The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials recently held a forum to discuss the impact climate change is having on public health. The participants included Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine.
Climate change is impacting the environment and society. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials chief medical officer Dr. Marcus Plescia noted the health effects of climate change are many and varied.
They range from things like injuries due to conditions like heat stroke, asthma or exacerbation of asthma, cardiovascular disease and after long term exposures even cancer.
State health officials outlined how climate change is affecting not only the environment but also the health of residents. Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said they have been tracking a number of health impacts.
“The health impacts in Vermont include the very obvious heat related illness and the secondary impacts from storms and flooding and these extreme weather events. Vector-borne diseases both by mosquitoes and ticks. The blooms of cyanobacteria, the blue green algae blooms that have plagued us to a greater degree than ever this past summer.
