We’re used to talking about climate change in terms of sea level and weather, but what about the impact on your health?

It’s a major concern, says Dr. Atanu Sarkar with Community Health and Humanities at MUN.

Canada is warming at a rate twice as fast as the rest of the world according to the report released this month. Dr. Sarkar this means a host of new issues beyond the weather that are going to affect our bodies.

In addition to problems with food security and drinking water, a changing climate means increased allergens and higher risk of heart disease and stroke due to the inhalation of greenhouse gases.

Then, he says, there’s the mosquitoes.

Already mosquitoes that previously could not exist in the Newfoundland climate are moving in from outside the country and surviving our winters.

Dr. Sarkar says these are the kind of mosquitoes that carry deadly diseases like West Nile Virus, though as yet in their study they haven’t found any traces.