US needs nearly 200 million more on climate-related health research

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US needs nearly 200 million more on climate-related health research

Science Centric - Sofia,Sofia Town,Bulgaria

http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09092626-us-needs-nearly-200-mi\

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A recent commentary suggests that the U.S. should spend roughly $197 million

more than it currently does to research the impact of climate change on public

health.

The analysis found that the U.S. spends about $3 million in federal funds on

research related to the health impacts of climate change, says Marie S. O'Neill,

one of the commentary co-authors. This isn't nearly enough to adequately address

the public health issues related to global warming, the group concluded.

The commentary's lead author was Kristie Ebi, a University of Michigan-trained

epidemiologist and expert on climate change and public health, who is an adjunct

professor of Environmental Health Sciences. The article was inspired by another

study, mandated by Congress, that assesses the importance of global climate

change on health, also led by Ebi. During their research and in preparing

testimony for Congressional hearings on the topic, the team realised that the

U.S. is woefully underfunding climate change health-related research.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate a number of current public health

problems in the United States and elsewhere, including heat-related deaths,

diarrhoeal diseases, and diseases associated with exposure to allergens and

ozone. In addition, our ageing population is more vulnerable to thermal

extremes, as are certain demographic and geographic areas, the commentary said.

'Even disease distributions are likely to change,' said Mark , another

coauthor and professor of epidemiology. 'Certain areas of the world could become

more favourable for transmission of various infectious diseases that are

associated with water, insect vectors, or non-human animal reservoirs. The

challenge is to identify the critical research questions that will help inform

improvements to the public health infrastructure and prepare for changing

environments.'

The type of research necessary to solve some of the health problems arising as

the planet warms involves working with affected communities and developing

concrete solutions, which include addresses the root causes of climate change by

reducing fossil fuel combustion, among other measures, O'Neill says.

'Climate change is happening. It's a current problem and we need to address it

as a public health priority,' she said. However, most research described in

official estimates of U.S. spending on climate and health is focused on more

specific diseases; for instance sun damage and skin cancer, and doesn't address

larger issues posed by climate change.

In the United States, one can look to the Hurricane Katrina disaster to see the

broad health implications of the type of extreme weather that is becoming more

frequent with climate change. The health consequences of flooding, including

mould and fungal contamination, and the mental health consequences to displaced

people are just two, the authors said.

The commentary authors concluded that federal agencies such as the Environmental

Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the Centres for Disease

Control and Prevention, must establish large intra and extramural programs with

funding of more than $200 million annually to adequately address the problem.

The authors recommended that a standing committee within the National Academies

of Sciences oversee the programs and prioritise spending.

Source: University of Michigan News Service