Health Impacts Due to Major Climate and Weather Extremes

Abstract

China is one of the countries which suffer the most serious climate extremes and disasters in the world. Climate extremes in China feature various types of extremes with high frequency, strong seasonal and regional differences, and a wide range of effects. This chapter summarizes studies about three major climate and weather extremes’ health impacts conducted in China. Rainstorm and flood disasters directly or indirectly threaten the living environment of human beings and the health of the people, such as the deterioration of the ecological environment, the loss of huge property, death and related diseases, psychological trauma, and other immediate and delayed adverse effects. Tropical cyclone has multiple effects on human being’s health. In addition to death and injury caused by direct winds, heavy rains, and storm surges, it can also indirectly affect the health of the population through the destruction of shelter and health services, population migration, water pollution, and food reduction (resulting in hunger and malnutrition), resulting in an increase in mortality, disability, and incidence of infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases. During the drought period, water sources are more likely to be contaminated by feces and pathogens, causing outbreaks of digestive tract diseases. Drought can also increase risk of noncommunicable diseases such as gynecologic diseases, esophageal cancer, renal damage, etc. With the global climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, rainstorms, floods, and droughts have increased and will continue to increase. Although many literatures have studied the health effects of extreme weather events, there are still many problems to be solved.