Six Ways Summer Is Worse Than When You Were A Kid

Aah, summer. Carefree days at the beach and ... what do you mean, not so fast? Just like 50¢ gas and the LP, it looks like those days are gone. Read on and see if you feel like staying inside until, say, October:

- collapsing sand holes are deadlier than shark attacks (1)

- poison ivy is getting more potent. (2)

- summer thunderstorms near big cities are getting worse. Watch out for lightning! (3)

- ... and stronger hurricanes! (4)

- there's 4-7% more UV-B radiation than in the 1970s, which increases skin cancer and cataract risk. (5)

- you can't use a charcoal grill or build a fire on the beach (in some places, at least). (6)

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(1) both are rare. The Wall Street Journal Health blog reports that a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine documents sixteen sand hole or tunnel fatalities in sixteen years, compared to twelve deaths from shark attack. The study's authors believe that deaths in sand holes are most likely underreported.

(2) The WSJ's Health blog also reports on new research that shows that today's higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels make for poison ivy that's 50% - 75% stronger than that 50 years ago. That supports earlier research that showed that higher CO2 levels make for larger poison ivy plants and a stronger version of the oil that caused most people to itch.

(3) The heat boiling up from urban areas can make thunderstorms larger and drop more rain, leading to more flooding. Although focused on Houston, which in twenty years could see storms twice as intense as now, other researchers have seen similar patterns from Phoenix to Indianapolis.

(4) The July 2007 Scientific American (available as a free download until June 30, 2007 here) summarizes current research: the number and intensity of hurricanes (and their Pacific / Indian Ocean equivalents) are increasing.

(5) Source: UN Environmental Program (pdf)

(6) Camden, New Jersey banned coal barbeques in public areas -- as have parks in the UK.

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