Climate change is impacting the health of people living in Vermont now. Some existing health threats will intensify and new health threats will emerge. Climate change also affects social and environmental determinants of health, including clean air, safe drinking water, socioeconomic conditions, secure shelter, and access to health care services.
Learn more about how climate change affects your health in the sections below.
Climate change is worsening near-surface ozone, or trace gas, across the U.S. Higher concentrations of ozone near the ground can irritate your respiratory system. In the Northeast, air quality is also more affected by wildfire smoke, as well as pollen and mold because of climate change.
Hotter and drier conditions are increasing the length of wildfire season across the U.S. Though wildfires are rare in Vermont, residual smoke from fires in Canada can significantly worsen air quality in the Northeast. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are especially at risk. The Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI) can help you understand how to address your health risk at each air quality level.
Learn more about the air quality, wildfire smoke and your health
Pollen and mold are common allergens that can affect your health. Due to our local climate, pollen and mold are common in Vermont. Pollen grains are dispersed from flowering plants, trees, grass and weeds. Mold is a fungus that grows in moist environments. The amount of allergens in the air depends on the season and geographic location.
Climate change is expected to cause warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall which may increase allergen concentrations and lead to longer pollen seasons. Those affected by pollen or other allergens may experience more prolonged or intense symptoms as climate conditions change.
Climate change will affect precipitation patterns and lead to more frost-fee days, warmer seasonal air temperatures, and more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This can impact:
Explore up-to-date Vermont pollen trends
Learn more about mold in Vermont
Warming temperatures due to climate change are making it less likely for ponds and lakes to be covered by ice. Even when there is cover, the ice is often thin and unstable. For 100 years (1851-1950), Lake Champlain completely froze over every year except for four. Since 2008, Lake Champlain has only completely frozen over three times.
A fall through ice can result in severe, or fatal, hypothermia or drowning. In fact, several Vermonters have died in recent years after falling through the ice while fishing, walking, snowmobiling or driving a vehicle over a lake or pond. Even if you have driven and walked over a frozen water body for many years, be sure to take caution and watch for thin ice.
Learn more about ice safety from the Department of Fish & Wildlife
Find more winter weather safety tips
Cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae, are naturally found in bodies of fresh water such as Lake Champlain and other Vermont waters. Cyanobacteria can multiply quickly to form surface scums and dense populations known as blooms, especially during late summer and early fall. Some blooms produced by bacteria can create toxins that may cause health problems for people, animals and the local environment.
Climate change is causing more favorable conditions for cyanobacteria blooms to grow through:
Coming into contact with cyanobacteria can make you and your pets sick.
Drought is a prolonged dry period caused by less-than-normal rainfall or snowfall for an extended period. Drought can lead to water shortages, meaning there is less water available for drinking, food production and swimming. It can also lead to other impacts such as poor water quality and more wildfires. Drought can have severe effects on the environment, our communities and our health.
As our climate continues to change, droughts will happen more often. Warmer air temperatures, warmer winters and more intense rain events will increase the severity of droughts, how often they happen, and how long they last.
Monitor current and forecasted drought conditions in Vermont
See the current fire danger forecast for Vermont
Learn more about drought and your well
Extreme weather events threaten human health and well-being. They can also disrupt the physical and social infrastructure people and communities rely on to stay safe and healthy before, during and after a weather-related disaster.
In Vermont, extreme weather events can take the form of prolonged heavy snowstorms, flash floods and river floods (following snowmelt and heavy rains), severe thunderstorms, droughts and temperature extremes.
In recent years, Vermont has experienced record high and low temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. These trends are expected to continue. Heavy rainfall events are projected to occur more often, which increases the risk of flooding, damage to transportation infrastructure and buildings, water and crop contamination, wind damage, and power outages.
Extreme weather events are dangerous and may increase exposure to other environmental conditions that affect health. Although anyone can experience health impacts from extreme weather events, some groups may be at greater risk including children, people who are pregnant, older adults, people with outdoor jobs, and people with disabilities or preexisting conditions.
The effects of extreme weather are worsened when these events disrupt critical infrastructure such as electricity, drinking and wastewater services, roads and health care facilities.
Immediate risks include direct injury and mortality. Ongoing risks after a disaster include:
Find out how to stay safe before, during and after a flood
Find mental health resources in response to flooding in Vermont
Some climate conditions, such as heavy rains and hot temperatures, can increase the likelihood of food and waterborne illnesses. These illnesses are often caused by contamination of food and water sources. Harmful contaminants include human and animal waste, industrial chemicals, oils and other fuels, pesticides and fertilizers. Though the affected food and water may smell, look and taste normal, they can cause a range of health impacts.
Climate change is expected to increase the precipitation patterns and heavy rainfall events that contribute to food and water contamination, as well as the number of extremely hot days which may impact food safety.
Diseases that spread through contaminated food and water have significant effects on the health of individuals and communities. These diseases are often serious, regularly making many people sick in outbreaks, and have the potential to be life-threatening.
Average temperatures are rising and periods of extreme heat, or heat waves, are becoming more common due to climate change. Heat waves are increasing in length, frequency and intensity in Vermont.
Heat can cause serious illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Your body temperature may be difficult to regulate on dangerously hot days and can get dangerously high. Hot days are especially dangerous for older people and people without access to a place to cool off. The Cooling Site Map shows public places to cool off during hot weather in Vermont.
Climate change has widespread impacts on buildings and infrastructure, businesses, the quality of the environment, recreational opportunities and physical health. These impacts affect individual and community quality of life - resulting in stress, anxiety, depression and other mental, emotional and social impacts. Common mental health impacts of climate change in Vermont are:
It's important to develop a support network by talking about these impacts with family, friends and peers. Climate change stress is common and building community creates resilience. Learn how to take action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and take care of your mental health.
Mosquitoes are present during warmer months in Vermont and can sometimes transmit serious diseases. West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been detected in Vermont. While infection and illness from these viruses are rare, Vermonters should still take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Climate change is creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes in Vermont since:
The risk of WNV and EEE infection is expected to increase, and climate change may even introduce new mosquito species and diseases such as Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya to Vermont.
The spread of tickborne diseases to humans, including Lyme disease, is increasing in Vermont and many other northern states. If you spend time outdoors or in wooded areas, you may be at risk of contracting a tickborne illness.
Longer warm seasons and warmer winters increase the amount of time that ticks are active each year. Ticks may be present in colder, northern and higher-elevation areas than before because of changing climate conditions.
Researchers believe that a greater proportion of blacklegged ticks may be infected the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in areas where their population is growing due to climate change.
Tickborne diseases are a serious health risk.
Learn about the health risks of tick bites and how to prevent them
