EDITOR’S CHOICE Advancing Science and Public Health Practice on Climate Change and Health Justice
I
n this issue we introduce a new AJPH section, “Climate Change and Health Justice,” which highlights two related pressing concerns facing public health today: the health consequences of a changing climate and the social justice implications of some populations bearing disproportionate public health burdens. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body of thousands of scientists from all over the world, has reached consensus that anthropogenic activities are altering our planet’s climate, with unprecedented overall warming of the climate system. These changes are likely already affecting human health, with more damage anticipated to occur. As just a few examples, heat waves are expected to take place more frequently, occur earlier in the warm season, last longer, and burn hotter. Patterns of infectious disease vectors can be affected because of, for example, modified habitats of disease-bearing mosquitos. Levels of tropospheric ozone, a harmful air pollutant, can be increased because the chemical reactions that form ozone are temperature dependent and emissions of biogenic precursors can increase under higher temperatures. Changes in rainfall and other weather-related factors can alter food production, affecting food security and nutrition. This section is part of AJPH’s dedication to the critical challenge of climate change’s effects on public well-being. As the American Public Health Association (APHA) Executive Director Georges Benjamin noted, “We’re committed to making sure the nation knows about the effects of climate change on health. If anyone doesn’t think this is a severe problem, they are fooling themselves” (Washington Post, January 17, 2017). APHA, along with former US Vice President Al Gore and others, was planning to cohost a climate and health conference that was cancelled without explanation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Trump Administration. This year’s APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, to be November 2017, Vol 107, No. 11
AJPH
held in Atlanta, Georgia, November 4–8, 2017, is themed “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health.” The health consequences of climate change are closely tied to concepts of social justice. In many cases the countries and populations that have historically produced the most greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby contributed the most to the problem, will suffer the smallest health burden and are also generally the most capable of adaptation. Nations that are less industrially developed or have developed only in recent decades have emitted comparatively less greenhouse gas but are anticipated to bear substantially more climate change hazards. For instance, low-lying countries such as Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to flooding from sea level rise. India, which already undergoes extreme heat waves, is expected to experience heat waves that are even more severe. Furthermore, less wealthy countries may face unique health burdens, such as environmental refugees and conflict because of resources shortages. Within a country, such as the United States, some populations and regions are more likely to suffer the impacts of climate change than others, raising domestic social justice concerns as well. Health justice is a vital issue far beyond the additional problems arising from climate change. For example, populations by race/ ethnicity, socioeconomic position, gender, and other factors can have higher levels of disease or different health responses to exposures to harmful contaminants. Therefore, for the new section on “Climate Change and Health Justice,” AJPH invites authors to submit key articles on health justice more generally. This relates to APHA’s mission to ensure social justice and eliminate health disparities. For both climate change and health justice, the Journal encourages articles on research and public health practice as well as policy-relevant pieces appropriate for AJPH. Michelle L. Bell Associate Editor AJPH
87
YEARS AGO
Health Work in Soviet Russia Some of the outstanding points brought out are that the Russian of today regards physical health as important a factor in life as education; that doctors are limited to a working day of 6 hours; that all workers in medical institutions, including doctors, nurses, orderlies, laundresses, stove men, chauffeurs, etc., are organized into the Medical Workers Union; that there are night sanatoriums for tuberculosis; and that the infant mortality rate dropped from 27 per 100 in 1913, to 17 in 1923. From AJPH, April 1930, pp. 454
83
YEARS AGO
Women’s Health in Soviet Russia More women than men are now practising, and there is no sex discrimination. The individual may choose his doctor within his district. If he is sick and unable to leave his home he is visited by a doctor. Whenever it is possible he is made to go to a neighborhood dispensary and is then sent to a central polyclinic or hospital. In most cases there is no fee. As an individual, a woman may decide the question regarding abortions after the first pregnancy; the state regulates the procedure. Prenatal and postnatal care are supplied, and state care of children is free to the working mother. There are many rest and convalescent homes and sanatoria, chiefly for tuberculous patients. Adequate provision is made for the control and treatment of venereal diseases. From AJPH, March 1934, p. 292
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304066 Editor’s Choice
1687
I
n this issue we introduce a new AJPH section, “Climate Change and Health Justice,” which highlights two related pressing concerns facing public health today: the health consequences of a changing climate and the social justice implications of some populations bearing disproportionate public health burdens. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body of thousands of scientists from all over the world, has reached consensus that anthropogenic activities are altering our planet’s climate, with unprecedented overall warming of the climate system. These changes are likely already affecting human health, with more damage anticipated to occur. As just a few examples, heat waves are expected to take place more frequently, occur earlier in the warm season, last longer, and burn hotter. Patterns of infectious disease vectors can be affected because of, for example, modified habitats of disease-bearing mosquitos. Levels of tropospheric ozone, a harmful air pollutant, can be increased because the chemical reactions that form ozone are temperature dependent and emissions of biogenic precursors can increase under higher temperatures. Changes in rainfall and other weather-related factors can alter food production, affecting food security and nutrition. This section is part of AJPH’s dedication to the critical challenge of climate change’s effects on public well-being. As the American Public Health Association (APHA) Executive Director Georges Benjamin noted, “We’re committed to making sure the nation knows about the effects of climate change on health. If anyone doesn’t think this is a severe problem, they are fooling themselves” (Washington Post, January 17, 2017). APHA, along with former US Vice President Al Gore and others, was planning to cohost a climate and health conference that was cancelled without explanation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Trump Administration. This year’s APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, to be November 2017, Vol 107, No. 11
AJPH
held in Atlanta, Georgia, November 4–8, 2017, is themed “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health.” The health consequences of climate change are closely tied to concepts of social justice. In many cases the countries and populations that have historically produced the most greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby contributed the most to the problem, will suffer the smallest health burden and are also generally the most capable of adaptation. Nations that are less industrially developed or have developed only in recent decades have emitted comparatively less greenhouse gas but are anticipated to bear substantially more climate change hazards. For instance, low-lying countries such as Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to flooding from sea level rise. India, which already undergoes extreme heat waves, is expected to experience heat waves that are even more severe. Furthermore, less wealthy countries may face unique health burdens, such as environmental refugees and conflict because of resources shortages. Within a country, such as the United States, some populations and regions are more likely to suffer the impacts of climate change than others, raising domestic social justice concerns as well. Health justice is a vital issue far beyond the additional problems arising from climate change. For example, populations by race/ ethnicity, socioeconomic position, gender, and other factors can have higher levels of disease or different health responses to exposures to harmful contaminants. Therefore, for the new section on “Climate Change and Health Justice,” AJPH invites authors to submit key articles on health justice more generally. This relates to APHA’s mission to ensure social justice and eliminate health disparities. For both climate change and health justice, the Journal encourages articles on research and public health practice as well as policy-relevant pieces appropriate for AJPH. Michelle L. Bell Associate Editor AJPH
87
YEARS AGO
Health Work in Soviet Russia Some of the outstanding points brought out are that the Russian of today regards physical health as important a factor in life as education; that doctors are limited to a working day of 6 hours; that all workers in medical institutions, including doctors, nurses, orderlies, laundresses, stove men, chauffeurs, etc., are organized into the Medical Workers Union; that there are night sanatoriums for tuberculosis; and that the infant mortality rate dropped from 27 per 100 in 1913, to 17 in 1923. From AJPH, April 1930, pp. 454
83
YEARS AGO
Women’s Health in Soviet Russia More women than men are now practising, and there is no sex discrimination. The individual may choose his doctor within his district. If he is sick and unable to leave his home he is visited by a doctor. Whenever it is possible he is made to go to a neighborhood dispensary and is then sent to a central polyclinic or hospital. In most cases there is no fee. As an individual, a woman may decide the question regarding abortions after the first pregnancy; the state regulates the procedure. Prenatal and postnatal care are supplied, and state care of children is free to the working mother. There are many rest and convalescent homes and sanatoria, chiefly for tuberculous patients. Adequate provision is made for the control and treatment of venereal diseases. From AJPH, March 1934, p. 292
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304066 Editor’s Choice
1687
