Global climate change and health in Canadian children

Question 1

What is the largest global health threat of the 21st century?

Answer 1

climate change!

Question 2

What is causing climate challenge?

Answer 2

• previously natural factors, now identified pollution and fossil fuel emissions

Question 3

What is the distribution of the Canadian population geographically? (urban vs Northern)

Answer 3

> 85% urban

3% live above 60th parallel

Question 4

What effect has climate change had on Canada?

Answer 4

• Thinning land and sea ice
  
  • may open the Arctic passage year-round
  • traditional routes & activities are increasingly dangerous
  • permafrost instability —> impacting health, housing, infrastructure in Northern regions
• Rising sea levels & coastal instability
• Seasonal flooding
• Wildfires
• shrinking ice caps, raising sea levels, increasing humidity, creating more extreme weather conditions (heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, forest fires)

Question 5

Why are children disproprtionately affected by climate change?

who is at particular risk?

Answer 5

• metabolize more water, air, food per kg of body weight than adults
• rapid growth & developmental, physiologically dynamic systems
• risk exposure over longer life course
  • At particular risk:
    
    • low SES
    • Indigenous
    • living with chronic disease

Question 6

List 6 specific climate-related risks

Answer 6

1. heat & cold related morbidity & mortality
2. Natural hazards and extreme weather cause injury and death - displacement, mental health effects, water shortage and contamination
3. Air pollution
   - resp & CVS morbidity/mortality, cancer
4. Contaminated water sources
   - S typhi, Giardia, E coli, cryptosporidium, amebiasis, toxic algal blooms, Vibrio
5. Infection risks associated with insects, ticks, rodents
   - Lyme disease, RMSF
6. Stratospheric ozone depletion
   - higher risk melanoma, sunburns, cataract, immune system comrpomis

Question 7

What are practice points for clinicians when it comes to climate change from a clinical perspective?

Answer 7

1. learn more about climate-related health effects & diseases
2. expand DDx for common symptoms as infection patterns change
3. Modify anticipatory guidance for climate change-related effects
4. Understand pollen & air quality forecasts - minimize exposure & maximize management of resp sx
5. Monitor UV index level - sun protection

Question 8

What are 4 challenges and opportunities when it comes to climate change?
ie what can physicians do (as recommended by CPS)

Answer 8

• advocate for actions to mitigate climate change
• Serve on planning committees for heat/cold/disaster/extreme weather events (ensure children’s health needs considered)
• trainee education on climate-related health issues
• Role model - encourage environmental sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Question 9

What health effects should we anticipate from global climate change?

Answer 9

o emerging infections
o health conditions arising from increased air pollution
o mental health effects related to natural disasters