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CLIMATE CHANGE |
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malaria, and cholera. These diseases, which are usually found in tropical areas would most likely spread northward to areas not used to or prepared to deal with them5. Some doctors are also warning that increased average temperatures could lead to more cardiovascular disease while others note that asthma and other respiratory illnesses would become more prominent. One doctor explained that warmer temperatures increase the development of atherosclerosis, or a disease which causes arteries to harden3. While temperatures exceeding 70 degrees coupled with an excess of 70% humidity are often cause for cardiovascular distress4 the link to respiratory illnesses is a little more obscure. However, it would suffice to say that major changes in our environment could cause air quality issues thus impacting respiratory health. ECONOMIC CONCERNS In the case of global climate change, changes in weather patterns can lead to an increase in the occurrence and severity of droughts and flooding which would negatively impact water supply and the way that water is used in daily life. In the case of drought, for instance, crops would suffer and create food scarcity issues while excessive flooding would contaminate water sources used for drinking and fishing5. Changes in growing periods would also have a huge impact on areas of our country and the world that sustain their economy through agriculture5. Areas like Vermont might also suffer from a huge decrease in the tourism brought in by seasonal activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports. States defined by certain activities would also lose some of the characteristics that make them what they are; what would Vermont be without its maple syrup, mud, ski, and apple-picking seasons? |
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