Creating a Climate For Health:Local Level Work with Health Care

Providers

www.environmentalhealth.org

La Maestra Community Health Centers

Celebrating 24 yearsof improving the health and wellbeing of diverse communities in San Diego

Professor Ralph Keeling: world-renowned climate scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s CO2 Program

"When I travel with my kids, I tell them they're seeing things I don't expect they'll see again in future because of the climate crisis."

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City Heights Climate Vulnerabilities

•Lack of Air-Conditioning/Cost of Air Conditioning

•Heat Island Effect

•Lack of Transportation

•High Unemployment & Underemployment

Project Goals

• Provide Education about climate Change and health to La Maestra staff and patients

• Secure participation of La Maestra staff and patients in educating San Diego government officials about the importance of the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), and the Regional Transportation Plan.

Changing Behavior: Deep Education

• Must be Community & Culturally Specific

• Trusted community leaders as messengers

Do Something/ Do NothingHaz Algo / No Hagas Nada

Reviewing the Energy Bill

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Morbidity and Mortality from High Heat Events, data from July 2006 California Heat Wave

ED and Hospitalization Increases, Statistically significant:• Heat-related illnesses• Electrolyte imbalances• Acute renal failure• Nephritis/Nephrotic syndrome

ED and Hospitalization Increases, not statistically significant statewide:• Acute MI• Respiratory illnesses• Cardiovascular disease• Diabetes

Overall relative risk for heat-related ED visits in the coastal Southern California region in July 2006 heat wave: 5.05. In our region, people had over 5 times the usual risk of ending up in the ED for heat, compared to normal summer weather.

Environ Health Perspect 117:61–67 (2009). doi:10.1289/ehp.11594 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 22 August 2008]

Air Quality: Ozone

More Heat = More Ozone

IPCC: At temps above 32oC (90oF) there is a strong positive relationship between temperature and ground level ozone concentrations.

NO2 + O2 O3 + NOSunlight

• A powerful oxidant gas• Irritates the respiratory system• Reduces lung function• Aggravates asthma• Inflames and damage cells that line the

lungs• Aggravates chronic lung diseases• Can cause permanent lung damage

Health Effects of Ozone

Air Quality: Particulate Matter

• Increases asthma attacks (Harvard Six Cities Studies)

• Aggravates bronchitis (McConnell et al 1999)

• Slows lung growth in children (Gauderman et al 2000,2002)

• Lower birth weight and increased number of premature births (Ritz et al 2001,2002)

• Contributes to premature deaths (Pope et al 2002)

Clinical Responses

Assess Vulnerabilities: 2 new questions added to patient intake forms

Provide Resources: brochures, posters

Policy Advocacy

• City of San Diego Climate Action Plan

• SANDAG: Regional Transportation Plan

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Solar: Almost Zero In Our

Communities