Thursday, September 10, 2009

Global warming impacts to public health in California


Following are some excerpts from an article from American Lung Assoc. in California :

Global warming not only poses a serious threat to the health of our planet, it also puts our own health at risk...

With rising temperatures, there will be many more smoggy days. While ozone - the main ingredient in smog - high up in the atmosphere actually protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays, ozone down near the ground is very dangerous to lung health and can lead to wheezing and coughing, increased risk of asthma attacks, and more visits to the hospital for breathing problems...

Californians experience the worst air quality in the nation, with more than 90 percent of residents living in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particulate pollution, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Air pollution exposure can lead to asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, worsening of lung illnesses such as emphysema, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, premature deaths and abnormal lung development in children. The increased frequency and intensity of heat episodes in California from global warming will create additional challenges to protecting residents from poor air quality.
(Read full article here)

(Download these authoritative reports describing the impacts Californians can expect from global warming, and recommended mitigation measures.)

Global Warming: Impacts to Public Health and Air Quality

Global Warming: Public Health Impacts and Key Mitigation Strategies