Experts warn of climate change health risks to elderly
A conference in Brisbane has heard global environment factors could put Australians, especially older people, at risk of serious health problems and even death.
Professor Tony McMichael from the Australian National University told the Population Health Congress the impacts of climate change could kill more than 15,000 people in Australia every year by the middle of the century.
“This is particularly a problem in inner urban environments, where the heat is trapped and retained overnight, and people suffer and many die,” he said.
Dr McMichael says temperature rises will eventually help spread diseases like dengue fever and increase the incidence of food poisoning, reduce clean water supplies and increase heat stress.
He says elderly people will be the worst hit by the temperature increases.
President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Professor Ian Lowe, is also warning that climate change could become a major cause of mental health problems in rural communities.
Professor Lowe says many farming communities are already suffering depression as a result of the drought ,and it could get worse.
He says more research into health risks is needed, but hopes Australians will start adapting their lifestyles.
