HEALTH AND WELLNESS

By Anand Persad , Ph . D .

As the climate continues to change , we ’ ll likely begin to see invertebrate vectors such as mosquitos , fleas , lice and ticks adapting to potentially more favorable weather conditions .

On a global scale , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reports that every year there are more than 700,000 deaths from vector-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus , malaria , dengue , yellow fever and more .

While these diseases may not be as prevalent in the United States as they are in other parts of the world , when subjected to the impacts of climate change , there is potential for more dynamic and even migrating vector populations .

Take the impact of flooding coupled with increasing temperatures for example . Chances are we will begin to see rising sea levels , backed-up brackish ( slightly salty ) water and freshwater levels and generally higher water levels in inland areas . This will lead to areas with saturated and increased moisture levels , the rise of vectors , and possibly the increasing spread of vector-borne diseases .

For example , the more mosquitoes that inhabit an area , the greater the potential for mosquito-borne outbreaks such as West Nile , dengue and malaria . Additionally , as human populations increase in high-density , urban areas , the chance of vector-borne diseases also increases .

Warmer temperatures also create the perfect environment for these insects to multiply faster . In turn , it may be easier for vectors to maintain high populations , bolstered by shorter lifecycles , and increase the number of generations per year .

Even if temperatures rise by half to one degree over the next decade or so , it will still be in favor of rising vector populations .

According to the Human Impact Report : Climate Change — The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis published by the Global Humanitarian Forum , currently “ over half a billion people are at extreme risk to the impacts of climate change , and six in 10 people are vulnerable to climate change in a physical and socio-economic sense .”

Photo provided by ACRT

The Human Impact Report also shares , “ the number of those severely affected by climate change is more than 10 times greater than , for instance , those injured in traffic accidents each year , and more than the global annual number of new malaria cases .”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE The Global Humanitarian Forum anticipates the number of affected individuals to double — if not more — within the next 20 years , noting “ one in 10 of the world ’ s present population could be directly and seriously affected ” by vector-borne diseases .

In the green industries , it ’ s important to consider the impact of increasing vectors , disease incidence , the effect on green workspaces , and our physical and mental health . We must consider and understand that employees are subject to encounters with ticks for example , thus increasing the likelihood of becoming infected with Lyme disease ( among other diseases and illnesses ) by working outdoors daily .

There is an imbalance when studying climate research . There isn ’ t an abundance of studies that showcase the parallels between climate change and the potential impact on our health caused by the spread of vector-borne diseases .

It ’ s fair to question whether these risks will take a toll on employees ’ mental health or even lead to attrition within the workforce . That ’ s why our Research , Science and Innovation team at ACRT Services is looking at the correlative imbalances between climate change and vector migration .

28 SportsField Management | August 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com