How Do Pollution and Climate Change Kill People?

Pollution and climate change can have severe health impacts, leading to the loss of lives through various direct and indirect mechanisms. An overview of how pollution and climate change contribute to adverse health outcomes:

Pollution:

1. Air Pollution:
   • Respiratory Issues: Inhalation of air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), can cause or exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
   • Cardiovascular Effects: Air pollution is linked to cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Fine particulate matter can enter the bloodstream, affecting the cardiovascular system.
2. Water Pollution:
   • Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water sources can harbor pathogens, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and gastrointestinal infections.
   • Chemical Exposure: Industrial pollutants, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage can introduce harmful chemicals into water supplies, posing long-term health risks.
3. Soil Pollution:
   • Food Contamination: Polluted soil can lead to the contamination of crops with heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful substances. Consuming contaminated food can result in health issues, including neurological problems and cancer.
4. Noise Pollution:
   • Stress and Mental Health: Chronic exposure to high levels of noise can contribute to stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Long-term stress can impact mental health and, indirectly, physical well-being.

Climate Change:

1. Extreme Heat:
   • Heat-Related Illnesses: Increasing temperatures, especially during heatwaves, can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, leading to organ failure and death.
2. Extreme Weather Events:
   • Injuries and Fatalities: Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather events associated with climate change can cause injuries and fatalities directly. These events may also displace populations, leading to increased vulnerability.
3. Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases:
   • Changing Disease Patterns: Climate change can alter the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease. These diseases can lead to severe health complications and death. Climate change can influence the geographic range and seasonality of infectious diseases, potentially leading to the emergence of new health threats. “The magnitude of the vulnerability when you think about one or two diseases — okay, sure, we can deal with that,” professor Camilo Mora said. “But when you’re talking about 58% of the diseases, and 58% of those diseases can be affected or triggered in 1,000 different ways. So that, to me, was also revealing of the fact that we’re not going to be able to adapt to climate change.”
4. Air Quality Impacts:
   • Worsening Respiratory Conditions: Changes in climate patterns can affect air quality, contributing to increased respiratory issues and exacerbating existing health conditions.
5. Food and Water Scarcity:
   • Malnutrition and Dehydration: Climate change can impact agricultural productivity and water availability. This may lead to food and water scarcity, causing malnutrition, dehydration, and related health problems.
6. Mental Health Impact:
   • Psychological Stress: The environmental changes and uncertainties associated with climate change can contribute to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Almost all survivors of climate-related disasters suffer from mental distress experiencing PTSD. Of those who have not experienced climate disasters, over two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) report having climate change anxiety.

It’s important to note that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are often disproportionately affected by the health impacts of pollution and climate change. Additionally, global efforts to mitigate these impacts and transition to more sustainable practices are crucial for protecting human health and well-being.

* Our climate model employs chaos theory to comprehensively consider human impacts and projects a potential global average temperature increase of 9℃ above pre-industrial levels.