Temperature-Related Health Issues
Over the past four and a half decades, the U.S. Caribbean has seen an increase in the number of days with temperatures exceeding 90°F. This trend has been particularly evident during the summers of 2012–2014, when most days in Puerto Rico surpassed this temperature threshold. During San Juan’s record heatwave in 2012, elevated summer temperatures contributed to increased deaths from stroke and cardiovascular disease in San Juan and Bayamón.
Several factors, such as age, pregnancy, poverty, disability, chronic health conditions, and outdoor labor, heighten heat risk and sensitivity. While cooling indoor environments can mitigate the effects of heatwaves, the strain on an aging power infrastructure and rising living costs exacerbate climate risks, particularly for those unable to afford cooling equipment.
Air Quality Concerns
The U.S. Caribbean is affected by dust particles from the Sahara, especially in summer, impacting climate, weather, and ecosystems, including coral reefs and forests. These dust particles are linked to increased cardiovascular and respiratory risks, leading to higher rates of asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations among children in Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, and Grenada. Rising humidity and temperatures also contribute to the proliferation of mold and spores, further degrading air quality and exacerbating respiratory diseases.
Extreme Weather Events
Extreme weather events pose severe risks to life, property, conservation, agriculture, and the economy in the Caribbean. The frequency and intensity of such events, including flooding and droughts, are projected to increase with climate change. The U.S. Caribbean, with its high population density and critical infrastructure in low-lying coastal areas, faces heightened vulnerability to sea-level rise and storm surges, magnifying the effects of coastal flooding and beach erosion.
Health impacts in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) range from physical injuries during hurricanes to heat-related illnesses due to loss of air conditioning. Additionally, there is a significant risk of vector-borne diseases and water contamination. The mental health impact is substantial, with high levels of psychological trauma reported during and after hurricanes.
Vector-Borne Diseases
Diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, transmitted by mosquitoes like Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are prevalent in the Caribbean. Warmer temperatures facilitate the spread of these mosquitoes, increasing disease transmission. Emerging diseases like leptospirosis are also associated with flood-prone areas, heavy rainfall, and higher temperatures. Extreme weather events are expected to escalate leptospirosis outbreaks.
Factors contributing to vector-borne disease outbreaks in the U.S. Caribbean include climate change, inequality, poverty, virus variation, immunity levels, poor water and waste management, and lack of community awareness.
Water-Related Health Issues
Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and extreme weather events threaten water supplies in coastal communities. Traditional rainwater catchment systems are becoming unreliable due to changing precipitation patterns. Studies following hurricanes have shown water pollution and disease vectors in the drinking water supply, worsening with climate change impacts. Puerto Rico and the USVI are projected to lose significant portions of their coastal land, jeopardizing critical infrastructure such as drinking water pipelines and wastewater treatment plants.
Food Safety, Nutrition, and Distribution
Climate change is causing major shifts in fisheries distribution and changes in marine habitats, affecting food security, shoreline protection, and economies throughout the Caribbean. Increasing temperatures and extreme heat events are expected to negatively impact agricultural operations, affecting cattle ranchers and dairy farmers by reducing rangeland productivity, causing feed shortages, increasing heat stress on animals, and raising cooling energy costs.
Mental Health and Well-Being
The mental health impacts of climate change are significant in the Caribbean SIDS, with high levels of psychological trauma reported after hurricane events. Following Hurricane Maria, many older adults in Puerto Rico faced unmet needs, leading to declining physical and emotional health, inadequate management of chronic diseases, social isolation, financial strain, environmental health issues, and increased mortality. High levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive symptoms, and disaster-related stressors were also observed.
Vulnerable Populations
The diverse populations in the U.S. Caribbean, comprising high proportions of people of African and Indigenous descent, face increased vulnerability to climate-related risks due to economic policies, social systems, educat
ional attainment, unemployment, poverty, out-migration, older demographics, food insecurity, colonialism, and historical injustices.
Urban areas, particularly in San Juan, Puerto Rico, are highly susceptible to extreme heat events due to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, exacerbated by urbanization and population growth since the mid-20th century. This effect poses increasing risks to the region’s aging and vulnerable populations.
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