Medical professionals adapt to health challenges posed by climate change
As climate change intensifies, doctors and other medical professionals are revamping treatments and training to address emerging health threats linked to environmental factors.
Nicole Williams reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Recent wildfires in Southern California have exposed residents to toxins from burning urban materials, raising concerns about long-term health effects.
- Medical institutions like the University of Southern California's CLIMA Center are integrating environmental data into patient care to better understand and treat climate-related health issues.
- Programs at universities such as the University of Colorado and Harvard are training "climate doctors" to lead in addressing health impacts of global warming.
Key quote:
"We need to train experts who can handle these situations, who can talk to the environment people, but also talk to the health people, but also talk to the public and policymakers on what to do in these situations."
— Dr. Rima Habre, Director of USC's CLIMA Center
Why this matters:
The health impacts of climate change — ranging from respiratory issues due to polluted air to the spread of vector-borne diseases — are becoming more prevalent. Medical professionals are also considering the environmental impact of treatments, and promoting "green prescribing" where lifestyle changes are recommended to benefit both patient health and the planet.
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