Climate change is a 'threat multiplier' for many public health concerns in SC, beyond
During a trip to the Canadian Rockies this summer, I experienced awe for all the wrong reasons as wildfires torched the landscape less than 100 miles from my location.
The air was acrid and dusty, my chest felt tight, and what should have been a beautiful hike in Alberta, Canada, was marred by thick plumes of smoke.
Working in health care, I am acutely aware of the type of pollution I was likely breathing in. The smoke unleashed by wildfires traverses vast distances, carrying along toxic particulate matter and pollutants. Such aerial contamination can be dangerous or even fatal, for vulnerable groups such as those with respiratory ailments, the elderly, and young children. Tragically, in July, a 9-year-old boy died in Canada’s British Columbia after experiencing an asthma attack during the ongoing wildfires.
While wildfires are not a new phenomenon, the escalating frequency and intensity of recent blazes, exacerbated by a warming climate, are apparent. Whether it’s Hawaii’s heartbreaking plight, Canada and Europe’s relentless summer of evacuations, or the air pollution alerts we’ve seen across South Carolina, it’s hard to ignore this growing threat. In our state, almost 642 of around 1,300 communities assessed have ratings of High to Extreme Risk of wildfire, according to South Carolina Forestry Commission.
A mounting body of evidence underscores the undeniable link between our addiction to burning fossil fuels and its insidious toll on public health. A recent study spotlighted the doubled risk of fatal heart attacks due to the combination of extreme heat and fine particulate pollution. And a new study by epidemiologists at the University of Pittsburgh suggests children who live near oil and gas wells are 5-7 times more likely to develop lymphoma.
Meanwhile, a changing climate is acting as a threat multiplier for many public health concerns. As South Carolina’s coastal communities confront escalated flooding threats, waterborne diseases like E. coli and cholera are increasing. Many coastal hospitals are unprepared for repeated damage from climate events. In South Carolina, 17 hospitals have a hurricane-flood risk, and escalating heat-related illnesses and deaths, and vector-borne diseases are a growing concern.
Communities of color are disproportionately hurt by climate change with more exposure to heat, pollution, flooding, and the effects of extreme weather. Wildfires, poor air quality, evacuations, and power outages can lead to dangerous challenges for those with complex medical conditions and their caregivers. Increasing temperatures and heat waves increase the likelihood of heat illnesses and deaths among vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. Other marginalized communities, including the queer community, also bear a disproportionate share of climate impacts.
As a doctor who made a commitment to “do no harm,” it’s my duty to speak up about the need to transition to energy sources that stop air pollution and save lives. I will do my utmost to fight for better outcomes.
In turn, it is the responsibility of my elected representatives, who have sworn to “faithfully discharge” the duties of the offices they serve, to support and enact legislation that will protect their constituents from harm.
Just like the evolution of preventative health, which has improved and guarded against so many dire health outcomes, we already have “preventative” remedies to stop the worst consequences of climate change. We just need Congress to enact them.
Picture a world where not only is the air noticeably cleaner and our climate stable, but at least 50,000 American lives are saved a year by eradicating air pollution.
In health care, we often say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and applying this timeless wisdom to climate change could not be more pressing.
Will we keep burning fossil fuels, unleashing a growing burden on healthcare and an estimated annual U.S. healthcare toll of $77 billion from air pollution? Or will we act now to prevent the worst and save countless lives in the future?
Nikhil Jain, DO, MPH, works at the intersection of public health and advocacy. He is a member of the Greenville chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: It's time to confront how climate change, air pollution impact health
