New Climate Change Report Reveals Health Impact on Workers

Climate change has become a hot topic in recent years. While we've seen multiple perspectives on climate change, a new report has presented the matter from a different perspective: its potential impact on workers.

From construction crews to road repair persons, forestry workers and more, millions of U.S. workers spend the majority of their time working outdoors. There are certain perks to working outdoors, such as the ability to breathe fresh air and soak in the sunshine. But researchers are now saying that climate change could pose numerous health risks to these workers.

The report, titled " U.S. Global Change Research Program Climate and Health Assessment" takes a closer look at the ways in which climate change can affect workers' health. According to the report, there are two main issues associated with climate change in this regard: first, it can increase the frequency and/or severity of health problems that are created by weather and climate. Second, it may create unanticipated health problems in regions that have not yet experienced them.

Outdoor workers are cited as being the most at risk for health problems associated with climate change in the report. This includes commercial fishermen, construction workers, transportation workers, first responders, and agricultural workers. But it's not just door outdoor workers who are expected to feel the force of climate changes; certain indoor workers are also at risk, such as factory and warehouse workers, for instance. As global temperatures rise, it will create hazardous conditions in already hot indoor environments, further increasing the risk of exhaustion, heat stroke, and other related problems.

Researchers from the report say that most of these threats will worsen if climate change continues on its current course. On the flip side, they noted some potential benefits of climate change, such as fewer cold-related deaths in certain regions. These benefits fail to outweigh the negative effects of climate change, however, as millions of workers face an increased risk of disease and illness in the years to come.

" Changes in the climate affect the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. The changing climate has modified weather patterns, which in turn have influenced the levels and location of outdoor air pollutants such as ground-level ozone (O ₃) (see Figure ES4) and fine particulate matter. Increasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels also promote the growth of plants that release airborne allergens (aeroallergens)," wrote the report's authors.