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Table 2 Scoring for the ‘Level of Precision’ with which climate change-related health risks for the Netherlands can be assessed

From: Health risks of climate change: An assessment of uncertainties and its implications for adaptation policies

Health effect Level of Precisiona
  Frequency/scoreb Medianc Inter quartilec
  1 2 3 4 5 6   
Temperature
1. Heat-related mortality     9 (2) 3 (1) 2 4 4-5
2. Heat-related cardiovascular problems   ½ 9½ (2) 3 1 (1) 1 3 3-4
3. Heat-related respiratory problems    11 (2) 3 2 (1)   3 3-4
4. Heat-related stress and sleep disturbance   1 (1) 8 (2) 5    3 3-4
5. Cold-related mortality   3 (1) 2 7 (1) 2 (1) 1 4 3-4
6. Cold-related diseases 1 (1) 2 7 (1) 3 2 (1)   3 3-4
7. Drought-related exposure to contaminants   5 (1) 6 (1) 2    3 2-3
8. Shortages of drinking water   3 (1) 3 5 (1)   1 3½ 2¼-4
9. Dehydration   5 (1) 5 (1) 3 1 (1)   3 2-4
Allergies
10. Asthma 1 4 7 (4) 1    3 2-3
11. Allergic eczema 1 5 (1) 3 (1)     2 2-3
12. Hay fever: duration of pollen season    10 (4) 2 (1) 3   3 3-3½
13. Hay fever: pollen types, abundance and allergenicity   1 10 (5) 2 2   3 3
Pests
14. Wasps 1 3 (1) 2 (1) 1 1   2½ 2-3
15. Oak processionary caterpillar    1 8 (2) 2   4 4
Vector-borne diseases
16. Native vector-borne diseases   7 (3) 4 (1) 5 (1) 1   3 2-4
17. Incidents of non-native vector-borne diseases 1¼ (¼) 5¼ (2¼) 5¼ (2¼) 4¼ (¼)    3 2-3
18. Epidemics of non-native vector-borne diseases 1¼ (¼) 6¾ (2¼) 4¾ (1¼) 2¼ (¼)    2½ 2-3
Food/water-borne diseases
19. Food poisoning 1 1 6 5 (1)    3 3-4
20. Legionnaires Disease   2 7 2 (1) 1   3 3-4
21. Contamination of swimming/recreation water    4 7 (1) 1   4 3-4
Air quality-related
22. Respiratory problems due to ground-level O3   1½ 4½ 4 (2) 2 (1)   4 3-4
23. Respiratory problems due to PM   1½ 3½ 3 (2) 2 (1)   4 3-4
24. Air quality-related cardiovascular problems   2 3 3 (2) 2 (1)   4 3-4
Flooding/storm
25. Flood-related mortality   4 2 2½ (½) 3½ (1½)   4 2¼-4
26. Flood-related infectious diseases   5 (1) 5 (1) 1    3 2-3
27. Flood-related exposure to dangerous substances and contaminants 1 5 (2) 3 2    2 2-3
28. Flood-related respiratory problems 1 3 5 (1) 1 (1) 1   3 2-3
29. Flood-related mental health problems   2 7 (2) 1    3 3
30. Storm-related mortality and injury   3 3 (2) 4 1   3 3-4
UV-related
31. Cataract 1 (1) 3 1 1 3 (2)   3½ 2-5
32. Skin cancer 1 (1) 3 2 2 4 (2)   4 2-5
33. Weakening of the immune system 2 (1) 3 1 2 (1) 1 (1)   2½ 1¾-4
  1. aSee table 1 for scoring scale. bTotal experts/score; subject-matter experts are indicated between parentheses. cWeighted.
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Environmental Health

ISSN: 1476-069X