Presentation from a Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies public forum on climate change by Perry Sheffield, Professor of Pediatrics and Preventative Medicine, Mount Sinai
Geostrategic significance of South Asian countries.ppt
Climate Change and Human Health
1. Human Health under a
Changing Climate
Perry Sheffield, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine
Mount Sinai S h l of M di i
M t Si i School f Medicine
Cary Institute forum on “Climate Change in the Hudson
Valley: Preparing at the Local Level”
Level
October 22, 2011
2. Health Effects of Climate Change - Direct
Climate Impacts Direct Health Effects
More intense and Heat stress,
frequent Heat Waves cardiovascular disease
Stagnant Air Masses, Asthma, respiratory
Air Pollution illness, cardiovascular
,
disease
More Frequent Heavy Drowning, direct injury
Rainfall Events
Slide text from G. Luber, CDC.
3. Health Effects of Climate Change - Indirect
Climate Impacts Indirect Health Effects
Effects on key Impacts on vector-borne and
vector borne
ecosystem parameters zoonotic disease
Heavy precipitation
Water-borne diseases,
events will become
harmful algal blooms,
more frequent
q
Increase in areas Changes in food sources,
affected by drought malnutrition, forced
migration
Slide text from G. Luber, CDC.
4. Heat Waves and Public Health
• Heat wave or extreme heat events
– Period of very hot and humid weather that can
make people very sick and even lead to death
p p y
• Scientists project that NYC could have 40 to 89
days annually with 90 degree heat – or hotter
y y g
• NYC August 2006: 40 heat stroke deaths and
100 more deaths than expected
Slide text from Nathan Graber, NYC DOH
6. Change in O3-related asthma emergency department
visits for children (0–17 years) in 2020s vs 1990s
Sheffield et al, AJPM 2011.
7. Climate, Pollen
,
and Asthma:
possible
mechanisms
From: Beggs and Bambrick,
EHP 2005
8. West Nile virus in mosquitoes,
New York State, 2008
NYSERDA
ClimAID
team,
2010.
9. Vulnerability factors – extreme heat example
1. Underlying medical conditions
• Heart d lung di
H t and l diseases, e.g.
2. Demographics
• Race, age, education
R d ti
3. Housing
• Top floor apartments, air conditioning
4. Community geography
• Heat island, vegetation density
O’Neill & Ebi, JOEM 2009
10. Survey of local health departments in NYS
Carr et al, JPHMP In press.
12. Take-Home Messages
g
Health effects from heat, air pollution, and
pollen and other risks are more challenging to
address as climate changes in the U.S.
Along with climate change, vulnerability factors
change
will be key in determining health impacts
More surveillance systems are needed to track
key climate-health indicators
Adaptation planning can begin now with
currently available information