Climate Change

Freshwater harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs) present a mounting threat to public health outcomes and lake ecosystem services. The current climate crisis is expected to intensify the occurrence of freshwater HCBs in recreational water bodies, their formation of potent toxins, and resultant human exposures.

Communities across the western United States experience hazardous smoke exposures from multiple fire sources. As wildfires become more frequent and severe, smoke exposures stemming from these fires are also worsening. Prescribed burning is a promising forest management strategy that can mitigate future wildfire risk, but also contributes to biomass burning emissions and human exposure impacts.

As the Duwamish Valley community in Seattle, Washington and other environmental justice communities nationally contend with growing risks from climate change, there have been calls for a more community-centered approach to understanding impacts and priorities to inform resilience planning.

King County, Washington currently ranks 3rd in the nation for the number of people experiencing homelessness. Amid an affordability housing crisis, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to grow in Seattle. People in historically redlined communities of Seattle disproportionately experience homelessness because of gentrification.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution is associated with excess morbidity and mortality and estimated to be the most important environmental risk factor for mortality globally. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) and PM2.5 from wildfire smoke (WFS), are both thought to be more toxic than ambient PM2.5.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of disaster events globally, resulting in heightened risks to human life, economic security, ecosystem health, and overall well-being. Hazard Mitigation Planning, overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is one tool used to reduce disaster risk by identifying potential hazards and taking action to reduce their impact.

Purpose of the Study:

My MPH practicum experience was with InterIm Community Development Association’s Danny Woo Community Garden to launch the Restaurant 2 Garden project.

In October of 2020, Seattle City Council raised a Council Budget Action (CBA), proposing the allocation of $100,000 General Fund dollars to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to develop and implement a publicly accessible sink program.

Human and wildlife communities depend on healthy marine environments to provide myriad resources and support. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), phenomena in which algae rapidly produce large amounts of biomass and often toxins, are becoming more frequent, widespread, and severe.

Background: The United States is experiencing increasing temperatures and heatwaves due to anthropogenic climate change. Days of extreme heat lead to higher rates of morbidity and mortality and place greater demand on healthcare systems.