Great Lakes Reduce Air Pollution

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
Climate change is already underway. Although the worst impacts can still be avoided, some change is inevitable due to the long life of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. Society must begin to prepare by developing management plans for potential future public health risks such as changing patterns of waterborne and vector-borne disease, increased extreme heat events, and flooding. Health care system improvements, greater emergency response capability, improved access to air conditioning, and broad education of both the general and specific target populations will help us avoid the most severe impacts.


Solution strategies:	REDUCE AIR POLLUTION	REDUCE EXPOSURE TO HEAT	MONITOR FOR DISEASE
Warmer temperatures enhance the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. This interaction means that even if the overall level of air pollution in the region is reduced, regional air quality could still decline. Warmer temperatures certainly mean worse air quality than what could have been obtained through ongoing pollution reduction. In order to reduce the health impacts of poor air quality on children, the elderly, or those with respiratory conditions, warnings about air quality and education on the effects of air pollution on health should be readily available.