The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) released for comment on April 7 a draft report, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. The report, developed by USGCRP’s interagency group on climate change and human health, is part of the President’s Climate Action Plan and a component of the sustained national climate assessment process.
The report includes chapters on air quality impacts, temperature-related death and impacts, vectorborne diseases, water-related illnesses, extreme events and climate-health risk factors for sensitive populations, among others.
Three key findings related to water-related illness listed in the report are: the seasonal and geographic expansion of the risk of waterborne illness; increased exposure risk to pathogens due to extreme precipitation events; and water infrastructure failure or damage, which could also contribute to increased exposure to water-related pathogens and chemicals.
The report is open for comment until June 8, 2015. A National Academy of Sciences panel is also reviewing the draft report. The final report is expected in early 2016.