing temperatures allow for an extended growing season and expanded growing area for harmful algae, which produce poisonous marine
biotoxins. When consumed by shellfish, harmful toxins remain in their systems, causing illness or death to humans and other mammals that eat
the infected shellfish. Toxic algae can also grow in freshwater lakes and cause illnesses to pets and people who swim in the contaminated water.
ASSESSING VULNERABILITIES
Several Puget Sound communities and organizations are assessing their
individual vulnerabilities to climate change. For example, the Jamestown
S’Klallam Tribe recently completed a vulnerability assessment, finding that
scenarios for moderate and high severity sea level rise increase the flood risks
for Highway 101 near Discovery Bay, potentially limiting the Tribe’s access to the
highway during those flood events.
In other examples, the Climate Impacts Group has worked with the City of
Seattle, City of Tacoma, Sound Transit, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
and others to identify climate vulnerabilities in the natural and built environment.
PARTNERSHIP BUILDING
Agencies, organizations, and communities are working collaboratively with
stakeholders to identify options for responding to climate change in the
Puget Sound region. For example, local and county governments in the
central Puget Sound region are working to establish a Central Puget Sound
Climate Preparedness Partnership. The goal of the partnership is to enhance
opportunities for collaboration and coordination of climate resilience activities
in the central Puget Sound region.
CLIMATE-INFORMED PLANNING
Communities and practitioners are incorporating climate change impacts into
planning and decisions. For example, the Nature Conservancy has worked
with Pacific County and other partners to map coastal vulnerability and sea
level rise, and is helping to incorporate these assessments into their Shoreline
Master Program updates.
In addition, King County is using sea level rise and streamflow projections from
the Climate Impacts Group to inform decision making regarding maintenance
and capital upgrades of low-lying facilities and outfalls.
IMPLEMENTING ADAPTATION
A number of Puget Sound communities have begun to implement changes in
policies, practices, and infrastructure that are designed to increase climate
resilience. For example, the City of Anacortes updated the design of a new $65
million water treatment plant to account for projected increases in flooding and
sediment loading in the Skagit River.
In another example, a new 8-mile reclaimed water pipeline built by King County
provides additional water for agriculture and industrial customers in the
Sammamish River Valley, increasing water supply flexibility during times
of drought.
How can we prepare?
This education insert highlights information developed by partner organizations:
University of Washington Climate Impacts Group | Building climate resilience for people and nature.
The Nature Conservancy in Washington | Changing the climate narrative from threat to opportunity and demonstrating the power of natural systems to protect people and
nature.
