Climate Change and Human Health Research
Program Lead
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Caroline Dilworth, Ph.D. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/sphb/staff/dilworth/index.cfm)
Health Scientist Administrator -
Tel (919) 541-7727
Fax (919) 316-4606
dilworthch@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K3-12
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Delivery Instructions
Program Description
It is anticipated that climate change will bring extreme weather events, rises in sea level, flooding, drought, and poor air quality. These environmental changes can directly and indirectly impact our health.
Extreme heat can increase risk for heat-related illnesses and degrade air quality, which causes problems for people with respiratory diseases such as asthma. Extreme cold and heat are associated with increased hospitalizations related to cardiovascular disease, and floods can increase exposure to various contaminants. The ways we adapt to climate change also has potential health effects. For example, increased use of air conditioning would require more electricity from power plants, which might increase air pollution.
The NIEHS Climate Change and Human Health program funds research aimed at understanding the health impacts of climate change and how strategies used to adapt to or lessen climate change might affect health adversely. The program also plays a key role in facilitating the collaboration and coordination of both the research program and other activities related to climate change taking place within NIEHS and across NIH and other federal agencies.
NIEHS-funded researchers are studying why some elderly populations are more at risk for negative health effects from climate change and are examining the association between air pollutants and pediatric asthma. Other grantees are using methodological approaches to analyze models that predict health vulnerabilities to climate change and are developing models to quantify the possible health impacts of exposure to higher levels of air pollution coming from power plant emissions as hotter summers increase electricity demand.
This research will help identify populations who are vulnerable to climate change, produce methods and models for studying climate change, and advance knowledge about how to best provide communication and education about risks tied to climate change.
