AH 4075 Module 8: Health Co-Benefits of Addressing Climate Change

Climate Mitigation

: actions that reduce the magnitude or rate of climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing their removal from the atmosphere

Climate Adaptation

: adjustments in natural or human systems that reduce vulnerability to the health and environmental impacts of current or expected climate change

Climate Resilience:

the capacity of communities, systems, and institutions to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to climate-related stresses while maintaining essential functions

Climate resilient development

the process of implementing greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation measures to support sustainable development

There is always a window of opportunity to enable climate resilient development; T/F

False; There is a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity to enable climate resilient development

The IPCC indicates there are numerous mitigation options that can be adopted to accelerate action against climate change - and some are more feasible today than others; T/F

True

You can supply rural communities with smaller solar panels; T/F

True

There are also known synergies (and anti-synergies) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Which energy system always acts as a synergy?

Adaptation

Mitigation efforts of climate change go hand-in-hand with sustainability. Why?

In the US, transportation, domestic electricity, and industrial activities produce roughly the same proportion of greenhouse gases. Provides opportunity for mitigation in many sectors. Not all needs to be driven by technologies• Planning and designing human environments can reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Geoengineering

Proposed technologies and strategies designed to intentionally alter Earth's climate system - either by reducing incoming solar radiation or by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere - in order to limit or reverse climate change.

Solar Geoengineering

Activities intends to cool the Earth by intentionally modifying the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface. Also referred to as Solar Radiation Modification (SRM)

What are some potential consequences of solar geoengineering?

1. Ozone depletion - stratospheric particles accelerate O3 destruction

2. Ecosystem health - formation of acid rain

3. Crop yield reduction - decreased solar radiation for plants

4. Hydrologic cycle modifications - e.g., South Asian Monsoon

5. Respiratory health - particulate matter

Carbon Dioxide Removal

a wide array of approaches that remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and store it

What are two potential consequences of Carbon Dioxide Removal?

1. Highly dependent on the technique applied

2. Ocean fertilization can potentially enhance harmful algal growth

Carbon dioxide removal is generally viewed as more or less risky than solar geoengineering?

Generally viewed as much less risky than solar geoengineering

Reverse osmosis

a membrane-based separation process in which applied pressure overcomes natural osmotic pressure, driving water across a semi-permeable membrane while rejecting dissolved ions, organic compounds, and pathogens

What provides drinking water that is pathogen and contaminant free, helping to provide access to high quality, safe drinking water?

Reverse osmosis

In the US, _________ is thoroughly treated before discharge into the environment.

wastewater

Direct Potable Reuse

takes conventional wastewater, applies additional treatment to purify the water to drinking water standards, then introduces the water into the drinking water treatment system for reuse!

Atmospheric water capture

collecting water vapor directly from the air and converting it into liquid water for use as drinking or irrigation water

In what environments can atmospheric water capture be particularly helpful?

Atmospheric water capture can improve water security in arid and climate-vulnerable regions, reducing reliance on stressed surface and groundwater sources.

Locations like the Namib Desert in Namibia are particularly well-suited for atmospheric water capture

Adsorption vs. Absorption molecules

Adsorption refers to molecules adhering to surface, while absorption refers to molecules entering bulk.

Give a four step explanation of acid rain from SO2 and NOx

1. Powerplant emissions of SO2 and NO2 are released into the air.

2. The pollutants are transformed into acid particles that may be transported long distances.

3. These acid particles then fall on Earth as dust, rain, snow, and other materials.

4. The acid rain particles may cause harmful effects on soil, forests, streams, and lakes.

What is the typical pH of acidic rain?

Acid rain can have a pH of about 5.0-5.5, and can fall as low as 4.0-5.0 the Northeastern United States.

Where is acid rain typically observed?

Typically observed downwind of major powerplants and industrial complexes, the impacts of acid rain occur as far as 1000 km from the source.

SO42- and NO3- are the weak conjugate bases of...... which are.....

H2SO4 and HNO3 ---> strong acids

What is high [H2SO4] and [HNO3] in rain caused by?

High [H2SO4] and [HNO3] in rain is due to atmospheric oxidation ofNOX and SO2 emitted during fossil fuel combustion associated with power generation, industry, and manufacturing.

Acid rain has positive implications for ecosystem health and agricultural yields - hence the secondary standards for NOx and SO2; T/F

False, negative implications

What two things do SO2 and NOX generally cause:

1. Irritation of throat and lungs

2. Aggravation of symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis

What is the third highest global attributable DALYs from Level 2 risk factors for females in 2019?

Air pollution

What are the three properties of criteria pollutants?

1. Ubiquitous. Emitted from many large diverse sources, including mobile & stationary sources

2. Omnipresent, and therefore, pose the greatest overall threat to human health

3. Presupposition: the adverse health effects are not cancerous, and their dose-response relationship exhibits a threshold dose

What is the specific list of six criteria pollutants?

1. Particulate Matter (PM)

2. Sulfure Dioxide (SO2)

3. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

4. Ozone (O3)

5. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

6. Lead (Pb)

Poor air quality is a resolved global phenomenon; T/F

False

Combustion particles

complex assemblages and can deliver numerous toxicants to the lungs

What are some sources of PM from vehicles?

Break wear, tire wear, road wear, resuspended road dust

Exhaust PM + Secondary PM is only emitted by __________ __________

combustion engines

Exhaust emissions are also a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)and NOx, which leads to Ozone; T/F

True

What is the most common chronic condition among children?

asthma (nearly 5 million asthma sufferers are under age 18)

What are some cause/risk factors for asthma?

Having a parent with asthma (i.e., genetic risk factors), having severe respiratory infection as a child, having an allergic condition, or being exposed to chemicals & dust

What is asthma?

Hyperactivity (bronchospasm)of the bronchioles due to pollutants, infectious agents, cold air, emotional upset, exercise or allergens. Excessive secretion of mucus coupled with inappropriate constriction of bronchioles leads to wheezing and sometimes death. Chronic irritation can lead to mucosal thickening, edema, and inflammation, similar to bronchitis.

What is oxidative stress?

Oxidative stress is the state of imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's natural antioxidant defenses. ROS are molecules containing oxygen that are highly reactive and can damage cells.

Air pollution exposure can also lead to cardiovascular effects; T/F

True

What are 8 examples of sources of particulate matter

1. Bubble bursting

2. Forest fires

3. Primary biological aerosols

4. Dust

5. Volcanic Ash

6. Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA)

7. Secondary Organic Aerosol (i.e., smog)

8. Combustion Aerosol

Providing access to electricity in rural areas of low- and lower-middle income countries is predicted to be well suited for solar power, because....

1. LMICs typically have a large amount of sunlight

2. Solar requires lower overall infrastructure installation

3. Lower upfront cost than constructing a traditional power plant

According to WHO: ___(st/nd/rd/th) of global population cook using open fires or insufficient stoves (i.e., without chimneys) using kerosine, biomass, or coal - all of which generate harmful air pollution.

1/3rd (2.3 billion people)

Which demographics are particularly susceptible to indoor air pollutants?

Exposure is particularly high among women & children, who are traditionally burdened with domestic responsibilities in low-income countries.

The distribution of solar power will both reduce combustion for cooking and heating while improving indoor air quality for residents; T/F

True