Climate change set to increase ozone-related deaths over next 60 years

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/elf-ccs092511.php

Public release date: 27-Sep-2011

Contact: Lauren Anderson
[e-mail]
31-610-860-810
http://www.european-lung-foundation.org/">European Lung Foundation

Climate change set to increase ozone-related deaths over next 60 years

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A new study, which will be presented today (27 September 2011) at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Amsterdam, predicts that Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal will see the biggest climate-induced increase in ozone-related deaths over the next 60 yrs.

The research is part of the Climate-TRAP project and its health impact assessment lead by Prof Bertil Forsberg from the Umea University in Sweden. The aim is to prepare the health sector for changing public health needs due to climate change.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change that has occurred since the 1970s caused over 140,000 excess deaths annually by the year 2004. In addition to its impact on clean air, drinking water and crop production, many deadly diseases such as malaria and those which cause diarrhoea are particularly sensitive to climate change.

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The findings revealed that since 1961, Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands and the UK have seen the biggest impact on ozone-related deaths due to climate change. The results predicted that the biggest increase over the next 50 yrs is likely to be seen in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, who could expect an increase of between 10 and 14%. However, Nordic and Baltic countries are predicted to see a decrease over the same period.

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