Center members Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, professor and co-director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, and Daniel Jackson Smith, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, CNE, Weingarten Endowed Assistant Professor and co-chair of the Global Nurses Climate Change committee, both with the Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, were interviewed about the recent wildfires, climate change and impacts to public health.
Both Ruth and Daniel specialize in environmental and climate change-related health. They believe that as wildfires, in addition to other climate change-related events, happen with more frequency and ubiquity, certain parts of the population will be among the most vulnerable.
Children, older adults with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, outdoor workers and people living in poverty, they say, are at the highest risk for serious health issues stemming from wildfire smoke and the poor air quality that comes with it. It is not difficult to see that represents a significant portion of the general population.