Royal Mail Climate Change Challenge Pack:
Station Information Sheets
Station 7: Effects on health
Worldwide
A warmer, more variable climate would expose more
people to extremes of temperature with resultant
health impacts, in both summer and winter.
Overall, scientists consider that most of the health
impacts of climate change would be negative leading
to more illness and deaths. Some of the effects of
climate change on health may be beneficial. For
example, milder winters would reduce the seasonal
winter-time peak in deaths that occurs in temperate
countries, while in currently hot regions a further
increase in temperatures might reduce the viability
of disease-transmitting mosquito populations.
The World Health Organization estimated, in its
“World Health Report 2002”, that climate change
was estimated to be responsible in 2000 for
approximately 2.4% of worldwide diarrhoea, and
6% of malaria in some middle-income countries.
The first detectable changes in human health may
well be alterations in the geographic range (latitude
and altitude) and seasonality of certain infectious
diseases – including vector-borne infections such
as malaria and dengue fever, and food-borne
infections (e.g. salmonellosis) which peak in the
warmer months.
UNIT 1 STATION 7
In the UK
The main impacts of climate change on health in
the UK will be through:
• increased frequency of extreme weather events
such as heatwaves and floods
• changing patterns of infectious disease
• increased exposure to UV radiation.
Greater extremes of temperature leading to heat-
related deaths could increase to around 2,800 cases
per year. However, milder winters should reduce
cold-related winter deaths by up to 20,000 cases per
year (older people in particular are more susceptible
to cold).
The increased frequency of severe coastal and river
floods may increase fatalities but also of concern
are mental health problems as victims experience
personal and economic loss and stress.
The levels of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface
may increase due to sunnier summers. With reduced
cloud cover and ozone depletion (which reduces the
capacity of the ozone layer to absorb UV), people
are more likely to experience skin damage from being
out in the sun. Whether this will lead to increased
UV exposure depends on people’s behaviour. The
Department of Health has predicted an extra 5,000
cases of skin cancer and 2,000 of cataract problems
(leading to loss of vision) per year by 2050.
Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks are
climate-sensitive and can increase or be introduced
due to climate change. Some of these vector-borne
diseases, such as malaria, might be re-established
in the UK. Other concerns include the spread of
West Nile fever.
Royal Mail Climate Change Challenge Pack: UNIT 1 STATION 7

With higher temperatures in summer, food

poisoning could cause an estimated 10,000 extra
cases of salmonella infection per year. Water-borne
diseases are expected to increase, with levels of
cryptosporidium and campylobacter in water.

An increase in the frequency of severe winter storms

could lead to an increase in personal injuries from
flying debris and falling trees e.g. winter storm Kyrill,
which hit Europe on 18 January 2007, killing 47
across Europe, and 13 in the UK.

A possible reduction (up to 50%) in the adverse

health effects of winter air pollution could lead to
fewer premature deaths. This would result from the
expected reduction in the cold, calm winter weather
associated with winter air pollution episodes together
with reduced emissions of key pollutants including
particles, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide.
A small overall increase in the number of summer
ozone episodes coupled with a longer-term increase
in background levels of ozone could cause a rise in
the number of premature deaths.