ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Public Health Laboratory Section
Environmental Health
Infectious Diseases
Food Safety
Public Health Preparedness & Response
Examples of Increased or Expanded Tests Due to Climate Change Impacts
Ambient air : ground-level ozone due to heat , particulate matter due to drought and wildfire , and toxins due to urban wildfires . Indoor air : mold due to floods and disasters and radon due to increased time inside because of extreme weather .
Air , water and soil : chemical contaminants due to increasing pesticide use , chemical exposure during disasters , and increased concentrations in water and soil due to both drought and flood conditions .
Drinking , ground and surface waters : fecal indicators and pathogens such as Cryptosporidium , Giardia , and Naegleria fowleri associated with warmer temperatures and potential biofilm growth .
Surface and drinking water : cyano- and other toxins associated with increased harmful algal blooms from warmer and more nutrient-dense water from drought conditions or runoff . Marine biotoxins associated with shellfish toxicity will also be of concern .
Sea surface temperature and salinity : used to assess vibriosis risk due to warmer ocean temperatures , rising sea levels and concomitant increased human exposure to ocean water .
Temperature and precipitation data : can assess risks for microbe growth and accompanying disease , such as Valley fever .
Human biomonitoring : test for markers indicative of chemical exposure , wildfires and biotoxins .
Vector-borne diseases : malaria , dengue , encephalitis , hantavirus , Rift Valley fever , Lyme disease , chikungunya , West Nile virus , Zika virus due to expanded ranges of mosquitoes , ticks and other vectors . Zoonotic diseases : plague , rabies , bird flu , Ebola and anthrax due to warming temperatures and expanded populations of the disease-carrying animals . Fungal diseases : Valley fever , histoplasmosis , and Candida auris due to increasing geographic range and other effects such as dispersal and host susceptibility . Respiratory diseases : increased air pollution which compromises respiratory system function .
Shellfish , fish , meat , and other foods : waters with increased concentrations of microbiological ( e . g ., Salmonella ) and chemical contaminants due to drought conditions or runoff from heavy rain events . Shellfish testing : cyano- and other toxins due to increased harmful algal blooms from warmer and nutrient dense water . Foodborne illness : warmer temperatures and other effects through clinical testing .
Preparing for , and responding to natural disasters and chemical , biological , radiological and nuclear ( CBRN ) events .
Voices of Scientific Integrity
As public health laboratories understand the connections between their work and climate change , and the impact it may have , they may be able to capitalize on opportunities to speak with other public health stakeholders to support climate change indicator testing . EHC and ELSC met again in May 2022 to develop climate leadership and communication skills . APHL collaborated with EcoAmerica , a non-partisan , non-profit organization building public support and political resolve for climate solutions in the US , to provide
interactive , competency-based training to EHC and ELSC members . The didactic training course focused on tailoring effective messages for multiple audiences , including professional colleagues , policymakers and the public .
Resources For Climate Change- Related Testing
The following resources developed by APHL and APHL committees for other purposes will help to support increased and expanded testing needs due to climate change :