Climate Change

Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impacts of a warming, volatile climate.

Children’s bodies are not built to handle extremes – too much heat, pollution or stress can have dire consequences on their growth and development. Unfortunately, our rapidly changing and warming climate is leading us to a future at the extremes. Our children will experience worse air pollution and more, intense heatwaves and flooding. We all need to be proactive and vigilant to protect children’s health from the impacts of climate change.

How will climate change impact children’s health?

Climate change makes bad situations worse.

  • Does your neighborhood have poor air quality? Increased heat leads to more ground level ozone and smog. Smog is an outdoor air pollutant that can increase asthma and lung disease.
  • Does your child have asthma? Climate change will worsen common asthma triggers, such as heatwaves, pollen, and pollution.
  • Is your community battling for environmental justice? Neighborhoods that have historically been burdened with contamination and environmental hazards bear the brunt of climate catastrophes.
  • Does your community flood during heavy storms? Flooding will increase and redistribute contaminated soil in urban industrialized areas with lead and toxic chemicals.
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Flooding: Flood exposure may lead to greater rates of home damage and loss, drowning, stress and mental health impacts, and exposures to waterborne pathogens and mold.

Extreme heat: Extreme heat exposure can impair learning and cognition; sleep; mental health; kidney, liver, and respiratory function. It may increase emergency department visits and incidences of preterm birth and low birth weight, heat stroke, and death.

Infectious Disease: Climate change may expand the ranges and active-season lengths of insects and ticks that carry vector-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

Air Quality: Climate-driven changes to PM 2.5, ozone, dust, and wildfire smoke may increase emergency department visits, new asthmas cases, general respiratory illnesses, and preterm birth and low birth weight.

Seasonality: Changes to seasons may increase exposure to aeroallergens like pollen, leading to higher rates of seasonal allergies and asthmas. These changes may affect opportunities for outdoor recreation and play.

For our children and pregnant people, researchers predict the highest health risk will be related to extreme heat and increased air pollution and flooding.

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Extreme Heat

A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather that typically lasts two or more days.1 According to the EPA, “Heat waves are occurring more often than they used to in major cities across the US. Their frequency has increased steadily, from an average of two heat waves per year during the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s and 2020s.” Cities in our region, like Philadelphia and Chester, often have more concrete and asphalt than grass, leading to urban heat islands that disproportionately effect communities of color and the poor.

Air Pollution and Asthma

Even without climate change, air pollution and asthma are already two of the biggest environmental health threats to our region’s children. We have 3x more cases of asthma than the national average. With climate change, more children will experience asthma attacks and poor air quality:

  • Earlier spring and longer summers could increase the amount and type of pollen, leading to more asthma triggers
  • More frequent wildfires in US and Canadian forests will blow dangerous air into our cities. That air can contain particulate matter, dust, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
  • Hotter cities means more ozone and urban smog that damages lung function.
  • More emergency department visits, asthma diagnoses, and “preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects are associated with in utero exposure”.3
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Flooding

When we think of the dangers of flooding, we often think of the short-term dangers: drowning and property loss. But floods also have long-term health effects that are particularly bad for children. Floods bring water to places it doesn’t belong, and with that water often comes contaminants and toxic chemicals. Floodwaters can carry with them lead, chemicals, endocrine disruptors and bacteria.

After a flood, homes become extremely vulnerable to mold growth, especially if areas are not fully dried within 72 hours. Mold is a common asthma trigger and it can irritate a child’s eyes, skin and lungs.

How Do I Protect My Children?

Always have drinking water on hand to prevent dehydration. If your child has asthma, keep their inhaler on hand too.

Sign up for daily air quality alerts at airnow.gov and don’t allow your child to play outside on poor air quality days.

If possible, keep children away from floodwaters. If you must travel through floodwaters, wash your body and hands immediately and keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes.

After floods, disinfect all areas of the home where children live or play. Discard toys or clothes that came in contact with the floodwater.

Thoroughly dry all areas of the house, including wall interiors and basements, after a flood within 72 hours. This will prevent mold growth. If mold does grow, remove it immediately.

Our Climate Change Programs

Rain boots in a flood

Incorporating Climate Change Into Your Curriculum

A free webinar series for teachers in the Philadelphia region (and beyond).  Sessions will explore how climate change is affecting temperature, air quality and water in Philadelphia, with a focus on children’s health. Teaching materials included!

Utility Assistance Resource Guide

Make sure your heating and cooling systems are in good condition before extreme weather events occur. Use this…

EPA’s Guide to Air Purifiers at Home

The most effective ways to improve your indoor air are to reduce or remove the sources of pollutants…

Philadelphia Neighborhood Heat Vulnerability Index

Explore this index to view at risk areas in Philadelphia and available community resources.

Play time in the city

Curriculum for Grades 5-8 : A Journey Through Water’s Path and Its Challenges

Middle school curriculum on the water cycle, flooding, Philadelphia specific water issues, and climate change.

Basement Backup Protection Program

Providing free plumbing upgrades to homeowners who experience water backing up through basement fixtures during wet weather.

Center Members Researching Climate Change

Dr. Inkyu Han
Temple University

Inkyu Han, PhD, MPH

Inkyu Han is a multidisciplinary environmental health scientist in exposure assessment and environmental epidemiology. Environmental exposure and community…

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Dr. Jane Clougherty
Drexel University

Jane E. Clougherty, MSc, ScD

Jane E. Clougherty is a Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) at the Drexel University Dornsife School…

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Dr. Hyunok Choi
Lehigh University

Hyunok Choi, PhD, MPH

Hyunok Choi is the Associate Professor and Director of the Children’s Environmental Precision Health Institute at Lehigh University….

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Dr. Blanca Himes
University of Pennsylvania

Blanca Himes, PhD

Blanca Himes is the Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics and received tenure as…

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Dr. Jessica Rice
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Jessica Rice, DO, MHS

Jessica Rice is an attending physician with the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital…

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Dr. Rebecca Simmons
University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Rebecca Simmons, MD

Rebecca A. Simmons is the Hallam Hurt Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the…

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Dr. Marilyn Howarth
University of Pennsylvania

Marilyn V. Howarth, MD, FACOEM

Marilyn Howarth is the Deputy Director of the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health. Within the Center,…

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Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD

Tyra Bryant-Stephens is a board-certified pediatrician in clinical primary care practice for over 30 years and Associate Professor…

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Dr. Aimin Chen
University of Pennsylvania

Aimin Chen, MD, PhD

Aimin Chen is the Co-Director of the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health. He is Professor of…

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Dr. Yu-Chin Lien
University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Yu-Chin Lien, PhD

Yu-Chin Lien is a Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of…

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Dr. Sharon McGrath-Morrow
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania

Sharon McGrath-Morrow, MBA, MD

Sharon McGrath-Morrow is the Associate Division Chief in Pulmonary and Sleep at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Co-Principal…

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Dr. Heather Burris
University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Heather Burris, MD, MPH

Heather Burris, is a founding member of Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health. Heather is a practicing…

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Dr. Eugenia South
University of Pennsylvania

Eugenia C. South, MD MS

Eugenia (Gina) South is the Associate Vice President for Health Justice and Inaugural Director of the Penn Medicine…

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