Climate change and health: a challenge for epidemiology and public health

Forastiére, Francesco

doi:10.1007/s00038-009-0096-9

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions need to be established, especially in countries which hold the greatest emission burden. In parallel, developing countries are increasingly affected by urban air pollution due to rapid economic and population growth [146,147]. The way forward to face both these challenges needs the multisectorial collaboration of epidemiologists, climatologists, respiratory and allergy specialists, policy makers and public health professionals to share the heavy responsibility of guiding the world through the climate crisis and making the environment sustainable for future generations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change, extreme weather events, air pollution and respiratory health in Europe

Sario¹,

Katsouyanni²,

Michelozzi³

2013

Eur Respir J

248

157

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Due to climate change and other factors, air pollution patterns are changing in several urbanised areas of the world, with a significant effect on respiratory health both independently and synergistically with weather conditions; climate scenarios show Europe as one of the most vulnerable regions. European studies on heatwave episodes have consistently shown a synergistic effect of air pollution and high temperatures, while the potential weather-air pollution interaction during wildfires and dust storms is unknown. Allergen patterns are also changing in response to climate change, and air pollution can modify the allergenic potential of pollens, especially in the presence of specific weather conditions. The underlying mechanisms of all these interactions are not well known; the health consequences vary from decreases in lung function to allergic diseases, new onset of diseases, exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases, and premature death. These multidimensional climate-pollution-allergen effects need to be taken into account in estimating both climate and air pollution-related respiratory effects, in order to set up adequate policy and public health actions to face both the current and future climate and pollution challenges. @ERSpublications Climate change, extreme weather events and air pollution affect respiratory health: the evidence reviewed

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change, extreme weather events, air pollution and respiratory health in Europe

Sario¹,

Katsouyanni²,

Michelozzi³

2013

Eur Respir J

248

157

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Efforts to monitor burden of illness associated with climate change health vulnerabilities on local scales are currently lacking [3]. Climate change and health risk indicators can be identified via epidemiological studies and expanding empirical databases [37], but will require sustained funding and research expertise to accomplish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation to climate change in the Ontario public health sector

Paterson

Ford

et al. 2012

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundClimate change is among the major challenges for health this century, and adaptation to manage adverse health outcomes will be unavoidable. The risks in Ontario – Canada’s most populous province – include increasing temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and alterations to precipitation regimes. Socio-economic-demographic patterns could magnify the implications climate change has for Ontario, including the presence of rapidly growing vulnerable populations, exacerbation of warming trends by heat-islands in large urban areas, and connectedness to global transportation networks. This study examines climate change adaptation in the public health sector in Ontario using information from interviews with government officials.MethodsFifty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted, four with provincial and federal health officials and 49 with actors in public health and health relevant sectors at the municipal level. We identify adaptation efforts, barriers and opportunities for current and future intervention.ResultsResults indicate recognition that climate change will affect the health of Ontarians. Health officials are concerned about how a changing climate could exacerbate existing health issues or create new health burdens, specifically extreme heat (71%), severe weather (68%) and poor air-quality (57%). Adaptation is currently taking the form of mainstreaming climate change into existing public health programs. While adaptive progress has relied on local leadership, federal support, political will, and inter-agency efforts, a lack of resources constrains the sustainability of long-term adaptation programs and the acquisition of data necessary to support effective policies.ConclusionsThis study provides a snapshot of climate change adaptation and needs in the public health sector in Ontario. Public health departments will need to capitalize on opportunities to integrate climate change into policies and programs, while higher levels of government must improve efforts to support local adaptation and provide the capacity through which local adaptation can succeed.

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“…The findings can be applied in a modeling exercise to estimate the future patterns (Hsu et al 2008;Forastiere 2010;Kovats 2010). The world has undergone a general increase in ambient temperature by 0.6°C over the past century (Houghton et al 2001), followed by a range of ecological consequences (Walther et al 2002;Kjellstrom et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%