Health and the Health and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.

ESSE21ESSE21

Baltimore, MDBaltimore, MD

June 11-13, 2003June 11-13, 2003

Health and the Health and the Environment OverviewEnvironment Overview

Earth system science applications from:Earth system science applications from:• World Health Organization World Health Organization • World Meteorological Organization World Meteorological Organization • United Nations Environment ProgrammeUnited Nations Environment Programme

Information resources for applications Information resources for applications Information resources for science & Information resources for science &

math systemic education reform math systemic education reform • P-16, NASSMC, NASA’s Linking Leaders P-16, NASSMC, NASA’s Linking Leaders

Program Program

Small Island Developing Small Island Developing States Factors increasing States Factors increasing vulnerabilityvulnerability

Small physical sizeSmall physical size Surrounded by large expanses of oceanSurrounded by large expanses of ocean Relative isolationRelative isolation Limited natural resourcesLimited natural resources Growing populationsGrowing populations Exposure to damaging natural disastersExposure to damaging natural disasters Low economic diversificationLow economic diversification Limited funds, human resources, skillsLimited funds, human resources, skills

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeSea level riseSea level rise

Displacement of coastal Displacement of coastal communitiescommunities

Disturbance of agricultural activityDisturbance of agricultural activity Coastal erosion, beach loss, Coastal erosion, beach loss,

decline in tourismdecline in tourism Intrusion of sea water into Intrusion of sea water into

freshwater aquifersfreshwater aquifers

Multiple Time ScalesMultiple Time ScalesSea level riseSea level rise

Sea level rise (long time scale)

Storm event (short time scale)

Increased vulnerability to storm surges, coastal flooding

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeThreat of sea level riseThreat of sea level rise

Hurricane Lenny Hurricane Lenny Eastern CaribbeanEastern Caribbean

Multiple Time ScalesMultiple Time ScalesChanges in rainfall Changes in rainfall regimesregimes

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation The El Niño/Southern Oscillation ( ENSO ) affects global weather ( ENSO ) affects global weather patterns, cycling every two to seven patterns, cycling every two to seven years.years.

Rainfall regimes shift.Rainfall regimes shift.• Floods or droughtsFloods or droughts

Responses to ENSO help to reduce Responses to ENSO help to reduce adverse impacts of climate on health.adverse impacts of climate on health.

ENSO 1997-1998ENSO 1997-1998Drought in Pacific IslandsDrought in Pacific Islands

ENSO 1997-1998ENSO 1997-1998Drought in Pacific IslandsDrought in Pacific Islands

More skin disease in FSM, MarshallsMore skin disease in FSM, Marshalls Poor air quality from wildfires in Guam, Poor air quality from wildfires in Guam,

Pohnpei, Yap, PalauPohnpei, Yap, Palau Relief food shipments Relief food shipments Information campaign reduced incidence Information campaign reduced incidence

of diarrheal disease in Pohnpei hospital of diarrheal disease in Pohnpei hospital Water storage and conservationWater storage and conservation Many diseases under study ( dengue, ... )Many diseases under study ( dengue, ... )

Aedes aegypti mosquitoAedes aegypti mosquitoDengue vectorDengue vector

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsAfrican dust in the African dust in the CaribbeanCaribbean

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsAfrican dust in the African dust in the CaribbeanCaribbean

African dust is transported in the African dust is transported in the atmosphere across the Atlantic Ocean atmosphere across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. to the Caribbean.

Drought conditions in Africa have led Drought conditions in Africa have led to increasing amounts of dust over the to increasing amounts of dust over the past few decades. past few decades.

Ongoing studies probe the effects of Ongoing studies probe the effects of dust on human health, coral reefs, dust on human health, coral reefs, agriculture and livestock.agriculture and livestock.

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsRiver outflows from S. River outflows from S. AmericaAmerica

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsRiver outflows from S. River outflows from S. AmericaAmerica

Massive kills of reef fish from Trinidad & Massive kills of reef fish from Trinidad & Tobago to Barbados - July to October 1999Tobago to Barbados - July to October 1999

Freshwater bacterium Freshwater bacterium Streptococcus iniaeStreptococcus iniae isolated from dead and dying fishisolated from dead and dying fish

High rainfall in northern S. America in 1999High rainfall in northern S. America in 1999 Large quantities of fresh water from Large quantities of fresh water from

Amazon and Orinoco river basinsAmazon and Orinoco river basins Lower salinities, higher temperatures, Lower salinities, higher temperatures,

unusual reverse currents in the Caribbeanunusual reverse currents in the Caribbean

Information resources for Information resources for health and environment health and environment applicationsapplications

Websites for 2002 Caribbean climate and Websites for 2002 Caribbean climate and health conferencehealth conference• WHO, WMO, UNEP, EPA, NOAA, NASA, Health WHO, WMO, UNEP, EPA, NOAA, NASA, Health

Canada, Envir. Canada, Caribbean orgsCanada, Envir. Canada, Caribbean orgs Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A

Global Perspective ( JHU Press, 2001 ]Global Perspective ( JHU Press, 2001 ] Climate and Health Information Climate and Health Information

Exchange http://chiex.netExchange http://chiex.net

Caribbean Climate and Caribbean Climate and Health Health WHO book in English and WHO book in English and SpanishSpanish

Information resources : Information resources : science & math syst. science & math syst. educational reformeducational reform

P-16 system from preschool to universityP-16 system from preschool to university University as educator of teachers - need University as educator of teachers - need

especially critical for science & mathespecially critical for science & math NASA’s Linking Leaders program for state-NASA’s Linking Leaders program for state-

based education reform effortsbased education reform efforts National Alliance of State Science and National Alliance of State Science and

Mathematics Coalitions [ NASSMC ]Mathematics Coalitions [ NASSMC ] NASA’s Aerospace Education Specialists NASA’s Aerospace Education Specialists

assigned to each U.S. state / territory assigned to each U.S. state / territory