This document discusses the public health impacts of climate change and clean energy solutions. It summarizes research showing links between air pollution, transportation infrastructure, food systems and climate change; and the resulting increases in heart and lung diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Transitioning to clean energy and implementing policies like the Clean Power Plan could significantly improve health outcomes and save lives by reducing air pollution and promoting active transportation and healthier diets. The document argues that addressing climate change through these solutions would have large economic and public health benefits.
Grand Rounds or CME type presentation about health effects of climate change, health benefits of climate action, and what a healthy climate policy would look like
Health Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas (and what we can do about it)Wendy Ring
presentation for medical students about health impacts of air pollution from oil and gas through their lifecycle, proposed EPA oil and gas methane rule, and clean air advocacy
This document discusses the multiple ways that climate change can impact human health, particularly for children and future generations. It outlines how pollution, toxins, and other environmental threats stored in our bodies can harm health even before conception, and how issues like wildfire smoke, drought, heavy metals, and algal blooms present additional risks during pregnancy and childhood. Later health impacts for teens and adults are also discussed, such as heat illness, air pollution, obesity, and inactivity. The document argues that urgent climate action is needed to transition to clean energy and create a healthier future with fewer heart and lung diseases.
This document provides guidance on effective climate health communication. It begins by discussing framing climate change as a health issue and focusing on co-benefits like improved air quality and increased physical activity. The document reviews public opinion polling showing broad support for climate policies and highlights psychological barriers to action like distance, denial, and identity-protective cognition. It advocates using positive messaging around solutions, community participation, and tangible health benefits. The document concludes by emphasizing crafting a clear call to action and empowering audiences through stories, humor, and fostering group involvement.
Active Transportation: Win-Win Policy for Climate and Public HealthWendy Ring
presentation about how active transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and chronic lifestyle diseases, effectiveness of modifying environment vs individual advice
Grand Rounds or CME type presentation about health effects of climate change, health benefits of climate action, and what a healthy climate policy would look like
Health Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas (and what we can do about it)Wendy Ring
presentation for medical students about health impacts of air pollution from oil and gas through their lifecycle, proposed EPA oil and gas methane rule, and clean air advocacy
This document discusses the multiple ways that climate change can impact human health, particularly for children and future generations. It outlines how pollution, toxins, and other environmental threats stored in our bodies can harm health even before conception, and how issues like wildfire smoke, drought, heavy metals, and algal blooms present additional risks during pregnancy and childhood. Later health impacts for teens and adults are also discussed, such as heat illness, air pollution, obesity, and inactivity. The document argues that urgent climate action is needed to transition to clean energy and create a healthier future with fewer heart and lung diseases.
This document provides guidance on effective climate health communication. It begins by discussing framing climate change as a health issue and focusing on co-benefits like improved air quality and increased physical activity. The document reviews public opinion polling showing broad support for climate policies and highlights psychological barriers to action like distance, denial, and identity-protective cognition. It advocates using positive messaging around solutions, community participation, and tangible health benefits. The document concludes by emphasizing crafting a clear call to action and empowering audiences through stories, humor, and fostering group involvement.
Active Transportation: Win-Win Policy for Climate and Public HealthWendy Ring
presentation about how active transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and chronic lifestyle diseases, effectiveness of modifying environment vs individual advice
Nebraska On The Edge: Climate Change and Health in NebraskaWendy Ring
This document discusses the health impacts of climate change in Nebraska including increased risks from heat waves, poor air quality, infectious diseases, and other issues. It argues that taking action to address climate change through reducing emissions can significantly improve public health and save lives by preventing conditions like heart attacks, strokes, cancer and diabetes. Specifically, the summary is:
1) Climate change poses serious risks to human health in Nebraska through worsening air quality, heat waves, infectious diseases and other impacts.
2) Taking action to address climate change through reducing emissions could prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses each year.
3) Improving energy efficiency, expanding clean energy and sustainable transportation, and
The document discusses the relationship between the built environment, public health, and climate change. It summarizes that the built environment can influence public health issues like obesity through factors like urban design that impact physical activity levels. Examples show associations between increased walking/biking and decreased obesity/respiratory disease. The document also discusses the financial and environmental costs of automobile dependence and provides suggestions for more sustainable transportation and consumption choices that yield health and economic co-benefits.
Climate and your Health: California VersionWendy Ring
Presentation on present and future health effects of climate change in California with an emphasis on the San Joaquin Valley (this slide set doesn't yet have speaker notes included)
This document summarizes the health impacts of climate change and extreme heat. It discusses how heat waves can cause heat-related illnesses and exacerbate existing chronic diseases. Historical heat waves like those in Europe in 2003 and California in 2006 resulted in thousands of excess deaths. As the climate changes, heat waves are expected to become more frequent and severe. This will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and exacerbate health inequities. The document calls for actions like developing cooler and greener communities, improving preparedness and response plans, strengthening public health surveillance, and protecting outdoor workers from extreme heat.
What are the critical challenges the world faces in meeting international climate change and sustainable development targets? That was the topic of discussion at a side event this week hosted by Future Earth and its partners at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. The event, called “Reframing the Climate Debate: Enhancing the Paris Agreement and SDG Linkages,” addressed The World in 2050 project, a new effort to develop pathways to sustainable development within safe planetary boundaries.
The document discusses global climate change and the role of human activity in increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures. It notes that burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and livestock farming have increased atmospheric CO2 and methane levels to unprecedented heights. Developing nations will experience greater health impacts from climate change, such as heat illness, air and water quality issues, and infectious diseases, despite developed nations being responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. The organization, Medical Alliance to Stop Global Warming, brings together healthcare professionals to advocate for climate action and policies through educational events, conferences, and political engagement.
Climate change poses significant risks to human health according to this document. Rising temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Climate change also facilitates the spread of infectious diseases by lengthening transmission seasons and expanding the habitat of disease carriers like mosquitoes. Wildfires, which have increased in intensity due to climate change, negatively impact respiratory health. Climate change is also linked to worsening mental health issues and reduced nutritional content in agricultural crops.
Global Climate Change, Energy & Health: Foreboding Clouds & Silver LiningsOmar Ha-Redeye
This document summarizes a presentation on global climate change and its health impacts. It discusses how climate change is increasing temperatures, altering precipitation patterns, and intensifying extreme weather events. These climatic changes threaten to undermine progress on health issues like infectious diseases, food security and malnutrition. However, addressing climate change also presents opportunities to improve health through policies like active transportation that reduce emissions and encourage physical activity.
Slides from Bernd Eggen, Health Protection agency. Presented at the third meeting of the Communicating Climate Change group, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Truro, UK
The document discusses how climate change can impact health through various pathways. It mentions that climate change can lead to regional weather changes like heatwaves and extreme weather. This in turn influences health through temperature changes, changes in precipitation, and effects on transmission of diseases. Climate change may also impact ecosystems, hydrology, food production, conflicts and health infrastructure. Specific health impacts mentioned include diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition and other infectious diseases. The document provides data on disease burden from these climate-sensitive health outcomes and how they are projected to change in the future. It outlines climate change as being driven by population, development and greenhouse gas emissions and the need for adaptation and mitigation measures.
Our Uncashed Dividend: The Health Benefits of Climate Action draws together a large and growing body of evidence from health and medical research showing substantial health benefits linked to measures to cut emissions.
Actions that cut carbon pollution can improve Australians’ health and could save billions of dollars and thousands of lives each year.
Global warming is likely to exacerbate water supply issues by increasing droughts and floods through changing precipitation patterns. The majority of the world's fresh water comes from glaciers and snowpacks, which are melting rapidly due to higher temperatures. This will initially increase water flows but ultimately lead to much reduced supplies. Over two billion people rely on Himalayan glaciers for water and are vulnerable to flooding from glacial lake outbursts and longer term shortages as the glaciers disappear. Increased water stress, conflicts over access, and migration are very possible outcomes of these changes to the hydrologic cycle. Global warming is also expanding the habitat ranges of diseases like malaria and dengue fever, exposing more people to health risks.
This document discusses the health impacts of climate change. It notes that climate change influences human health in numerous ways, including increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease from worsening air pollution and heat waves. Certain groups are most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and those with low socioeconomic status. The impacts discussed include increased heat waves and wildfires exacerbating air pollution; longer pollen seasons worsening allergies; more extreme precipitation events like flooding and drought influencing waterborne and foodborne illnesses; and shifting vector habitats impacting diseases spread by insects. Adaptation can help reduce but not eliminate health risks from climate change.
The document discusses Lord Christopher Monckton's views on climate change and the finite nature of global resources. While Monckton is skeptical of anthropogenic climate change, he acknowledges the imbalance between humanity's consumption and the Earth's finite resources. The document also notes that population growth and increased energy usage are accelerating demand for resources like oil, forests, and land at a rate the planet cannot sustain long-term without collective action to develop alternatives and conserve existing resources.
Haines, kovats.2006.climate change and human health.Luz Marina
The document discusses the impacts of climate change on human health. It states that climate change is occurring due to greenhouse gas emissions and will affect health through increased heat waves, floods, droughts, changes in disease distributions, and disasters. Low-income countries are particularly vulnerable. Recent heat waves in Europe show even developed countries can be negatively impacted. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are needed to address health effects of climate change.
The document discusses several ways that global warming may negatively impact human health, including increased deaths from heat waves, worsening air pollution and spread of diseases. Higher temperatures are projected to increase heat-related deaths in cities across the United States. Flooding from stronger storms can spread infectious illnesses if sanitation is compromised. Rising seas may also force coastal population displacement.
COMPLETE GUIDE ON WRITING A SHORT ESSAY ON GLOBAL WARMING IN WORLD CLIMATE CH...Lauren Bradshaw
The document provides guidance on writing a short essay on global warming and climate change, including choosing a catchy topic, introducing the stance in 1-2 paragraphs, providing 2-3 facts or arguments in the body, and concluding by summarizing the key points. It offers 7 potential topic ideas that relate global warming to human health impacts, such as increased respiratory illnesses from air pollution or mental health issues after extreme weather events. The document also lists 5 potential thesis statements and 5 interesting facts that could be included in the short essay.
This document discusses climate change, including its causes from human actions like greenhouse gas emissions, consequences like impacts to ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as potential solutions through renewable energies and sustainable development practices. Climate change refers to changes in global temperatures and weather patterns resulting from increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuels and other human activities. If left unaddressed, climate change risks further destruction of biodiversity and contamination of water and air. Transitioning to renewable energies and sustainable agricultural and development practices can help address climate change.
Obesity rates in Britain are increasing, with nearly a quarter of adults now considered clinically obese. Being obese or overweight, defined as a BMI over 30, increases the risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Left unchecked, projections estimate that by 2050, 60% of men, 50% of women, and 25% of children will be obese in the UK. Obesity is responsible for significant health impacts, costs the NHS over £4 billion per year currently, and has economic costs to society as well due to issues like lost productivity from sickness absence.
It related to pollution and causes and effects of it on society and community. It includes all types of pollutions and also the diagnositic or the prevetive measures . It includes Modifying a production process to produce less waste. Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other maintenance chemicals. Implementing water and energy conservation practices. Reusing materials such as drums and pallets rather than disposing of them as waste.
Nebraska On The Edge: Climate Change and Health in NebraskaWendy Ring
This document discusses the health impacts of climate change in Nebraska including increased risks from heat waves, poor air quality, infectious diseases, and other issues. It argues that taking action to address climate change through reducing emissions can significantly improve public health and save lives by preventing conditions like heart attacks, strokes, cancer and diabetes. Specifically, the summary is:
1) Climate change poses serious risks to human health in Nebraska through worsening air quality, heat waves, infectious diseases and other impacts.
2) Taking action to address climate change through reducing emissions could prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses each year.
3) Improving energy efficiency, expanding clean energy and sustainable transportation, and
The document discusses the relationship between the built environment, public health, and climate change. It summarizes that the built environment can influence public health issues like obesity through factors like urban design that impact physical activity levels. Examples show associations between increased walking/biking and decreased obesity/respiratory disease. The document also discusses the financial and environmental costs of automobile dependence and provides suggestions for more sustainable transportation and consumption choices that yield health and economic co-benefits.
Climate and your Health: California VersionWendy Ring
Presentation on present and future health effects of climate change in California with an emphasis on the San Joaquin Valley (this slide set doesn't yet have speaker notes included)
This document summarizes the health impacts of climate change and extreme heat. It discusses how heat waves can cause heat-related illnesses and exacerbate existing chronic diseases. Historical heat waves like those in Europe in 2003 and California in 2006 resulted in thousands of excess deaths. As the climate changes, heat waves are expected to become more frequent and severe. This will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and exacerbate health inequities. The document calls for actions like developing cooler and greener communities, improving preparedness and response plans, strengthening public health surveillance, and protecting outdoor workers from extreme heat.
What are the critical challenges the world faces in meeting international climate change and sustainable development targets? That was the topic of discussion at a side event this week hosted by Future Earth and its partners at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. The event, called “Reframing the Climate Debate: Enhancing the Paris Agreement and SDG Linkages,” addressed The World in 2050 project, a new effort to develop pathways to sustainable development within safe planetary boundaries.
The document discusses global climate change and the role of human activity in increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures. It notes that burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and livestock farming have increased atmospheric CO2 and methane levels to unprecedented heights. Developing nations will experience greater health impacts from climate change, such as heat illness, air and water quality issues, and infectious diseases, despite developed nations being responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. The organization, Medical Alliance to Stop Global Warming, brings together healthcare professionals to advocate for climate action and policies through educational events, conferences, and political engagement.
Climate change poses significant risks to human health according to this document. Rising temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Climate change also facilitates the spread of infectious diseases by lengthening transmission seasons and expanding the habitat of disease carriers like mosquitoes. Wildfires, which have increased in intensity due to climate change, negatively impact respiratory health. Climate change is also linked to worsening mental health issues and reduced nutritional content in agricultural crops.
Global Climate Change, Energy & Health: Foreboding Clouds & Silver LiningsOmar Ha-Redeye
This document summarizes a presentation on global climate change and its health impacts. It discusses how climate change is increasing temperatures, altering precipitation patterns, and intensifying extreme weather events. These climatic changes threaten to undermine progress on health issues like infectious diseases, food security and malnutrition. However, addressing climate change also presents opportunities to improve health through policies like active transportation that reduce emissions and encourage physical activity.
Slides from Bernd Eggen, Health Protection agency. Presented at the third meeting of the Communicating Climate Change group, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Truro, UK
The document discusses how climate change can impact health through various pathways. It mentions that climate change can lead to regional weather changes like heatwaves and extreme weather. This in turn influences health through temperature changes, changes in precipitation, and effects on transmission of diseases. Climate change may also impact ecosystems, hydrology, food production, conflicts and health infrastructure. Specific health impacts mentioned include diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition and other infectious diseases. The document provides data on disease burden from these climate-sensitive health outcomes and how they are projected to change in the future. It outlines climate change as being driven by population, development and greenhouse gas emissions and the need for adaptation and mitigation measures.
Our Uncashed Dividend: The Health Benefits of Climate Action draws together a large and growing body of evidence from health and medical research showing substantial health benefits linked to measures to cut emissions.
Actions that cut carbon pollution can improve Australians’ health and could save billions of dollars and thousands of lives each year.
Global warming is likely to exacerbate water supply issues by increasing droughts and floods through changing precipitation patterns. The majority of the world's fresh water comes from glaciers and snowpacks, which are melting rapidly due to higher temperatures. This will initially increase water flows but ultimately lead to much reduced supplies. Over two billion people rely on Himalayan glaciers for water and are vulnerable to flooding from glacial lake outbursts and longer term shortages as the glaciers disappear. Increased water stress, conflicts over access, and migration are very possible outcomes of these changes to the hydrologic cycle. Global warming is also expanding the habitat ranges of diseases like malaria and dengue fever, exposing more people to health risks.
This document discusses the health impacts of climate change. It notes that climate change influences human health in numerous ways, including increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease from worsening air pollution and heat waves. Certain groups are most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and those with low socioeconomic status. The impacts discussed include increased heat waves and wildfires exacerbating air pollution; longer pollen seasons worsening allergies; more extreme precipitation events like flooding and drought influencing waterborne and foodborne illnesses; and shifting vector habitats impacting diseases spread by insects. Adaptation can help reduce but not eliminate health risks from climate change.
The document discusses Lord Christopher Monckton's views on climate change and the finite nature of global resources. While Monckton is skeptical of anthropogenic climate change, he acknowledges the imbalance between humanity's consumption and the Earth's finite resources. The document also notes that population growth and increased energy usage are accelerating demand for resources like oil, forests, and land at a rate the planet cannot sustain long-term without collective action to develop alternatives and conserve existing resources.
Haines, kovats.2006.climate change and human health.Luz Marina
The document discusses the impacts of climate change on human health. It states that climate change is occurring due to greenhouse gas emissions and will affect health through increased heat waves, floods, droughts, changes in disease distributions, and disasters. Low-income countries are particularly vulnerable. Recent heat waves in Europe show even developed countries can be negatively impacted. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are needed to address health effects of climate change.
The document discusses several ways that global warming may negatively impact human health, including increased deaths from heat waves, worsening air pollution and spread of diseases. Higher temperatures are projected to increase heat-related deaths in cities across the United States. Flooding from stronger storms can spread infectious illnesses if sanitation is compromised. Rising seas may also force coastal population displacement.
COMPLETE GUIDE ON WRITING A SHORT ESSAY ON GLOBAL WARMING IN WORLD CLIMATE CH...Lauren Bradshaw
The document provides guidance on writing a short essay on global warming and climate change, including choosing a catchy topic, introducing the stance in 1-2 paragraphs, providing 2-3 facts or arguments in the body, and concluding by summarizing the key points. It offers 7 potential topic ideas that relate global warming to human health impacts, such as increased respiratory illnesses from air pollution or mental health issues after extreme weather events. The document also lists 5 potential thesis statements and 5 interesting facts that could be included in the short essay.
This document discusses climate change, including its causes from human actions like greenhouse gas emissions, consequences like impacts to ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as potential solutions through renewable energies and sustainable development practices. Climate change refers to changes in global temperatures and weather patterns resulting from increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuels and other human activities. If left unaddressed, climate change risks further destruction of biodiversity and contamination of water and air. Transitioning to renewable energies and sustainable agricultural and development practices can help address climate change.
Obesity rates in Britain are increasing, with nearly a quarter of adults now considered clinically obese. Being obese or overweight, defined as a BMI over 30, increases the risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Left unchecked, projections estimate that by 2050, 60% of men, 50% of women, and 25% of children will be obese in the UK. Obesity is responsible for significant health impacts, costs the NHS over £4 billion per year currently, and has economic costs to society as well due to issues like lost productivity from sickness absence.
It related to pollution and causes and effects of it on society and community. It includes all types of pollutions and also the diagnositic or the prevetive measures . It includes Modifying a production process to produce less waste. Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other maintenance chemicals. Implementing water and energy conservation practices. Reusing materials such as drums and pallets rather than disposing of them as waste.
Air pollution and public health in CaliforniaWendy Ring
Grand rounds presentation on health impacts of air pollution in California with emphasis on California based research findings, local impacts in Northern California, and future effects of climate change
This document discusses air pollution and its impacts on public health. It notes that air pollution from both indoor and outdoor sources contributes significantly to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory diseases. Small particulate matter (PM2.5) is highlighted as a major risk factor that penetrates deep into lungs and affects health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution contributes to around 7 million deaths globally per year. The document calls for stronger policies and interventions to reduce air pollution and protect public health.
Ensuring a clean and healthy environment through effective environmental management will provide significant benefits to human health and society. Poor air quality, chemical exposure, water pollution, ecosystem degradation, climate change, and ozone depletion all pose threats to human well-being. Reducing air pollution, practicing sound chemical and waste management, improving access to clean water, sustainably managing land and forests, addressing climate change, and protecting the ozone layer can help prevent millions of deaths and illnesses annually related to environmental hazards. Integrated solutions across sectors will be needed to protect human health and promote sustainable development.
This document discusses the health impacts of air pollution and its link to climate change. It notes that air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths per year, mainly from heart and lung diseases. Many air pollutants like black carbon and ground-level ozone damage both health and the climate. Reducing these short-lived climate pollutants could save lives and slow near-term climate change. Improving standards for household stoves and urban planning could significantly improve air quality and public health in cities. Coordinated international efforts to address both indoor and outdoor air pollution will generate major health and climate benefits.
This document summarizes evidence from medical studies linking air pollution to various negative health impacts. It finds that air pollution causes thousands of premature deaths annually in the US from heart and lung diseases. Common pollutants like ozone and particulate matter are associated with increased asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer as well as decreased lung function and development, especially in children. Reducing air pollution could significantly improve health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
This presentation explains about indoor airquality. And about the cause of indoor airpollution. And about its impact on human health. And interventions to reduce the burden of disease. And about pheumonia. About ischaemic heart disease. About chronic obstruction pulmonary disease. And about stroke and lung cancer.
The document summarizes the key findings from decades of air pollution research that have informed U.S. air quality policy. Early "killer smog" episodes in the 1950s spurred the first air pollution laws. Later studies in the 1980s-90s found health effects even at lower pollution levels. Long-term studies associated higher pollution with increased mortality. As pollution decreased in many areas from 1970-2000, life expectancy increased more in areas with larger pollution reductions. Current science supports ongoing tightening of air quality standards to maximize health benefits and minimize costs.
From Angst to Action: Talking about Climate Change and HealthWendy Ring
This document discusses effective communication strategies for talking about climate change and health. It suggests framing the issue around health impacts and co-benefits to health from climate solutions in order to increase concern and support for action. Specific communication recommendations include focusing on local and personal impacts, presenting solutions and emphasizing collective responsibility and democratic values. The document also provides examples of health impacts from climate change and health benefits from climate policies.
Developing World and Occupational Health ImpactsAI Publications
This document discusses occupational health impacts in the developing world. It notes that the quality of the environment plays a critical role in human health. Occupational environments present various health hazards to workers. Air pollution from traffic, factories, and other sources can have both immediate and long-term health effects, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung diseases. Long-term exposure to particulate pollution has been shown to increase mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Developing countries face greater environmental health challenges from issues like deforestation, pollution, and degradation of natural resources. Reducing air pollution, especially from sources like residential energy use and agriculture, could help prevent millions of premature deaths each year.
This document discusses the high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in India and the link between air pollution and increased risk of CVD. It provides the following key points:
1. CVD is the leading cause of death in India, with rates higher than global averages. Major CVDs include IHD, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension.
2. Risk factors for CVD like hypertension and diabetes are rising dramatically in India and projected to affect hundreds of millions by 2030.
3. Existing evidence suggests air pollution likely increases the risk of CVD and its risk factors through mechanisms like endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and increased blood pressure.
4. Research aims to better characterize the associations between long-term air
A presentation made at the 2015 NC BREATHE Conference by Jason West, PhD of University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Sponsored by Clean Air Carolina and partners, the 2015 NC BREATHE Conference was held on March 27, 2015 in Raleigh, NC to bring together air quality researchers, medical and public health professionals, and policymakers to share the latest research on the health impacts of air pollution, the positive health outcomes related to clean air policy-making, and the resulting economic benefits.
This document summarizes cancer epidemiology and risk factors over the life course. It notes that cancer incidence has been increasing globally and discusses the most common cancer sites among men and women. It then covers childhood cancers, cancer etiology related to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, infections, reproductive factors, diet, occupation, radiation, pollution, and other environmental exposures.
A national study on long-term exposure to air pollution to human health and correlation to COVID-19 mortality - pollution kills and every 1ug/m3 PM 2.5 increases the death rate from COVID by 15%.
Similar to Healthy People = Healthy Planet: Texas Version (20)
Biomass Energy and Health in Humboldt CountyWendy Ring
This document summarizes the health impacts of biomass energy in Humboldt County. It finds that the county's 3 aging biomass power plants are major polluters that emit more pollution per megawatt hour than comparable coal plants. Their emissions include fine particulates and other toxins that are linked to increased emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and premature deaths from respiratory and heart conditions. Over 30% of the county's population is vulnerable to these health effects. However, regulatory oversight has been inadequate, and the plants have limited potential for improvement given their age. In conclusion, phasing out the biomass plants would meaningfully reduce health costs and risks for the county.
Climate 911, a national network of health professionals and students, is touring California's Central Valley this summer with a bilingual puppet comedy show called D.O.G.S. that promotes climate solutions and their health benefits. The show aims to entertain children and adults in both English and Spanish by following two dogs who train their owners to cut carbon pollution in half. Health professionals want to educate people that climate solutions can reduce chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and asthma while saving lives and money. The Central Valley faces some of the worst air pollution and highest chronic disease rates in California, so it stands to gain the most from adopting climate solutions.
This document discusses how climate change can increase human exposure to various toxins in three main areas. First, it examines how higher temperatures and drought conditions can increase the presence of toxins like algae blooms, nitrates, and arsenic in fresh water. Second, it explores how rising ocean temperatures allow toxins like brevetoxin and domoic acid in marine biotoxins to spread. Third, it summarizes research showing how climate factors can elevate levels of persistent organic pollutants and mycotoxins in crops, which poses health risks when humans are exposed through food or storm runoff.
Presentation for Women's Clubs about Climate and Maternal/Child HealthWendy Ring
Climate change is negatively impacting human health in several ways. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide that is trapping heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm. This is exacerbating air pollution like wildfire smoke and ozone, triggering asthma attacks. Higher temperatures also increase the growth and spread of allergens and molds. Warming leads to more extreme weather like heat waves and flooding, spreading waterborne illnesses. Reducing emissions through climate action could prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and cases of heart disease, diabetes and cancer each year.
Presentation about health effects of climate change and burning fossil fuel in the US from a rural perspective. Introduces health professional Prescription for Action
Climate and Your Health, NZ Slides for General AudiencesWendy Ring
This document summarizes various health effects that are associated with or exacerbated by climate change, including warmer temperatures, more frequent and intense heat waves, drought, heavy rainfall, more powerful cyclones, rising sea levels, and changes in infectious disease transmission. It notes that New Zealand is warming, with warmer winters and hotter summers projected by 2050-2100. This will lead to longer and more frequent heat waves. Other health risks discussed include increased cases of mosquito-borne infections like dengue fever, waterborne illnesses linked to flooding and contamination, air pollution and allergies, and mental health impacts from displacement and stress. The document emphasizes the urgency of action on climate change to protect public health.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH NZ For General AudiencesWendy Ring
Climate change is projected to negatively impact health in New Zealand through increased heat waves, harmful algal blooms, mosquito-borne diseases, and mass dislocation of refugees. Warmer temperatures will lead to more frequent and severe heat waves, increasing heat-related illnesses and deaths. Warmer oceans are promoting algal blooms which produce toxins that accumulate in shellfish. This poses risks of paralytic shellfish poisoning and liver diseases from algal toxins. Rising temperatures also increase bacteria like Vibrio in shellfish and allow mosquitoes that transmit diseases like dengue to potentially establish in New Zealand. Mass migration of climate refugees from poorer countries may introduce diseases like tuberculosis to New Zealand.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH IN NEW ZEALAND- Medical AudiencesWendy Ring
Climate change is affecting health in New Zealand through increasing temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and rising sea surface temperatures. This is leading to more heat-related illnesses and deaths, increased risk of food poisoning and shellfish toxins, and potential for mosquito-borne diseases to emerge. Warmer conditions allow disease-carrying mosquitoes to survive and expand their ranges, bringing threats like dengue fever closer to New Zealand.
This document provides a comprehensive literature review on the relationships between climate change and human health, organized by topic. It includes over 50 references from public health organizations and peer-reviewed studies on issues such as extreme heat, food insecurity, infectious diseases, water contamination, air quality, and the health benefits of reducing emissions. The references document the impacts of climate change on physical health outcomes and suggest strategies for public health adaptation and mitigation.
Evolving Lifecycles with High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) and 3-D...Joshua Orris
The incorporation of a 3DCSM and completion of HRSC provided a tool for enhanced, data-driven, decisions to support a change in remediation closure strategies. Currently, an approved pilot study has been obtained to shut-down the remediation systems (ISCO, P&T) and conduct a hydraulic study under non-pumping conditions. A separate micro-biological bench scale treatability study was competed that yielded positive results for an emerging innovative technology. As a result, a field pilot study has commenced with results expected in nine-twelve months. With the results of the hydraulic study, field pilot studies and an updated risk assessment leading site monitoring optimization cost lifecycle savings upwards of $15MM towards an alternatively evolved best available technology remediation closure strategy.
Kinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...Open Access Research Paper
Water polluted by dyestuffs compounds is a global threat to health and the environment; accordingly, we prepared a green novel sorbent chemical and Physical system from an algae, chitosan and chitosan nanoparticle and impregnated with algae with chitosan nanocomposite for the sorption of Malachite green dye from water. The algae with chitosan nanocomposite by a simple method and used as a recyclable and effective adsorbent for the removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions. Algae, chitosan, chitosan nanoparticle and algae with chitosan nanocomposite were characterized using different physicochemical methods. The functional groups and chemical compounds found in algae, chitosan, chitosan algae, chitosan nanoparticle, and chitosan nanoparticle with algae were identified using FTIR, SEM, and TGADTA/DTG techniques. The optimal adsorption conditions, different dosages, pH and Temperature the amount of algae with chitosan nanocomposite were determined. At optimized conditions and the batch equilibrium studies more than 99% of the dye was removed. The adsorption process data matched well kinetics showed that the reaction order for dye varied with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity of the algae with chitosan nanocomposite toward malachite green dye reached as high as 15.5mg/g, respectively. Finally, multiple times reusing of algae with chitosan nanocomposite and removing dye from a real wastewater has made it a promising and attractive option for further practical applications.
Recycling and Disposal on SWM Raymond Einyu pptxRayLetai1
Increasing urbanization, rural–urban migration, rising standards of living, and rapid development associated with population growth have resulted in increased solid waste generation by industrial, domestic and other activities in Nairobi City. It has been noted in other contexts too that increasing population, changing consumption patterns, economic development, changing income, urbanization and industrialization all contribute to the increased generation of waste.
With the increasing urban population in Kenya, which is estimated to be growing at a rate higher than that of the country’s general population, waste generation and management is already a major challenge. The industrialization and urbanization process in the country, dominated by one major city – Nairobi, which has around four times the population of the next largest urban centre (Mombasa) – has witnessed an exponential increase in the generation of solid waste. It is projected that by 2030, about 50 per cent of the Kenyan population will be urban.
Aim:
A healthy, safe, secure and sustainable solid waste management system fit for a world – class city.
Improve and protect the public health of Nairobi residents and visitors.
Ecological health, diversity and productivity and maximize resource recovery through the participatory approach.
Goals:
Build awareness and capacity for source separation as essential components of sustainable waste management.
Build new environmentally sound infrastructure and systems for safe disposal of residual waste and replacing current dumpsites which should be commissioned.
Current solid waste management situation:
The status.
Solid waste generation rate is at 2240 tones / day
collection efficiently is at about 50%.
Actors i.e. city authorities, CBO’s , private firms and self-disposal
Current SWM Situation in Nairobi City:
Solid waste generation – collection – dumping
Good Practices:
• Separation – recycling – marketing.
• Open dumpsite dandora dump site through public education on source separation of waste, of which the situation can be reversed.
• Nairobi is one of the C40 cities in this respect , various actors in the solid waste management space have adopted a variety of technologies to reduce short lived climate pollutants including source separation , recycling , marketing of the recycled products.
• Through the network, it should expect to benefit from expertise of the different actors in the network in terms of applicable technologies and practices in reducing the short-lived climate pollutants.
Good practices:
Despite the dismal collection of solid waste in Nairobi city, there are practices and activities of informal actors (CBOs, CBO-SACCOs and yard shop operators) and other formal industrial actors on solid waste collection, recycling and waste reduction.
Practices and activities of these actor groups are viewed as innovations with the potential to change the way solid waste is handled.
CHALLENGES:
• Resource Allocation.
Microbial characterisation and identification, and potability of River Kuywa ...Open Access Research Paper
Water contamination is one of the major causes of water borne diseases worldwide. In Kenya, approximately 43% of people lack access to potable water due to human contamination. River Kuywa water is currently experiencing contamination due to human activities. Its water is widely used for domestic, agricultural, industrial and recreational purposes. This study aimed at characterizing bacteria and fungi in river Kuywa water. Water samples were randomly collected from four sites of the river: site A (Matisi), site B (Ngwelo), site C (Nzoia water pump) and site D (Chalicha), during the dry season (January-March 2018) and wet season (April-July 2018) and were transported to Maseno University Microbiology and plant pathology laboratory for analysis. The characterization and identification of bacteria and fungi were carried out using standard microbiological techniques. Nine bacterial genera and three fungi were identified from Kuywa river water. Clostridium spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Streptococcus spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Shigella spp., Proteus spp. and Salmonella spp. Fungi were Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus complex and Penicillium species. Wet season recorded highest bacterial and fungal counts (6.61-7.66 and 3.83-6.75cfu/ml) respectively. The results indicated that the river Kuywa water is polluted and therefore unsafe for human consumption before treatment. It is therefore recommended that the communities to ensure that they boil water especially for drinking.
Presented by The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action at GLF Peatlands 2024 - The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...Joshua Orris
Results of geophysics and pneumatic injection pilot tests during 2003 – 2007 yielded significant positive results for injection delivery design and contaminant mass treatment, resulting in permanent shut-down of an existing groundwater Pump & Treat system.
Accessible source areas were subsequently removed (2011) by soil excavation and treated with the placement of Emulsified Vegetable Oil EVO and zero-valent iron ZVI to accelerate treatment of impacted groundwater in overburden and weathered fractured bedrock. Post pilot test and post remediation groundwater monitoring has included analyses of CVOCs, organic fatty acids, dissolved gases and QuantArray® -Chlor to quantify key microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, etc.) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductase, methane monooxygenase, etc.) to assess potential for reductive dechlorination and aerobic cometabolism of CVOCs.
In 2022, the first commercial application of MetaArray™ was performed at the site. MetaArray™ utilizes statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and multivariate analysis to provide evidence that reductive dechlorination is active or even that it is slowing. This creates actionable data allowing users to save money by making important site management decisions earlier.
The results of the MetaArray™ analysis’ support vector machine (SVM) identified groundwater monitoring wells with a 80% confidence that were characterized as either Limited for Reductive Decholorination or had a High Reductive Reduction Dechlorination potential. The results of MetaArray™ will be used to further optimize the site’s post remediation monitoring program for monitored natural attenuation.
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies.EpconLP
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies. With over 4000 installations worldwide, EPCON has been pioneering new techniques since 1977 that have become industry standards now. Founded in 1977, Epcon has grown from a one-man operation to a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative air pollution control technology and industrial heating equipment.
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...Open Access Research Paper
The popularity of functional foods among scientists and common people has been increasing day by day. Awareness and modernization make the consumer think better regarding food and nutrition. Now a day’s individual knows very well about the relation between food consumption and disease prevalence. Humans have a diversity of microbes in the gut that together form the gut microflora. Probiotics are the health-promoting live microbial cells improve host health through gut and brain connection and fighting against harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the two bacterial genera which are considered to be probiotic. These good bacteria are facing challenges of viability. There are so many factors such as sensitivity to heat, pH, acidity, osmotic effect, mechanical shear, chemical components, freezing and storage time as well which affects the viability of probiotics in the dairy food matrix as well as in the gut. Multiple efforts have been done in the past and ongoing in present for these beneficial microbial population stability until their destination in the gut. One of a useful technique known as microencapsulation makes the probiotic effective in the diversified conditions and maintain these microbe’s community to the optimum level for achieving targeted benefits. Dairy products are found to be an ideal vehicle for probiotic incorporation. It has been seen that the encapsulated microbial cells show higher viability than the free cells in different processing and storage conditions as well as against bile salts in the gut. They make the food functional when incorporated, without affecting the product sensory characteristics.
Climate Change All over the World .pptxsairaanwer024
Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the average weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It encompasses both global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. While climate change is a natural phenomenon, human activities, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, have accelerated its pace and intensity
ENVIRONMENT~ Renewable Energy Sources and their future prospects.tiwarimanvi3129
This presentation is for us to know that how our Environment need Attention for protection of our natural resources which are depleted day by day that's why we need to take time and shift our attention to renewable energy sources instead of non-renewable sources which are better and Eco-friendly for our environment. these renewable energy sources are so helpful for our planet and for every living organism which depends on environment.
7. CARMAGEDDON!
Los Angeles, CA 405 Freeway
Ultrafine Particulates down 83 %
PM2.5 down 36 percent
ER Visits UCLA down 23%
ER Visits Mt Sinai down 13%
911 calls decreased 12%
12. TOP 5 CAUSES OF DEATH IN US
Heart Disease
(diabetes)
Cancer
Chronic Lung Disease
Stroke
Unintentional Injury
(mva)
13. TOP 10 CAUSES OF THE CAUSES
of death in developed countries
1) tobacco
2) high blood pressure
3) overweight and
obesity
4) physical inactivity
5) high blood glucose
6) high cholesterol
7) low fruit and vegetable
intake
8) urban outdoor air
pollution
9) alcohol
10) occupational
WHO 2009
14. CAUSES OF THE CAUSES
OF THE CAUSES
Air pollution
Car centric built environment
Industrial agriculture and food system
18. AIR POLLUTION
AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
Playing multiple outdoor sports in areas with poor air
quality triples the risk of developing childhood asthma
(McConnell, 2002)
Childhood asthma incidence increased 16% per
10ug/m3 of fine particulate exposure, and 7% per
10ug/m3 of Nox. (Anderson, 2013)
A 5-ppb increase in average NO2 during the first year of
life was associated with an odds ratio of 1.17 for
physician-diagnosed asthma. (Nishimura, 2013)
19. AIR POLLUTION AND CVD
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
Rate of carotid intimal thickening is doubled in
people who live within 100 m of busy roadway
(Kinsli, 2010)
ACUTE EXPOSURE Each 10ug/m3 PM2.5
4.5% increase in acute cardiac events
8-18% increase in CVD mortality
(Pope, 2004, 2006, 2008)
20. AIR POLLUTION AND DIABETES
10ug/m3 PM2.5 = 1% increase in prevalence
DM2
(Pearson, 2010)
Exposure to traffic and PM increased risk of new
onset DM2 15-42% (Kramer, 2010)
Highest quartile maternal exposure to NOx
increased gestational DM 70% (Malmqvist, 2013)
2SD increase in childhood exposure NO2/ PM2.5
= 18% increase in insulin resistance.
(Thiering, 2013)
21. Prenatal PAH Exposure and
Childhood Obesity
Rrundle et al Am J Epidemiol. Jun 1, 2012; 175(11)- 1163–1172..
22. AIR POLLUTION
AND CHILD OBESITY
Prenatal exposure to higher levels of PAH
doubled risk of obesity at age 7 (Rundle, 2012)
Residential proximity to traffic in childhood
(controlling for other risk factors) associated
with higher BMI at age 18
(Kramer, 2010)
Kids in 90th percentile for traffic related air
pollution have more rapid increase in BMI
(Jerrett, 2014)
24. CO2 and Noxious Plants
RAGWEED POISON IVY
Ziska, Australian Journal of Plant Physiology,
2000. 27: 893− 898.
25. CO2, MOLD and Asthma
For each 10 U increase in home Environmental Relative
Moldiness Index (ERMI) in infancy, risk of incident asthma
by age 7 increased 80% (Reponen, 2011)
44. POLICIES for CLEAN AIR
Shift subsidies from fossil fuel to clean energy
Strong National Renewable Electricity Standard
50% of electricity by 2030, 100% by 2050
Net metering (utilities pay for surplus power)
45. LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
STOP EXTERNALIZING
HEALTH AND CLIMATE COST OF CARBON
53. CLEAN ENERGY=CLEAN AIR
=HEALTH SAVINGS
T. Thompson, Nature Climate Change 4, 917–923 (2014)
54. Value of decreased mortality from air quality
improvement exceeds cost of emissions reduction
HIGH VALUE LOW VALUE ABATEMENT COST / TON CO2
West et al, Nature Climate Change 3: 885-889 2013
55. EPA Carbon Rules Impact on Air Quality:
2020
OZONE FINE PARTICULATES
61. HEART DISEASE,OBESITY,
DIABETES; COLON CANCER
ONE THIRD PROSTATE CANCER, AND
RECURRENT BREAST CANCER
ATTRIBUTABLE TO
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
62. WALKABILITY, OBESITY, AND
DIABETES
TEN YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY Ontario
Least walkable neighborhoods
DM +6%
Obesity/Overweight +13%
Most walkable neighborhoods
DM -7%
Obesity/Overweight - 9%
(Booth, 2014, presented at ADA)
63. WALKABILITY DM, OBESITY, AND CVD
Sprawl and disconnected street networks are
associated with increased rates of obesity,
diabetes, and CVD. (Marshall, 2014)
Residents of “walkable” metro areas walk more &
use more public transit, have lower BMI & BP,
less DM, and 3 years longer life expectancy
than people living with sprawl. (Ewing, 2014)
67. TRANSIT AND OBESITY
Users of public transit are 45% less likely to be
obese or overweight (Zheng, Y. 2008)
Transit commuters walk twice as many
minutes/day as car commuters, weigh an
average of 6-7 lb less and have lower % body
fat. (Flint, 2014)
Increased use of public transit would cut the
annual increase in obesity prevalence by 45%.
(Edwards, 2008)
68. TRANSIT DECREASES MVA DEATHS
Urban Traffic Fatalities/100,000
by Cities' Transit Use by Smart Growth vs Sprawl
69. Austin ranks 39th of 46 major metro
areas in jobs available within 30
minute trip by public transit
70. Per Capita Health Savings from
Rapid Transit and TOD
Average
Urban
Transit
High Quality
Urban Rail or
Rapid Bus
Transit
Oriented
Development
73. POLICIES FOR ACTIVE/PUBLIC TRANSIT
Smarth growth, Infrastructure Investment,
Coordination (Health in All Policies)
74. 10,000 colon cancers
215,000 heart attacks
32,000 MVA fatalities PREVENTED
570,000 new diabetes cases each year
ANNUAL SAVINGS SF BAY AREA Maizlish, N. Am J Public Health.
1.4-22 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR 2013 Apr;103(4):703-9.
75. Good news: We're already on our way.
Vehicle miles per capita decreasing
83. Increasing dependence on imported produce
& associated outbreaks of foodborne infection
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/global-grocer/ 2013 – Cilantro from Mexico
86. High Fructose Corn Syrup and
Metabolic Syndrome
Meta-analysis: Fructose consumption
increases FBG, triglycerides, and systolic
BP. (Kelishadi, 2014)
Fructose sweetened beverages increase FBG
and insulin levels, decrease insulin
sensitivity (Stanhope, 2009)
Fructose induced insulin resistance in rats is
attenuated by lycopene (Yin, 2014)
87. Red Meat, DM, Cancer, and CVD
NIH-AARP Study: 20-50% increased mortality from
cancer and CVD (Sinha, 2009)
Womens' Health Study:
28% more incident DM over 8 years (Song, 2004)
Nurses' Health Study/ Health Professionals
Followup Study: 13% increase in mortality per
serving (all cause, cancer, and CVD). (Pan, 2012)
Extra daily half serving of meat raised risk of DM 48%
for subsequent 4 years (Pan, 2013)
88. OBESITY AND ASTHMA
Numerous prospective studies in adults found
obesity associated with increased risk of
incident asthma with BMI “dose response”
Weight loss, both surgical and non surgical,
associated with resolution of asthma, decrease
in asthma symptoms or increased FEV1
(Ford, E The Epidemiology of Obesity and Asthma
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005;115:897-909.)
89. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood
JUNK FOOD AND ASTHMA
Nagel, Thorax. 2010 Jun;65(6):516-22.
93. Arsenic in Groundwater
Arsenic concentration in wells Public water systems exceeding EPA std
94. Arsenic alters gene expression,
promotes lung, skin, bladder cancer
Cancer risk from adult As in drinking water
Altered gene expression in cord blood with maternal As exposure
98. Aflatoxin Biomarkers
NHANES 2000
1% positive
Age OR
for +
12-39 1.49
40 + 1.00
Ethnicity OR
Black 0.92
White 1.00
Mex American 2.71
Bexar County 2010
20% of adults positive,
associated with rice
and tortillas
99. ANNUAL INCIDENCE HCC 1995–2010
South Texas Latino
US Latino
Texas Latino
White, non-Hispanic
Ramirez AG, Munoz E, Holden AEC, Adeigbe RT, et al. (2014) Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Texas Latinos, 1995–2010:
An Update. PLoS ONE 9(6): e99365. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099365
100. Aflatoxin Biomarkers and Risk Factors
for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
RISK FACTORS OR for HCC
Aflatoxin Biomarker Alone 7
Chronic Hepatitis B or C Alone 7-28
NAFLD alone 3-16
Aflatoxin + Chronic Hep B or C 60
Aflatoxin + NAFLD ??
40% OF OBESE CHILDREN AND 40% OF ALL
ADULTS HAVE NAFLD
103. Mediterranean vs Western diet
Less: GHG, H2O, energy, land
MEDITERRANEAN 0 WESTERN
Sáez-Almendros et al. Environmental Health 2013 12:118 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-118
108. POLICIES FOR HEALTHY FOOD AND
FARMS
Subsidize fruits and
vegetables
Reward good stewardship
Crop diversity
Natural fertilizer
Crop rotation
Conservation set asides
Donate excess food
Harvest energy from
waste
109. 300,000 Heart Attacks/Strokes PREVENTED
260,000 New Diabetes Cases
127,000 CVD Deaths each year
144,000 Cancer Deaths
110. WE ARE HERE
Temperature increase 1.4 degrees F
111. AND HERE:
70% overweight or
obese
34% CVD
12% diabetes
37% pre-diabetes
8% asthma
75 cents of every
health dollar spent on
preventable chronic
disease
115. BUSINESS AS USUAL
2030
40% Obese
40% CVD
20% Diabetic
10% Asthmatic
2050
50% Obese
50% CVD
30% Diabetic
116. WHAT YOU CAN DO
Sign up for action alerts climate911.org
VOTE CLIMATE climatehawksvote.com
Tell your congresspeople: Climate policy is
essential to protect public health
Speak out in your community
Introduce yourself and tell how you came to realize that climate change is a public health emergency.
This talk is about how climate solutions solve more than climate problems. It could be titled (click) WHAT CAN CLIMATE ACTION DO FOR THE HEALTH OF TEXAS?
WG2 report March 2014
>300 authors from 70 countries. I'm just going to show you 2 graphs from the report which sum up their findings re N America
This graph shows how much the changing climate impacts our health
. The horizontal bars are the severity of impact The hatched areas represent the degree to which we can blunt these effects by adaptation.
4 MAIN POINTS
1) climate change is already causing signif health impacts
2) We can blunt the impact somewhat with adaptation but we can't escape unscathed.
3) No matter what we do now, we are locked into near term warming until 2040 because of emissions already in the atmosphere
4) The sooner we act, the lower the longterm risks to our health
Each line represents a possible course of action in regard to when and how much we lower GHG emissions and the T change that results. All but the green line are faded out because all but the green line will lead 2 catastrophic T increases. The green path requires global CO2 to peak by 2020, with developed countries like the US making substantial early reductions. THE BAD NEWS: we're not on that pathway. THE GOOD NEWS: If we get there, the green path is a twofer which not only addresses the cause of climate change but also the underlying causes of our chronic disease epidemic.
. Let me introduce you to some people who can tell u about it in their own words.
Meet Sam Moody a car insurance executive who gave up his car and lost 70lb in the process. Here is his story:
I was sitting in line at the gas station during the “gas shortage” , turning my car off and on for 45 minutes waiting to pay over $3 a gallon. That is when I realized that I needed to find a better solution.
My employer offers the Commuter Choice Tax Benefit, so I got $180/mo tax free to cover the cost of taking public transit. Walking 2 miles each day to the station helped with the weight loss. I started eating better due to the fact I was no longer passing fast food restaurants on my way home; luckily the train doesn't stop at Wendy’s.
I eventually sold my car and haven't driven to work in over a year.”
Sam got healthy and lost 70 lb commuting with public transit.
College and surounding zip codes are food deserts. Market is over 4 miles away. Triple bottom line: gives to community groups, sells discount to community, sellls to restaurant
10,000 lb organic produce/year. Gives 15% to food banks
Steve Groff is a family farmer who grows vegetables on 200 acres in Lancaster County PA. 20 years ago his farm was losing 14 tons of topsoil each year to erosion. He switched from conventional farming to a sustainable system using cover crops, crop rotation and long-term no-tillage. His expenses decreased due to less need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizer....
soil stability quadrupled with a 70% increase in organic content and his crop yields increased 10%.
CO2 removed from the atmosphere to make healthy soil now helps to grow healthy food.
JULY 2011, A 10 mile stretch of the 405 freeway, normally traversed by 300,000 cars a day closed for 36 hours for repairs. Traffic north and south of the shutdown dropped 60-70% and traffic on alternate routes dropped 30-40% . Regional air quality improved within minutes for a radius of 100 miles.
Geoffrey Thompson is a neonatalogist and the CEO of Gundersen Lutheran Health System, a nonprofit healthcare network with 4 hospitals and 75 clinics serving patients in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota..
Hospitals are among the most energy intensive buildings in the US and back in 2007 Gundersen had to raise patient bills due to energy costs rising by $350,000 per year.
“We asked ourselves, "Why are we here?" To improve the health and well-being of patients and our communities and if we're going to do that, we need to stop causing harm., and part of the community's need is that we keep the cost of health care down. So, we said we're going to decrease our impact on the environment and lower the cost of health care at the same time”. .
They began by optimizing heating, cooling, and lighting and changing employee behavior to reduce energy demand. Within 2 years the hospital's energy use had dropped 25%, saving $1 million dollars a year. They now save $2 million annually.
They didn't talk about climate change.
Jeffrey: I didn't want people focusing on the debates of which news station they watch and get wound around that axle.That's why we framed it as pollution, which causes people with lung disease to breathe hard. We shouldn't allow that to happen. We shouldn't put mercury into the environment. We should not waste food. We stressed these kinds of things. If we can produce energy locally and help the local economy, we should do that.
And over the next 5 years Gundersen added renewable energy generation including solar, wind, geothermal, and waste biogas from local dairy farms, the city landfill, and a local brewery.
Jeffrey: We developed a plan to invest locally in energy production rather than putting our money in treasury notes, stocks or bonds. Now we have our business community, our education community, our staff believing that we can do more than one thing at a time; that we can take care of patients and the community while we save money with our sustainability program.
The hospital is on track to achieve its goal of running on 100% clean safe energy by the end of this year.
The people in these stories are like scouts riding ahead of the main traveling party. They are leading the way to a future in which our children will be healthier than their parents instead of being sicker and dying younger. This healthier future you've glimpsed through their eyes is within our reach but its not where we're currently headed. We need u to help us get there. The purpose of this talk is to explain why health professionals should be the loudest cheerleaders for climate action.
What are the causes of the causes of death?
I've highlighted 7 of these because they are things we'd see less of if we take the low emissions pathway.
“the causes of the causes of the causes” grew out of choices we made in the past about city planning, transportation, and food systems. when we set up these systems, we didn't understand the health consequences. Now that we do, the climate crisis presents an unprecedented opportunity to make better choices and save hundreds of thousands of American lives every year.
Again we find a dose response relationship between air pollution and childhood asthma
Early exposure to air pollution especially first trimester associated DNA hypomethylation at sites which correlate with increased increased rates of CVD
Prospective studies show dose related increase in DM2 incidence in adults and insulin resistance in children with exposure to air pollution. Some attributed to inflammatory effect of pollutants and some to epigenetic effects- early exposure causing persistent alteration of gene expression
Prenatal and early childhood exposure to air pollution related to higher BMI up to age 18
Where does this unhealthy air pollution come from? The largest source in motor vehicle exhause and the second largest source are power plants burning coal, gas, and oil. This is also our country's largest contribution to global warming, which begets a whole nother round of health consequences including, as you'll see, worse air pollution.
CO2 acts as fertilizer, increases pollen production and allergenicity, and extends flowering season, spread of allergenic plants. Graph shows pollen production under preindustrial, current and projected future CO2 levels. Pollen levels predicted to double by 2040. Similar experiments done with poison ivy show bigger plants with higher content of urushiol.
With milder springs pollen season begins sooner and has increased length of pollen season by 2-4 weeks. most change at higher latitudes.
Flooding and heavy rain increase indoor mold. .Mold exposure increases ER visits and hospitalization for asthma and asthma deaths. Can also cause asthma. Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study prospective, birth to age 7, parental atopy. For each 10 U increase in home Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) , risk of asthma increased 80%, RR double for highest quartile compared with lowest.
Higher CO2 increases mold spores and allergenicity. At 500 ppm CO2 concentrations,one common mold allergen produced nearly three times the number of spores and more than twice the total antigenic protein per plant
GOOD NEWS- ozone levels have been declining,
BAD NEWS on their way back up with most of the increase related to temperature. climate penalty.
40% of pop lives in areas with air quality below EPA standards
40% of Americans already live in areas with ozone levels deemed unsafe by the EPA. If current rate of emissions continue By 2020 increased ozone from climate change will cause 3 million extra episodes of severe respiratory symptoms. By 2050 climate induced ozone elevations will cause 12 million additional severe episodes and quintuple the number of ER visits, hospital admissions and deaths, primarily for infants and elders.
US ranks #2 in premature deaths due to ozone. With mortality projected to more than triple by 2030
Dust storms in Texas. high rate of VF-seropositive dogs in the western and southwestern parts of Texas (relative risk = 31)
Studies show that years with increased cases follow a grow and blow pattern. spring rain followed 6-24 mo later by drought and wind. Not reportable in Texas.
Dry lake beds contain high levels of minerals left behind when the water evaporates. Owens Lake emits about 30 tons of arsenic /yr. Lung cancer, skin cancer, Exposure in pregnancy results in LBW, neonatal infections, and abnormal gene expression
About 25% of airborne arsenic in SE US comes in dust from Africa
2011 25 million Texans exposed to smoke for at least 1 week
This map shows ozone contribution from wildfires in Idaho and CA, causing elevated levels in Utah and NV
Los Angeles holds a longstanding record of having the worst air quality of all US cities but you can see how wildfire smoke more than doubled the level of fine particulates, achieving levels of pm 2.5 close to what is seen in Beijing.
Dioxin in smoke, deposited on range and farmland resulting in human ingestion and accumulation in fatty tissues. 80% of dioxin exposure is from beef and dairy
PAH also in wildfire smoke adhered to very fine particulates. In addition to consumption of contaminated food , Inhalation is a signifcant exposure route, can cause lung cancer. PAHis very persistent. levels are used by paleontologists studying prehistoric fires.
Runoff from burned areas, has higher levels of PAH than urban runoff.
So it stands to reason we should get rid of the pollution by making a switch to safe clean energy
IS THERE ENOUGH?
THO Wind is currently only 4% of total, Wind potential is ten times our current electricity use,
.
By 2020 Save $35 billion/year in health costs
energy cost per kwh decreased by more than 50%
What about intermittency? RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURES STUDY US Dept of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, MIT
The central conclusion of the analysis is that renewable electricity generation from technologies that are commercially available today, in combination with a more flexible electric system, is more than adequate to supply 80% of total U.S. electricity generation in 2050 while meeting electricity demand on an hourly basis in every region of the United States.
SEVERAL COUNTRIES APPROACHING 50% RENEWABLE GENERATION
What would it take to make entire US like Gunderson Lutheran
? EPA limits for major emitters
Rebates, tax breaks, investment in R&D
Shift subsidies including use of public land
Natl Electricity standard
Net metering
Level playing field- stop externalizing climate and health costs of dirty energy
We need to level the playing field so that when we're considering the costs of clean vs fossil fuel we're comparing apples to apples. We give the highly profitable coal, gas, and oil industry $4 billion/year in tax breaks while the American people pay the health and environmental costs.
That's not the only advantage we give them. We lease public land for mining and drilling at far below market prices. Example: 40% of US coal comes from public lands, we sell it to coal companies for around a dollar a ton and they turn around and sell it to Asia for $50 a ton. It takes 2 weeks to ship the coal to China and 5 days for the plume of mercury, ozone ,and particulates to return to our shores.
STOPPING WASTE AND IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS
THE LOW HANGING FRUIT.
THESE ARE THE ACTIONS BELOW COST CURVE
THAT SAVE MONEY
Buildings use up 40% of our energy and nearly half is wasted.
Basic energy retrofits (seal leaks, insulate)
can decrease energy use 30-40% and save $3 for every
Dollar invested.
American Institute of Architects 80,000 firms, US Council of Mayors and National Council of Governors.
Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the US. Increased efficiency and alternative fuels decrease air pollution. It will take us to 2020 to get where japan and eu are today.
Integral part of meeting these ambitious goals is demand reduction thru increased efficiency.
When we stop burning fossil fuel, we get immediate improvement in air quality.. Atlanta Olympics traffic dropped 20%, emissions dropped 30%, peds asthma admissions 40%. clean energy saves more lives by clearing the air than by preventing worsening of climate change. Globally 400,000 people a year die as a result of climate change (90% are children) but 4.5 million die from lung disease, CVD and cancer from carbon related air pollution. In the US closing all coal burning power plants would save 13,200 lives and prevent nearly 10,000 hospitalizations and more than 20,000 heart attacks each year. According to the EPA the health cost of coal and oil is greater than the purchase price of the energy itself. If all the costs were factored in gasoline would cost $15 a gallon. Health savings would be more than $100 billion per year
Can we afford it? Yes we can. climate solutions for reducing emissions to 2030 sorted by cost. The different sectors are identified by color. Everything on the left below the horizontal axis results in net savings.These are energy efficiency measures for vehicles and buildings. The solutions on the right above the line are arranged by increasing net cost.. Solutions under $50/ ton include planting trees, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture.
.
1900-1915 50,000 miles
Texas 500 miles- Dennison to Waco
Interurban use declined as car ownership increased, few survived the depression.. Automakers and oil companies bought and closed down many lines. Steady increase in PER CAPITA MILES driven WENT FROM 1950-2000,
corresponding change in destination with residential sprawl. We went from living in walkable complete neighborhoods with an accessible connected street network and a mix of destinations in walking distance to subdivisions where one would be lost without a car
Physical inactivity takes a terrible toll on our health and is responsible for 250,000 deaths in this country per year.
Tten yr study province of Ontario. Walkable less DM and obesity, non walkable more. Tom Frieden CDC "Your longevity and health are more determined by your ZIP code than they are by your genetic code." -Tom Frieden,.
Less then half of Texas teens get recommended physical activity
Increasingly public health and planners consider access to transit as a determinant of health. TOD refers to walkable communities within ½ to ¼ mile radius of a transit station
(5-10 min bike or walk) . People who live in TOD make half as many car trips as people as people in COD.
.
People who live in TOD walk more and weigh less
. They are also less likely to be victims of America's 5th greatest killer UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES, of which the greatest contributor is MVA.
Here you can see the relative dollar value of clean air, exercise, and fewer car accidents. The health savings estimates I've been talking about until now were based solely on air quality. We'd save 3 times as much from increased walking and 17 times more from the decrease in fatal crashes.
IN CASE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS PLANES.
BY GETTING OUT OF OUR CARS AND WALKING and by investing in a transportation system and built environment based on the needs of people.
. Policies to increase active transportationi require a conscious shift of resources away from the vicious cycle of development, congestion, more roads, more sprawl and breaking down the silos between housing, transportation, and development agencies.
This trend is already underway, as baby boomers retire and drive less and young people choose to live in cities and forgo car ownership. The way we get around in the future will depend on the investments we make today.
Our food system has been shaped by national farm policy. From the Depression to the 1970s govt controlled crop prices by paying farmers to limit production, and buying up surplus. In 1970s policy changed to a focus on producing large crops for export. Then Secy of Ag Earl Butz, told farmers “get big or get out” and plant “hedgerow to hedgerow”. Fed programs encouraged borrowing $ to buy more land and equipment. which resulting in modern farms romoted rapid mechanization, exclusive focus on monoculture of subsidized commodity crops which required large inputs of water and petrochemicals. Farm Bubble burst in the 1980s, low prices and glut of crops resulted in many farm foreclosures further consolidating agribusiness.
These changes were felt all the way to the grocery store.
This produced dramatic nutritional changes. HFCS became an increasing part of the american diet. .
From 1970 to 2000, avg daily caloric intake increased by 530 calories, largest proportion from added sugar and fat
Fruit and Vegetable consumption did increase but not nearly as much as meat and sugar. less than 25% of pop eats recommended # of servings.
When Earl Butz said Get big or get out, I doubt this is what he intended, but here we are
30% teens obese, 37% overweight
24% ate 5 fruit/veg/d
48% met recommended physical activity
.
Over 30% of kids obese or overweight. Will triple rate of adult obesity.
HFCS promotes insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Experimentally the insulin resistance is attenuated by lycopene, a carotenoid and antioxidant which gives the red color to many fruits and veg
Prospective studies show that high consumption of red meat significantly increases risk of new onset DM and deaths from cancer, CVD controlling for other risk factors.
Obese adults have nearly double the risk of asthma
Maternal obesity and high prenatal weight gain raises asthma risk for children
obese asthmatics show improvement with weight loss
International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), world's largest collaborative epidemiological study of children,. Over 100 countries, nearly 2 million children over 20 years. Subset 50,000 children in 20 countries (Thorax 2010;65:516-22).
junk food and burgers increase asthma. THERE'S AN ANTIDOTE: fish and vegetables
prospective study of adults obesity nearly doubles incident risk of asthma
Maternal obesity during pregnancy and high gest weight gain increased risk of childhood asthma. Each 1kg/m2 increase in BMI=2-3% increase in asthma.
In addition to its nutritional impact on our health, the emissions from production add to global warming, which has further health impacts on food and water. second largest source of methand are animals we raise for meat and dairy, with each cow producing over 1000 liters/d. The third is decay of wasted food in landfills
Nitrous oxide is the third largest contributor to climate change. By far the largest source is synthetic fertilizer, most of which goes onto crops grown for animal feed. We don't have to pollute the planet to feed ourselves.. Numerous studies show that here and in developing countries, sustainable farming practices produce equal or better yields while adding carbon back into the soil
Drought has affected supply of food and food safety.
Hepatotoxic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, immunosuppressive
Placenta concentrates 6 fold.In a more recent study in a Mex Am community in TX which has very high rate of HCC, 20% of people tested had detectable biomarkers
SOUTH TX LATINOS HAVE 3-4X HIGHER RATE OF HCC c/w non Hispanic whites. Testing in Bexar County showed 20% + for afloxtoxin biomarkers.
INCREASES RISK OF LIVER CANCER ABOUT 7 TIMES HIGHER BUT WHEN COUPLED WITH CHRONIC INFLAMMATION LIKE HEP B OR C OR ALCOHOL, RISK IS 60 TIMES HIGHER.
NAFLD increasingly common risk factor for HCC in US. Childhood obesity increases risk of adult liver cancer 12-20%. currently affects 30% of US population, predicted to double by 2050
Biomarkers detected in Texas community with high prev HCC, related to corn tortillas and riceFDA allowed blending for feed in 4 states.
What would we like our food system to look like?
Change how we grow
Change what we grow and make it more available
In 2000 over 25% of Tx counties were classified as food deserts
Medit has half the GHG emissions of Western diet, and less use of other scarce resources, mostly due to less meat
Can we do it without starving or going broke? . Sustainable small scale farming uses less water, less energy, less fertilizer and pesticides and produces less emissions without sacrificing yield.
Look at how much a med diet would decrease some of those top 10 causes. According to UCS, If Americans ate just one more serving of fruits or vegetables per day, this would save more than 30,000 lives/ yr.
If Americans were to follow current USDA recommendations for daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, those numbers would go up to more than 127,000 lives and $17 billion saved
Even if you already have a chronic disease, its not too late Vegetables and fruit can save you. We don't have a drug that comes anywhere close to being this effective. .
FIRST WE'D HAVE TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. If you look at what we reward farmers for doing, you can see that we get what we pay for. We spend 63% of farm subsidies on what is supposed to fill less than a quarter of our plate and <1% on foods that should fill half of it. If we pay for what we want to get, the prices and buying and eating will change.
We could change that. Here are a few policy steps.
Statistics can distance us from problems, lets bring it close. 7/10 people in this room are overweight. A third of us have CVD, , For every 8 people present, 1 is diabetic although nearly 1/3of them don't know it, and 3 have prediabetes. Of the folks over 65, 1 of 4 are diabetic and 2 of 4 have pre DM .
1 of 8 has asthma, 1 of 5 blacks.
¾ of every health care dollar is spent on preventable chronic disease. those related to obesity are increasing 5% per decade
Will we take the road to
A stable climate
And healthy communities
.OR WILL WE HEAD TOWARD A NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE DM and CVD increase 10 fold by 2010- 2020 and double again by 2030. TX 2030 57% obese
NATIONALLY
6 million new type 2 diabetics
5 million HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES
and over 400,000 extra cases of cancer all of which could have been prevented.
We can't treat our way out but we can speak up and
help TURN OUR COUNTRY TOWARD A HEALTHIER FUTURE.
The solutions are within reach but healthy climate healthy people policy won't happen unless we can generate the political will. To do that we need people and we need vision. So I'm going to tell you some stories.