Human Health and Climate Change

Group Members Tasbeeh Badi Andrew Dodds Alexander Lederer Britney Olanrewaju Suzanne Phillips (leader)

Climate is Changing Warm temperatures increase air and water pollution, which affects human health Nature of climate change impacts on human health vary by region Climate change is expected to bring few benefits to health, including fewer deaths due to exposure to cold Extreme weather events can be destructive to human health and well-being such as hurricanes, extreme heat, floods

Human Health Increases in the risk of illness and death related to extreme heat and heat waves are very likely. Warming is likely to make it more challenging to meet air quality standards necessary to protect public health. Diseases transmitted by food, water, and insects are likely to increase. Groups that are most vulnerable are children, the elderly, and the poor.

Health Effects Temperature- related illness Air Pollution Related Health Effects Food-borne Diseases Vector-borne Diseases Allergies Asthma Ozone Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke Salmonellosis Norovirus Mosquito Borne Tick Borne

Temperature Related Illness Warmer temperatures are increasing, especially during the summer Warmer temperatures increasing heat related deaths Summers in Virginia are getting warmer Average temperature during the summer months in Virginia are between degrees

Temperature Related Illness Top 3 heat related illness in Virginia Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke

Heat Cramps First signal that your body is having trouble with heat Painful Muscle Cramps in abdominal muscles or legs Mild Fever

Heat Exhaustion Loss of water and salt in body Headache, nausea, dizziness, flushed skin Occurs in conditions of extreme heat and excessive sweating without adequate fluid replacement

Heat Stroke Body’s heat regulating system is overwhelmed by excessive heat Rapid, weak pulse, rapid, shallow breathing High body temperature (105 degrees) Temperature control system in body stops working Body temperature can rise so quickly that brain damage and death might result if the body is not cooled quickly.

Suggestions Education through news, billboard ads Scheduling outside events not in the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of fluids Dress in light colored clothing Take rests in cool areas Sunscreen – SPF 15 or higher

Air Pollution Related Health Effects Allergies and Asthma are on the rise in Virginia Allergies Asthma Ozone

Allergies and Asthma

Ragweed is one of the populous weeds in Virginia and can produce up to 1 Billion pollen grains 3 out of 4 Americans who have allergies are allergic to ragweed

Allergies and Asthma Past 3 years - 50 percent more new allergy patients Planet is getting warmer, which is making weeds grow faster, causing them to produce more pollen Increased pollen causes more allergies and asthma Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, that they have decisively linked climate change to "longer pollen seasons, greater exposure and increased disease burden for late summer weeds, such as ragweed."

Allergies and Asthma Increased carbon dioxide has resulted in pollen production increases of 60 to 90 percent Increasing CO2 = greater ability of plant to produce pollen The prevalence of asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s across all age, sex and racial groups.

Asthma & Allergy Statistics Asthma & Allergies strike 1 out of every 4 Americans. Asthma & Allergies account for more than 27 millions outpatient visits An estimated 1 in 15 Americans suffers from Asthma and 50% of asthma cases are allergic-asthma.

Asthma & Allergy Statistics The annual cost of allergies is estimated to be nearly $7 billion. Direct costs accounted for nearly $6 billion ($5.7 billion in medications and $300 million in office visits). The annual cost of asthma is estimated to be nearly $18 billion. Direct costs accounted for nearly $10 billion (hospitalizations the single largest portion of direct cost) and indirect costs of $8 billion (lost earnings due to illness or death).

Virginia Statistics In 2004, 412,370 adults (7.3% ) and 152,000(9%) children in Virginia reported having asthma. Twenty-two of VDH’s 35 health districts had adult asthma rates higher than the 2004 state rate of 7.3 percent for adults. The total charges for asthma hospitalizations in Virginia in 2004 were $96 million, 58 percent more than in 1999.

Think About It… Every day in America: 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma. 30,000 people have an asthma attack. 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma. 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma. 11 people die from asthma.

Ozone

Ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. However, closer to the ground it infiltrates the lungs and may cause damage. A number of studies have tried to link ozone exposure with mortality but they have been inconclusive, the researchers noted.

Ozone One in three Americans lives in an area that exceeds the national standard for ozone levels 14/ 20 counties in VA have exceeded 8- hour ozone standard of parts per million

Alexandria City.081Arlington.086 Caroline.080 Charles City.080 Chesterfield.076 Fairfax.090 Fauquier.073 Frederick.071 Hampton City.076 Hanover.081 Henrico.081Loudoun.080 Madison.077 Page.073 Prince William.079 Roanoke.074 Rockbridge.069 Stafford.081 Suffolk City.076 Wythe.071

Food Borne Diseases Increased temperatures results in high pathogen replication and survival

Salmonellosis Caused by bacteria called Salmonella Contaminate raw meats, milk, and cheese Must be swallowed to cause disease

Norovirus Virus that causes the stomach flu Very contagious and spreads easily from person to person Virus can survive in environments for a long time Outbreaks are a concern

Suggestions Enforce all the meat handling and restaurant laws Quarantine outbreaks if necessary Wash Hands carefully Avoid eating raw meat

Vector Borne Diseases Illness caused by an infectious microbe that’s transmitted by blood sucking arthropod (mosquito) from an infected vertebrate to a person by a blood sucking arthropod Half the world’s population is infected resulting in high mortality

Mosquito Borne Diseases in Virginia West Nile Virus La Crosse Encephalitis Eastern Equine Encephalitis

West Nile Virus Spread by bite of infected mosquitoes Can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), meningitis, polio like paralysis First identified in the U.S. in 1999 Less than 1% of people bitten by infected mosquito will become seriously ill People over 50 – greater risk of severe illness No Vaccine Symptoms – fever, muscle aches, skin rash, fever Most people do not have any symptoms

Eastern Equine Encephalitis One of the more serious mosquito- borne diseases 35 % of people infected die 35 % of people who survive have mild to severe neurologic after effects 5 cases since 2003

La Crosse Encephalitis Occurs in western parts of Virginia Occurs in children under 16 years old Bitten by tree hole mosquitoes who are infected by biting chipmunks or squirrels Summertime Illness Can lead to seizures, coma, neurological complications 16 cases so far in Virginia

Mosquito Facts in Virginia National Mosquito Control Awareness Week June different kinds live in Virginia Not all the mosquitoes have diseases

Suggestions Involve the community – Neighborhood Association to look-out for potential mosquito breeding habitats Spraying larger amount of nesting grounds can help Stay indoors when mosquitoes are biting Use insect repellant Eliminate standing water Clean roof gutters

Suggestions to Control Replace standing water Biocontrol Aerial Pesticides Harmful to the environment Ovitraps Standing water with increased carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes to breed at then kills the larvae

Tick-Borne Diseases in Virginia Lyme Disease

Tick borne illness Bacteria that cause disease are spread through the bites of infected ticks Blacklegged tick also known as Deer tick Attach to person’s body for 36hrs before they are infected Rash that doesn’t itch If not treated neurological or heart problems No Vaccine

Suggestions Avoid tick infested areas – tall grass Conduct tick checks

What Should Be Done Educate the public Media, ads Heat health action plans Emergency Medical Services Go Green

What Should Be Done Improve Disease Control Improve safe water and sanitation Upgrade Health Services Recognize Climate Risk and Health

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