unc school of public health environmental health in nc dr. frederic k. pfaender school of public...

UNC School of Public HealthUNC School of Public Health

Environmental Environmental Health in NCHealth in NCDr. Frederic K. PfaenderDr. Frederic K. Pfaender

School of Public HealthSchool of Public Health

University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina

Kathleen M. GrayKathleen M. Gray

Institute for the EnvironmentInstitute for the Environment

University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina


OverviewOverview

Discussion of environmental health risk Discussion of environmental health risk and ranking exerciseand ranking exercise

Health impacts of climate changeHealth impacts of climate change Other environmental health issues in NCOther environmental health issues in NC How Healthy Carolinians can respond How Healthy Carolinians can respond


Environmental ServicesEnvironmental Services

FoodFood Shelter- or materials to make sheltersShelter- or materials to make shelters Drinking waterDrinking water Places to livePlaces to live Raw materials of all kindsRaw materials of all kinds Climate and weather- direct and Climate and weather- direct and

indirect effectsindirect effects


Environmental Health Environmental Health RiskRisk

Any factor in environment that causes illness, Any factor in environment that causes illness, injury or loss of lifeinjury or loss of life Examples: chemical contaminants, microbesExamples: chemical contaminants, microbes

May result from short- or long-term exposureMay result from short- or long-term exposure Some factors occur naturally, others due to Some factors occur naturally, others due to

human activityhuman activity

Let’s rank some common risks!Let’s rank some common risks!


Health and ClimateHealth and Climate

Effects are direct and mostly indirectEffects are direct and mostly indirect Major drivers are population growth and Major drivers are population growth and

energy consumptionenergy consumption Health is impacted by much more that Health is impacted by much more that

just frank disease and toxicsjust frank disease and toxics Many of the important factors are not Many of the important factors are not

understoodunderstood Predictions based on models- be carefulPredictions based on models- be careful


Greenhouse Gas Sources


50% higher death rate for elderly in high heat


Bay of Bengal SST and CholeraDhaka 1994

Source: Colwell et al.


Johns Hopkins University School of Public HealthCourse: Global Environment and Health


Models do not consider catastrophic weather events


Based on average of 5 models

Major changes in NC- most in eastern NC


Malaria Risk- 60% maybe at risk by 2050


Hantavirus StoryHantavirus Story

More Rain More plant growth

More deer mice

More mice in dwellings

More human contact with Hantavirus

Hantavirus Respiratory Syndrome Epidemic


Recent Evidence of Climate Recent Evidence of Climate VariabilityVariability

Previous 100 years most benign weather in last 5,000 Previous 100 years most benign weather in last 5,000 yearsyears

Since 1995 increases in hurricanes, floods, other Since 1995 increases in hurricanes, floods, other catastrophic weather events worldwide. catastrophic weather events worldwide.

5 of last ten years have highest temperatures in 5 of last ten years have highest temperatures in history- summer 07 hottest ever in NC, floods in Texas history- summer 07 hottest ever in NC, floods in Texas and Northeastand Northeast

2005 hurricane season- devastates Gulf Coast2005 hurricane season- devastates Gulf Coast Large inputs of fresh water to Arctic Oceans from Large inputs of fresh water to Arctic Oceans from

Siberia rivers- slows conveyor beltSiberia rivers- slows conveyor belt Softening of Arctic and Antarctic ice-oopsSoftening of Arctic and Antarctic ice-oops All happening faster than anyone thought!All happening faster than anyone thought!


Sea Level RiseSea Level Rise

Sea level has been rising slowly for last Sea level has been rising slowly for last 500 years500 years

There are enough Greenhouse gases in There are enough Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere now to give 0.5M rise.the atmosphere now to give 0.5M rise.

Much larger rises predicted for next 100 Much larger rises predicted for next 100 yearsyears

It will impact all of usIt will impact all of us


30M sea level rise


What are the challenges?What are the challenges?

How do we prepare for the future - mitigate or How do we prepare for the future - mitigate or adapt? Who decides? How do we decide? adapt? Who decides? How do we decide?

UN - by 2015 climate change costs 15 billion UN - by 2015 climate change costs 15 billion pre year - probably vast underestimatepre year - probably vast underestimate

US not as impacted as most of worldUS not as impacted as most of world Multi-disciplinary teams to look at causes and Multi-disciplinary teams to look at causes and

effectseffects Society/environment- decisionsSociety/environment- decisions


Positive SignsPositive Signs Many countries, even non-Kyoto signers, are Many countries, even non-Kyoto signers, are

adopting COadopting CO22 reduction policy reduction policy NAS unequivocal statement that it is realNAS unequivocal statement that it is real Bush acknowledges realityBush acknowledges reality 21 US States have energy policy in place to reduce 21 US States have energy policy in place to reduce

emissionsemissions Alternative energy vehicles becoming hot as are Alternative energy vehicles becoming hot as are

alternative fuelsalternative fuels Biodiesel from Hog WastesBiodiesel from Hog Wastes EthanolEthanol

Increases in solar and wind energy use and Increases in solar and wind energy use and researchresearch


Panasonic Cell Phone Manufacture


What can we do right now?What can we do right now?

Live a more sustainable life- go do your Live a more sustainable life- go do your ecological footprint- then change it!ecological footprint- then change it!

http://http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequencessustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences// Keep pressure on the politicians to be greenerKeep pressure on the politicians to be greener Preparedness for climate change and weather Preparedness for climate change and weather

catastrophescatastrophes Think and act locally within global contextThink and act locally within global context Figure out how to convince the public that this Figure out how to convince the public that this

will impact them and their children foreverwill impact them and their children forever


Suddenly, Bob realizes that he’s “part of the problem.”

Individual behavior change


Major Environmental Major Environmental Health Issues in NCHealth Issues in NC

Air QualityAir Quality Outdoor airOutdoor air

Criteria air pollutantsCriteria air pollutants Hazardous air Hazardous air

pollutants pollutants Emissions move, Emissions move,

effect may not be at effect may not be at point of emissionpoint of emission

Leading Air Pollutants in NC

56%

11%

12%

11%

7%

3%

Carbon Monoxide

Nitrogen Oxides

PM-2.5

PM-10

Sulfur dioxide

Volatile OrganicCompounds



Air QualityAir Quality Indoor airIndoor air

Environmental tobacco smoke Environmental tobacco smoke Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide RadonRadon LeadLead MoldMold

Radon in NC



Water Quality and Water Quality and QuantityQuantity Surface Surface

Impairment due to Impairment due to upstream uses and upstream uses and discharges discharges

Fish advisories Fish advisories Statewide for mercury Statewide for mercury

for women aged 15-44, for women aged 15-44, pregnant/ nursing pregnant/ nursing women and children women and children under 15under 15

Site-specific advisories Site-specific advisories for dioxins and PCBsfor dioxins and PCBs

Leading Pollutants of Rivers, Streams, and Creeks in NC

43%

31%

11%

8%

4% 3%

Impairment cause not reported

Sediments

Pathogens

Mercury

Low Dissolved Oxygen/OrganicEnrichment

pH



Water Quality and QuantityWater Quality and Quantity GroundwaterGroundwater

Drinking water for about 50% of NCDrinking water for about 50% of NC Rapidly being depleted in many areasRapidly being depleted in many areas Soil is a great filter - many surface contaminants Soil is a great filter - many surface contaminants

(nutrients, pesticides, microorganisms) removed (nutrients, pesticides, microorganisms) removed before they reach groundwaterbefore they reach groundwater



Land UseLand Use AgricultureAgriculture

Pesticides and fertilizersPesticides and fertilizers Animal wastesAnimal wastes

IndustryIndustry Toxic chemicals often stored on landToxic chemicals often stored on land

Landfills Landfills Solid waste - over a ton/person/yr, low recycling rates Solid waste - over a ton/person/yr, low recycling rates Source of odors and pollutants Source of odors and pollutants

DevelopmentDevelopment NC population growth rate = 14% per decade NC population growth rate = 14% per decade Major source of land use changes and habitat destructionMajor source of land use changes and habitat destruction More time spent indoors - generally poorer air quality More time spent indoors - generally poorer air quality Car-based society – less exercise, related health problemsCar-based society – less exercise, related health problems


Major Environmental Major Environmental Health Issues in NCHealth Issues in NC Cross-Boundary IssuesCross-Boundary Issues

Air and water cross geographic and political Air and water cross geographic and political boundariesboundaries Downstream water use impacted by upstream dischargesDownstream water use impacted by upstream discharges Airborne pollutants have impacts down plume from point of Airborne pollutants have impacts down plume from point of

release, mobile sources leave smog in NCrelease, mobile sources leave smog in NC Airborne contaminants can pollute water elsewhereAirborne contaminants can pollute water elsewhere One person’s quality of life issue is someone else’s One person’s quality of life issue is someone else’s

economic issueeconomic issue Most trash goes outside county, potentially decreasing Most trash goes outside county, potentially decreasing

motivation to reduce waste motivation to reduce waste DisparitiesDisparities

Economic issue - we put waste on cheapest land, poor Economic issue - we put waste on cheapest land, poor people live on cheapest land so more exposurepeople live on cheapest land so more exposure


What Can Healthy What Can Healthy Carolinians Do?Carolinians Do?

Develop your baseline: identify key Develop your baseline: identify key environmental health risks in your communitiesenvironmental health risks in your communities

Determine which populations are at greatest Determine which populations are at greatest risk and educate/protect themrisk and educate/protect them

Focus on preventing exposureFocus on preventing exposure Support adoption of protective policiesSupport adoption of protective policies Develop targeted educational materialsDevelop targeted educational materials Seek removal of pollution sources or find other Seek removal of pollution sources or find other

technical solutions technical solutions

unc school of public health environmental health in nc dr. frederic k. pfaender school of public...

Documents

research slide

careful slide

eastern nc slide

indirect effects slide

high heat slide

point of emission slide

energy consumption health

sea level rise slide