Scientists say the effects of climate change could actually make breathing more difficult for many people. They expect rising temperatures to bring an increase in cases of asthma and allergies, as well as infectious and cardiovascular diseases.

科学家们称气候变化带来的影响可以让很多人的呼吸更为困难。他们预计不断升高的气温将增加哮喘和过敏症状,以及感染和心血管疾病。

Study co-author, professor Kent Pinkerton,Lun said rising temperatures bring a host of conditions that can adversely affect people’s health. For example, ozone levels may rise in urban areas. There may be more wildfires emitting smoke and soot. Desertification could increase and create more dust. There may also be a lot more pollen. And disease carrying insects and animals may be more prevalent.

研究报告的撰写人之一肯特?平克顿教授称温度的上升会为影响人们的健康的条件带来很多主观条件。例如,臭氧层级别会在城市地区上升。可能会有越来越多的野火烟排放烟尘。沙漠化可能会增加，进而带来更多的尘埃。还会有更多的花粉。携带疾病的昆虫和动物可能会更加普遍。

“Our greatest concern really centered around the fact that many of the pulmonary physicians and respiratory professionals are really not very well aware of the fact that climate change has an important impact on their patients,” he said.

“我们最担心的就是许多肺病医师和呼吸道专家真的不太了解气候变化对他们的病人产生了重要的影响这一事实。”他说道。

A lot worse than a runny nose

Pinkerton has some bad news for allergy sufferers about pollen.

平克顿对于花粉过敏患者有一些坏消息。

“Those who suffer from allergies may actually be finding that that season that impacts on their health and on their allergies is becoming longer,” he said.

“那些过敏患者可能发现季节影响他们的健康而且他们的过敏症症状正在逐渐增加。”他说道。

A Tuareg woman walks during a sandstorm in Ingal, Niger, September 18, 2011. Scientists say such storms could increase with climate change. 

However, he added the effects can be much worse than coughing, sneezing, watery eyes or a runny nose.

然而,他补充说效果会比咳嗽、打喷嚏、流眼水或流鼻涕更严重。

“Those are the symptoms that people most note. But we’re also seeing that individuals who may already have a pre-existing respiratory condition or even a cardiovascular condition are also being affected by these. Some of these conditions might simply be an exacerbation of an asthmatic condition. Or some issues where particles are actually producing cardiovascular complications in the form of arrhythmias among individuals or irregular heartbeat. Or changes that may actually lead to stroke or myocardial infarction,” he said.

“这些是人们最注意的症状。但我们也看到那些已经有呼吸病症甚至心血管病症的人也受到这些影响。这些条件可能因简单的气喘症状而加剧。或者是一些产生实际心血管并发症的颗粒导致个人心律失常或不规则心跳。而气候变化甚至可以导致中风和心肌梗塞。”他说道。

Myocardial infarction is commonly known as a heart attack.

心肌梗死通常被认为是心脏病发作。

Pinkerton is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. He calls on the World Health Organization, governments and others to approve public health measures to protect vulnerable populations. These include infants, children and the elderly.

平克顿是加州大学戴维斯医学院的儿科教授。他呼吁世界卫生组织、政府和其他相关部门准许公共卫生措施,保护脆弱的人群。这些人群包括婴儿、儿童和老人。

Illnesses on the move

“We’re now beginning to see some infections and some vector borne diseases in different areas of the world that we’ve never seen before. For example, diseases that have commonly been found within the Mediterranean are now being seen as far north as the Scandinavian countries. We’ve also seen some issues about mold that typically was only found within Mexico and Central America that are now as far north as British Columbia in Canada,” he said.

“我们已经在世界上以前从未见过的不同的地区开始看到一些感染疾病和媒介传播疾病。例如,一般都在地中海被发现的疾病现在在北方遥远的北欧国家出现。我们也看到了一些只是在墨西哥和中美洲发现的典型成型病症现在在北至加拿大的不列颠哥伦比亚省出现。”他说道。

The study on climate change and health was written by a 10 member committee, including members from Africa, Europe, Asia, India, the Middle East and the United States. It appears in the Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society.

这项气候变化及健康研究由10个委员会成员合著,成员来自非洲,欧洲,亚洲,印度、中东和美国等。它刊登在《美国胸科学会论文集》上。