Air pollution also is made worse by increases in natural hydrocarbons emissions during hot weather. If a warmed climate causes increased use of air conditioners, air pollutant emissions from power plants also will increase. Current ozone concentrations exceed the national health standards in many urban areas, especially New York City and Long Island. Ground-level ozone has been shown to aggravate existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma, reduce lung function, and induce respiratory inflammation. In addition, ambient ozone reduces agricultural crop yields and impairs ecosystem health.
Mosquitoes flourish in some areas around New York City.
Some can carry malaria, while others can carry Eastern equine encephalitis, which can be lethal or cause neurological damage. Lyme disease, which is carried by ticks, has increased in New York. If conditions become warmer and wetter, mosquito and tick populations could increase, thereby increasing the risk of transmission of these diseases. In addition, warmer seas could contribute to the increased intensity, duration, and extent of harmful algal blooms. These blooms damage habitat and shellfish nurseries, can be toxic to humans, and can carry bacteria, like those causing cholera.