Group Members Tasbeeh Badi Andrew Dodds Alexander Lederer
Britney Olanrewaju Suzanne Phillips (leader)
Slide 3
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
Slide 4
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.
Slide 5
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
Slide 6
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 80-100
degrees
Slide 7
Temperature Related Illness Top 3 heat related illness in
Virginia Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke
Slide 8
Heat Cramps First signal that your body is having trouble with
heat Painful Muscle Cramps in abdominal muscles or legs Mild
Fever
Slide 9
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
Slide 10
Heat Stroke Bodys 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.
Slide 11
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
Slide 12
Air Pollution Related Health Effects Allergies and Asthma are
on the rise in Virginia Allergies Asthma Ozone
Slide 13
Allergies and Asthma
Slide 14
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
Slide 15
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."
Slide 16
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.
Slide 17
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.
Slide 18
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).
Slide 19
Virginia Statistics In 2004, 412,370 adults (7.3% ) and
152,000(9%) children in Virginia reported having asthma. Twenty-two
of VDHs 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.
Slide 20
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.
Slide 21
Ozone
Slide 22
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.
Slide 23
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 0.075 parts per million
Food Borne Diseases Increased temperatures results in high
pathogen replication and survival
Slide 26
Salmonellosis Caused by bacteria called Salmonella Contaminate
raw meats, milk, and cheese Must be swallowed to cause disease
Slide 27
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
Slide 28
Suggestions Enforce all the meat handling and restaurant laws
Quarantine outbreaks if necessary Wash Hands carefully Avoid eating
raw meat
Slide 29
Vector Borne Diseases Illness caused by an infectious microbe
thats transmitted by blood sucking arthropod (mosquito) from an
infected vertebrate to a person by a blood sucking arthropod Half
the worlds population is infected resulting in high mortality
Slide 30
Mosquito Borne Diseases in Virginia West Nile Virus La Crosse
Encephalitis Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Slide 31
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
Slide 32
Slide 33
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
Slide 34
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
Slide 35
Mosquito Facts in Virginia National Mosquito Control Awareness
Week June 24-30 57 different kinds live in Virginia Not all the
mosquitoes have diseases
Slide 36
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
Slide 37
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
Slide 38
Tick-Borne Diseases in Virginia Lyme Disease
Slide 39
Tick borne illness Bacteria that cause disease are spread
through the bites of infected ticks Blacklegged tick also known as
Deer tick Attach to persons body for 36hrs before they are infected
Rash that doesnt itch If not treated neurological or heart problems
No Vaccine
Slide 40
Suggestions Avoid tick infested areas tall grass Conduct tick
checks
Slide 41
What Should Be Done Educate the public Media, ads Heat health
action plans Emergency Medical Services Go Green
Slide 42
What Should Be Done Improve Disease Control Improve safe water
and sanitation Upgrade Health Services Recognize Climate Risk and
Health