Prepare : Air pollution plays a central role in the discussion on the interrelationship between global environmental change and human health. It is important, however, that you first understand how human activities around the globe have resulted in the increased emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols (small particles), which are accelerating the disruption to Earth’s climate (Samuel and Aaron, 2013). There are four greenhouse gases produced through human activities; however, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary gas emitted through the burning of fossil fuels in power plants, burning gasoline in transportation, and deforestation (oceanesrvice.noaa.gov). Although CO2 is naturally released through the ocean and vegetation, human activities since the Industrial Revolution have upset the balance of the carbon cycle and have led to very high levels of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. In fact the last time the Earth has seen levels this high was in the Eocene when the sea level was 100 meters above current levels and the ice caps were nonexistent (Samuel and Aaron, 2013). We are now seeing the effect of greenhouse gases on the climate in many ways including global warming. For the past 40 years global temperatures have risen and the hottest year on record was 2015 followed by 2014, 2010, and 2013 (ncdc.noaa.gov). As we progress through this course you will see how climate change is affecting the environment and human health in many direct and indirect ways. This week, however, we will examine how air pollution is impacting human health, and in particular child health, in the home. In the article, the coming health crisis: indirect health effects of global climate change, Samuel and Aaron provide a list of the health consequences of air pollution which include (2013): The formation of ground-level ozone, the major cardiorespiratory toxin in smog, is coupled to temperature particularly as temperatures rise above 90°F (32°C). Climate change has brought about an earlier start to spring and later end to fall, and these changes to seasonality, along with higher CO2 concentrations, yield both longer pollen seasons and more pollen production from many allergenic plants. Allergic respiratory disease, particularly asthma, is already associated with a quarter of a million deaths annually worldwide. The frequency and extent of forest fires is expected to rise, generating large amounts of air pollutants, including potent lung irritants (such as acrolein and other aldehydes), carcinogens (such as formaldehyde and benzene) and fine particulates (PM 2.5) which are known to increase risk of cardiorespiratory disease and death. In your discussion post you will be focusing on the harmful effects of environmental air pollution, but also indoor air pollution caused by solid fuel use. Many children die each year from dangerous sources of household fuel used to keep houses warm and cook food. Solid fuels produce high levels of smoke which can lead to chr ...

1. Prepare
: Air pollution plays a central role in the discussion on the
interrelationship between global environmental change and
human health. It is important, however, that you first
understand how human activities around the globe have resulted
in the increased emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols
(small particles), which are accelerating the disruption to
Earth’s climate (Samuel and Aaron, 2013). There are four
greenhouse gases produced through human activities; however,
carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary gas emitted through the
burning of fossil fuels in power plants, burning gasoline in
transportation, and deforestation (oceanesrvice.noaa.gov).
Although CO2 is naturally released through the ocean and
vegetation, human activities since the Industrial Revolution
have upset the balance of the carbon cycle and have led to very
high levels of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. In fact
the last time the Earth has seen levels this high was in the
Eocene when the sea level was 100 meters above current levels
and the ice caps were nonexistent (Samuel and Aaron, 2013).
We are now seeing the effect of greenhouse gases on the climate
in many ways including global warming. For the past 40 years
global temperatures have risen and the hottest year on record
was 2015 followed by 2014, 2010, and 2013 (ncdc.noaa.gov).
As we progress through this course you will see how climate
change is affecting the environment and human health in many
direct and indirect ways. This week, however, we will examine
how air pollution is impacting human health, and in particular
child health, in the home. In the article, the coming health
crisis: indirect health effects of global climate change, Samuel
and Aaron provide a list of the health consequences of air
pollution which include (2013):
The formation of ground-level ozone, the major

2. cardiorespiratory toxin in smog, is coupled to temperature
particularly as temperatures rise above 90°F (32°C).
Climate change has brought about an earlier start to spring and
later end to fall, and these changes to seasonality, along with
higher CO2 concentrations, yield both longer pollen seasons and
more pollen production from many allergenic plants.
Allergic respiratory disease, particularly asthma, is already
associated with a quarter of a million deaths annually
worldwide.
The frequency and extent of forest fires is expected to rise,
generating large amounts of air pollutants, including potent lung
irritants (such as acrolein and other aldehydes), carcinogens
(such as formaldehyde and benzene) and fine particulates (PM
2.5) which are known to increase risk of cardiorespiratory
disease and death.
In your discussion post you will be focusing on the harmful
effects of environmental air pollution, but also indoor air
pollution caused by solid fuel use. Many children die each year
from dangerous sources of household fuel used to keep houses
warm and cook food. Solid fuels produce high levels of smoke
which can lead to chronic respiratory conditions, cataracts, lung
cancer, and heart disease (who.org). Indoor pollution has also
been linked to issues during pregnancy such as low birth rate
and perinatal mortality, tuberculosis, and cervical cancer
(who.org).
First, read this article on the direct health effects of climate
change
Samuel, S.M. & Aaron, B. (2013).

3. The Coming health crisis: Indirect health effects of global
climate change (Links to an external site.)Links to an external
site.
. The Scientist. Retrieved from: http://www.the-
scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/29429/title/The-Coming-
Health-Crisis/
Then, review the following required resources on indoor air
pollution
World Health Organization (2006).
Fuel for Life: Household Energy and Health
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
(Pages 7-25). Retrieved from:
http://www.who.int/indoorair/publications/fuelforlife/en/
Dasgupta, S., Wheeler, D., Hug, M. & Khaliquzzaman, M.
(2009). Improving indoor air quality for poor families: a
controlled experiment in Bangladesh.
Indoor Air
,
19
(1), 22-32. Doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00558.x
Smith, A. (2006). Amy Smith—Simple designs that could save
millions of children's lives [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=48049
&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=
Last, review the following required resources on the impact of
air pollution on child health

4. Bunyavanich, S. et al. (2003).
The Impact of Climate Change on Child Health (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site.
.
Ambulatory Pediatrics
2003;
3
, 44-52. Retrieved from:
http://www.chgeharvard.org/sites/default/files/resources/Climat
e change_childhealth_supinda_banerjee_ambulatory
paediatrics.pdf
Nelson, Z. (Director), Patterson, H. (Producer). (2009). Shelter
in place: Living in the shadow of the petrochemical industry.
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=42253
&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=
Reflect
: As you review the required readings and watch the videos
consider the following:
How does indoor air pollution impact child health around the
world?
How does environmental air pollution impact child health in the
US?
What role do socio-economics, policy decisions, and race play
in the ability of people to respond to health issues caused by air
pollution?
Is there a difference in a national (American) and Global

5. response to these issues?
Write
: In this discussion post you will focus on the harmful effects of
indoor air pollution caused by solid fuel use as well as
environmental air pollution. Using the required readings
provide background information on environmental and indoor
air pollution and its impact on child health. In your response
consider the role socio-economics, policy decision, and race
play in each scenario? Then answer the following two questions.
In the movie, Shelter in Place, we learn that the refineries give
people money after upsets in exchange for their signing away
their right to sue the company in the future. One resident of the
Carver Terrace complex stated that “they sedate you with their
little checks.” How are the residents leveraging their future
health and that of their children with their current state of
poverty?
In the movie, Simple designs that could save millions of
children's lives, MIT professor Amy Smith has designed
culturally appropriate and economically feasible solutions to
household energy sources. What problems could she potentially
face when trying to get the local population to adopt these
solutions?