Reducing the Lung Health Burden of the Climate Crisis

Reducing the Lung Health Burden of the Climate Crisis is a public health intervention designed to decrease the negative impact that poor air quality has on lung health and address the associated health disparities faced by marginalized communities. The American Lung Association, in collaboration with CVS Health Foundation, is working with healthcare providers, partnering organizations and individuals to support people with lung disease who are facing health complications due to climate change. This intervention is being implemented in Phoenix, Arizona (Maricopa County), and the Bronx, New York, as they are two of most polluted places in the United States for ozone and particulate pollution.

Climate change is worsening air quality issues, as record heatwaves, droughts and wildfires become commonplace. Exposure to unhealthy air causes complications for the 34 million people in the U.S. who are living with lung disease and puts millions more at risk of developing chronic illness. To decrease the negative impact of poor air quality on lung health, the Lung Association created an intervention to:

1. Equip healthcare providers with tools to improve care of patients with lung disease during poor air quality days.
2. Empower people with lung disease to take steps that reduce their risk of health complications during days with unhealthy air.
3. Utilize local air quality data to develop education programs and promote policies to protect lung health.

Key elements of this project include increased access to lung health education and distribution of air quality sensors. Air quality sensors measure the amount of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in the environment and provide data that can be used to identify at-risk populations and advocate for cleaner air.

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