Summarizes the science of climate change and impacts on the United States, for the public and policymakers.

A working group of 23 experts from 13 countries met in Lyon to evaluate the evidence for carcinogenicity of arsenic (mostly naturally occurring) as a contaminant of drinking-water, and of the water-disinfectant chloramine. The working group also evaluated or re-evaluated four chlorination by-products found in drinking-water, namely chloral hydrate, di- and trichloroacetic acids, and 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (also known as MX). High-level exposure to arsenic in drinking-water occurs in some regions such as China, Latin America, Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Working Group reviewed epidemiological studies of human cancer (mainly ecological studies in Taiwan and Chile, and several case-control and cohort studies) in relation to arsenic in drinking-water. Arsenic in drinking-water (primarily inorganic, as arsenate and to a lesser extent arsenite) was evaluated as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) on the basis of sufficient evidence for an increased risk for cancer of the urinary bladder, lung and skin. Studies on inorganic arsenic in experimental animals provided limited evidence for its carcinogenicity, but sufficient evidence was found in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of dimethylarsinic acid (an organic form of arsenic), which produced urinary bladder tumours in rats and lung tumours in mice after oral administration.

As global climate change proliferates, so too do the health risks associated with the changing world around us. Called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan and put together by experts from eight different Federal agencies, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health: A Scientific Assessment is a comprehensive report on these evolving health risks, including: Temperature-related death and illness Air quality deterioration Impacts of extreme events on human health Vector-borne diseases Climate impacts on water-related Illness Food safety, nutrition, and distribution Mental health and well-being This report summarizes scientific data in a concise and accessible fashion for the general public, providing executive summaries, key takeaways, and full-color diagrams and charts. Learn what health risks face you and your family as a result of global climate change and start preparing now with The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health.

With a long history and deep connection to the Earth’s resources, indigenous peoples have an intimate understanding and ability to observe the impacts linked to climate change. Traditional ecological knowledge and tribal experience play a key role in developing future scientific solutions for adaptation to the impacts. The book explores climate-related issues for indigenous communities in the United States, including loss of traditional knowledge, forests and ecosystems, food security and traditional foods, as well as water, Arctic sea ice loss, permafrost thaw and relocation. The book also highlights how tribal communities and programs are responding to the changing environments. Fifty authors from tribal communities, academia, government agencies and NGOs contributed to the book. Previously published in Climatic Change, Volume 120, Issue 3, 2013.