Health and the Environment

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Health and the Environment

• Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.
• ESSE21
• Baltimore, MD
• June 11-13, 2003

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Health and the Environment Overview

• Earth system science applications from
• World Health Organization
• World Meteorological Organization
• United Nations Environment Programme
• Information resources for applications
• Information resources for science math systemic
  education reform
• P-16, NASSMC, NASAs Linking Leaders Program

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Small Island Developing States Factors
increasing vulnerability

• Small physical size
• Surrounded by large expanses of ocean
• Relative isolation
• Limited natural resources
• Growing populations
• Exposure to damaging natural disasters
• Low economic diversification
• Limited funds, human resources, skills

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Global Climate ChangeSea level rise

• Displacement of coastal communities
• Disturbance of agricultural activity
• Coastal erosion, beach loss, decline in tourism
• Intrusion of sea water into freshwater aquifers

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Multiple Time ScalesSea level rise
Sea level rise (long time scale)
Increased vulnerability to storm surges, coastal
flooding
Storm event (short time scale)
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Global Climate ChangeThreat of sea level rise
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Hurricane Lenny Eastern Caribbean
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Multiple Time ScalesChanges in rainfall regimes

• The El Niño/Southern Oscillation ( ENSO ) affects
  global weather patterns, cycling every two to
  seven years.
• Rainfall regimes shift.
• Floods or droughts
• Responses to ENSO help to reduce adverse impacts
  of climate on health.

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

• More skin disease in FSM, Marshalls
• Poor air quality from wildfires in Guam, Pohnpei,
  Yap, Palau
• Relief food shipments
• Information campaign reduced incidence of
  diarrheal disease in Pohnpei hospital
• Water storage and conservation
• Many diseases under study ( dengue, ... )

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Aedes aegypti mosquitoDengue vector
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Regional InteractionsAfrican dust in the
Caribbean
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Regional InteractionsAfrican dust in the
Caribbean

• African dust is transported in the atmosphere
  across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean.
• Drought conditions in Africa have led to
  increasing amounts of dust over the past few
  decades.
• Ongoing studies probe the effects of dust on
  human health, coral reefs, agriculture and
  livestock.

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Regional InteractionsRiver outflows from S.
America
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Regional InteractionsRiver outflows from S.
America

• Massive kills of reef fish from Trinidad Tobago
  to Barbados - July to October 1999
• Freshwater bacterium Streptococcus iniae isolated
  from dead and dying fish
• High rainfall in northern S. America in 1999
• Large quantities of fresh water from Amazon and
  Orinoco river basins
• Lower salinities, higher temperatures, unusual
  reverse currents in the Caribbean

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Information resources for health and environment
applications

• Websites for 2002 Caribbean climate and health
  conference
• WHO, WMO, UNEP, EPA, NOAA, NASA, Health Canada,
  Envir. Canada, Caribbean orgs
• Ecosystem Change and Public Health A Global
  Perspective ( JHU Press, 2001
• Climate and Health Information Exchange
  http//chiex.net

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Caribbean Climate and Health WHO book in English
and Spanish
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Information resources science math syst.
educational reform

• P-16 system from preschool to university
• University as educator of teachers - need
  especially critical for science math
• NASAs Linking Leaders program for state-based
  education reform efforts
• National Alliance of State Science and
  Mathematics Coalitions NASSMC
• NASAs Aerospace Education Specialists assigned
  to each U.S. state / territory