The journal of climate change and health最新文献

Introduction

While numerous studies have assessed the association of diarrhea with temperature, few have addressed the relationship between within-day variation of temperature and diarrhea.

Materials and methods

We investigated the association between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and daily counts of hospitalizations for all-cause diarrhea in Dhaka, Bangladesh using time series regression analysis employing distributed lag-linear models. Defining DTRs below 10th, 5th and 1st percentiles as low, very low and extremely low DTR, and DTRs above 90th, 95th and 99th percentiles as high, very high and extremely high DTRs, we additionally analyzed the effects of extreme DTR on diarrhea hospitalization. Effects were assessed for all ages, under-5 children and by gender.

Results

Although we did not find any significant effects of overall DTR and large DTRs, we detected significant effects of small DTRs on diarrhea hospitalization in all subgroups. A unit rise in low, very low and extremely low DTR was associated with a 4.9 % (95 % CI: 3.6 – 6.2), 7.1 % (95 % CI: 5.4 – 8.9) and 11.8 % (95 % CI: 8.3 – 15.5) increase in all-cause diarrhea hospitalization in all ages, respectively. A unit increase in low, very low and extremely low DTR was associated with a 4.9 %, 5.1 % and 18.4 % increase in all-cause diarrhea hospitalization in children under 5 years of age, respectively. The impact of extremely low DTR varied by gender (16.2 % in females versus 10.1 % in males). The effect of extremely low DTR was most pronounced in children under 5 years of age.

Conclusion

Less variation in within-day temperatures is a risk factor for diarrhea hospitalization in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Further research is needed to elucidate the causal pathways and identify the preventive measures necessary to mitigate the impacts of lowering DTRs on diarrhea.

Climate change interacts with social and biological factors to exacerbate the vulnerabilities and health inequities of people in displacement, with particularly severe implications for women and girls. In 2022, over 100 million people –1 in every 78 people in the world – were forced to flee their homes to a location within or beyond their country's borders, due to climatic or other man-made catastrophes. Most displaced people are housed in communities already experiencing climatic stress, exacerbating the risk of water insecurity, food insecurity, disease, struggles over resources, marginalization, and conflict between host and displaced populations. Amid the social upheaval caused by displacement, we call for a gendered approach to fostering resilience, with a particular emphasis on women. In this perspective piece, we advocate for policy and program changes that respond to the unique challenges and circumstances of displaced women and locally derived solutions that promote resilience. We start by providing an overview of health inequities during displacement, exacerbated by climate change, and then examine how gender interacts with displacement to shape women's health and wellbeing. We close with an illustrative example of Rohingya women displaced in Bangladesh who have adapted technology to combat climate change and mitigate social and health inequities to build resilience, even under severe restrictions. Gender-informed research on health, climate change, and resilience in contexts of humanitarian disasters and mass population displacement can elucidate the effectiveness of culturally- and contextually- specific interventions over the short- and long-term.

Background: Anthropogenic climate change is causing a rise in global temperatures, with this trend projected to increase into the future. Heatwaves are associated with a rise in preventable deaths, however this association is less well understood in regions experiencing cooler climates. Methods: We used a space-time-stratified conditional Poisson (-quasi) regression analysis to assess if heatwaves were associated with all-cause mortality in Tasmania, Australia, for the period 2010–2018. Results: We found that across Tasmania, low-intensity heatwaves were relatively common, with less occurrence of severe and extreme heatwaves. We found that for all heatwave types combined, there was a rise in mortality of 8 % (RR=1.08, 95 %CI 1.01–1.16). For low-intensity heatwaves, we found mortality increased by 9 % (RR=1.09, 95 %CI 1.02–1.17). Conclusion: These results have health promotion and health protection policy and practice implications for Tasmanian healthcare services, and potentially other cooler climate regions around the world.

This short communication highlights the role of digital health equity in supporting climate-resilient digital healthcare pathways for global communities experiencing the health crisis exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation. Specifically, to design digital health responsibly to support climate change adaptation as an inclusive, equitable, human-centered process means acknowledging the interconnectedness of human health and the health of the natural environment. In this process, we recommend a more integrated and participatory approach to the dimensions of ecological and environmental determinants of health and ethical representation of diverse and vulnerable voices.

Introduction

Farmworkers are one of the populations most vulnerable to climate change. In addition to disproportionate exposure to climate-intensified hazards such as extreme heat and wildfire smoke, many farmworkers face situational and psychosocial stressors that also impact their health.

Methods

We conducted open-ended interviews with 16 farmworkers in Southcentral Idaho during June-August 2023 as part of a digital storytelling project in partnership with the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils (IORC). Interviews assessed participants’ experiences with climate change, perceived impacts on their health, and strategies and barriers to protecting themselves. Bilingual (English/Spanish) study staff translated and transcribed all video recordings verbatim, and we abstracted representative quotes from interviews.

Results

Participants primarily discussed the health impacts of heat, recounting personal experiences and stories of other farmworkers feeling dizzy, wanting to vomit, or passing out from occupational heat stress. Despite these experiences, they reported feeling like they needed to keep working regardless of the conditions in order to get paid and support their family. Experiences with climate change were underscored by participants’ discussions of co-exposure to situational and psychosocial stressors such as lack of access to healthcare, poor housing without air conditioning, and racism, discrimination, and fear of family separation.

Discussion

This project highlights farmworkers’ first-hand experiences regarding climate change and underscores the interconnected impacts of occupational, environmental, and psychosocial stressors on their health and wellbeing. These findings emphasize the importance of shifting the burden of climate resiliency from individual farmworkers to systemic workplace, residential, and community interventions.

Background

The aim of this study was to estimate the embodied carbon of different formulations of paracetamol, its packaging and the consumables used in administration within pediatrics.

Methods

A set dose of 750 mg was chosen to represent complex dosing seen in pediatrics and then two separate approaches to measuring the embodied carbon were taken. A top-down environmentally extended input-output analysis for the drug and a bottom-up approach using the emissions factors for the primary material was used for the packaging and consumables.

Results

All oral methods of administration have the lowest embodied carbon when accounting for the drugs, consumables, and packaging.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates how working across disciplines we can look for ways in which we can minimize the carbon cost of care. This study finds that when accounting for patient safety, acceptability within pediatrics and the embodied carbon, all non-IV methods are preferable.

Climate literacy assesses general understanding of climate, climate change, and its effects on the environment as well as human health. Despite vast scientific evidence to support climate change and its associated consequences, particularly with regards to vector-borne diseases, climate change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among the general population is relatively poor. In this study, we conducted a thorough review of the current literature to evaluate the scope of global climate and health literacy studies and identify key areas for improvement. We found that very few climate and health literacy studies were based in low- and middle-income countries, and those that were did not make mention of significant regional climate change impacts and specifically those that increase mosquito-borne disease transmission in high-risk areas. We also noted that of the twenty-three studies included in our final review, most focused their assessments on general climate and climate change knowledge, and not on literacy of the relationships between climate change and environmental impacts or subsequent health outcomes. Our findings make it clear that moving forward, there is a major need for climate and health literacy research to expand upon existing climate literature to include additional assessments of the relationships between certain climate change impacts and infectious diseases in particular, as well as to make available a more comprehensive overview of climate and health information to the public in the future.

Climate change represents a significant global health crisis, characterized by a complex interplay of environmental shifts and interconnected phenomena. These alterations have given rise to a multitude of health implications, notably impacting ocular health. Our comprehensive review delineates a spectrum of eye conditions associated with climate change-related variables. Extremes in temperature and weather events have been observed to affect the ocular surface, resulting in an increased incidence of conjunctivitis, keratitis, dry eye disease, and pterygium. Furthermore, climate change is linked to a rising occurrence of cataracts, glaucoma, periocular tumors, and infections. Prolonged food insecurity, stemming from droughts, has been associated with nutritional optic neuropathies and consequent vision loss. Elevated temperatures have also been correlated with a heightened risk of retinal detachments necessitating urgent surgical intervention to enhance prognostic outcomes.

This review also outlines the influence of climate-warming pollutants on a diverse array of eye conditions, manifesting as ocular surface infections, degenerative changes like pterygium, cataracts, refractive errors (myopia), blepharitis, meibomian gland infections, glaucoma, and vascular retinal occlusions.

Mitigating the effects of climate change is an urgent global imperative necessitating collaborative efforts, encompassing research and education, to devise sustainable solutions that safeguard human health and well-being. This review seeks to delineate the current extent of available research, identify gaps in the existing literature, and chart the course for future studies in this intriguing association.

Introduction

Climate change is a global phenomenon with far-reaching consequences, and its impact on human health is a growing concern. The intricate interplay of various factors makes it challenging to accurately predict and understand the implications of climate change on human well-being. Conventional methodologies have limitations in comprehensively addressing the complexity and nonlinearity inherent in the relationships between climate change and health outcomes.

Objectives

The primary objective of this paper is to develop a robust theoretical framework that can effectively analyze and interpret the intricate web of variables influencing the human health impacts of climate change. By doing so, we aim to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches and provide a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships involved. Furthermore, we seek to explore practical applications of this theoretical framework to enhance our ability to predict, mitigate, and adapt to the diverse health challenges posed by a changing climate.

Methods

Addressing the challenges outlined in the objectives, this study introduces the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework, acknowledging its significance in capturing the nuanced dynamics of health effects linked to climate change. The research utilizes a blend of field observations, expert interviews, key informant interviews, and an extensive literature review to shape the development of the CAS framework.

Results and discussion

The proposed CAS framework categorizes findings into six key sub-systems: ecological services, extreme weather, infectious diseases, food security, disaster risk management, and clinical public health. The study employs agent-based modeling, using causal loop diagrams (CLDs) tailored for each CAS sub-system. A set of identified variables is incorporated into predictive modeling to enhance the understanding of health outcomes within the CAS framework. Through a combination of theoretical development and practical application, this paper aspires to contribute valuable insights to the interdisciplinary field of climate change and health. Integrating agent-based modeling and CLDs enhances the predictive capabilities required for effective health outcome analysis in the context of climate change.

Conclusion

This paper serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and public health professionals by employing a CAS framework to understand and assess the complex network of health impacts associated with climate change. It offers insights into effective strategies for safeguarding human health amidst current and future climate challenges.