Abstract
The evidence of observed health effects as well as projections of future health risks from climate variability and climate change is growing. This article summarizes new knowledge on these health risks generated since the IPCC fourth assessment report (AR4) was published in 2007, with a specific focus on the 53 countries comprising the WHO European Region. Many studies on the effects of weather, climate variability, and climate change on health in the European Region have been published since 2007, increasing the level of certainty with regard to already known health threats. Exposures to temperature extremes, floods, storms, and wildfires have effects on cardiovascular and respiratory health. Climate- and weather-related health risks from worsening food and water safety and security, poor air quality, and ultraviolet radiation exposure as well as increasing allergic diseases, vector- and rodent-borne diseases, and other climate-sensitive health outcomes also warrant attention and policy action to protect human health.
Highlights
As all over the world, the climate in the 53 countries comprising the WHO European Region is changing [1]
We searched for studies on climate change and health using the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from January 2007 to 5 September 2014
The search results were grouped as studies relevant to the direct and indirect health effects of climate change
Summary
As all over the world, the climate in the 53 countries comprising the WHO European Region is changing [1]. Temperatures are increasing, as are the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events including heatwaves, floods, and wildfires, and these trends are projected to continue under the most likely climate change scenarios [2]. Climate change affects health via direct and indirect pathways. Direct health effects of climate change include those attributable to extremes of temperature, extreme weather events, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Indirect effects include those mediated through either natural or human systems, such as patterns of certain vector-borne infectious diseases, respiratory diseases from changes in air quality and allergens, diarrheal disease, malnutrition and stunting from worsening food, and water safety and security. It is predicted that the net effects of climate change on health, in Europe and worldwide, will be negative [3,4,5]
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