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UF physician says climate change directly impacts children's health

International conference to be held at Shands Jacksonville

Friday, March 27, 2009


Jeffrey Goldhagen, MD, MPH

Continued climate change will disproportionately impact the health and well-being of children around the world, according to a University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville pediatrician.

Jeffrey Goldhagen, MD, MPH, a UF associate professor of pediatrics and division chief of community pediatrics, said that children's health may be jeopardized if the trend of climate change continues on its current path.

"Compared to adults, children are more susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental degradation because they are still developing," said Goldhagen. "They are disproportionately affected, and this can lead to a prolonged impact throughout their entire life."

To help increase awareness and address solutions, Goldhagen is helping bring together leaders and activists from around the globe to begin a dialogue about climate change, its impact on children's health and well-being, and intervention strategies. The international teleconference will be held Wednesday, April 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Shands Jacksonville.

Participants will include representatives from the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Columbia, Panama, Argentina, South Africa, Turkey and several other European countries. UF and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health will co-host the teleconference with presentations from an internationally renowned group of speakers and youth representatives from several international organizations.

Goldhagen said that some of the foreseeable impacts of climate change include:

  • Increased incidence of skin cancer because of ozone depletion and development of this cancer at earlier ages, since children are particularly susceptible to the sun's UV rays

  • Expanding areas and populations impacted by tropical-region viral illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever

  • Desertification of farmland will force migration to cities, leaving low-income countries with reduced availability to food and resources and an increased incidence of malnutrition

Goldhagen said his primary goal is to educate pediatricians, public health professionals, child advocates and key stakeholders on climate change and how it affects children, and to help mobilize their involvement in the international movement to respond to this public health issue.

"We also want to give children a lead role in the process of creating public policy to curtail global warming," Goldhagen said.

The teleconference is free to physicians, child advocates, environmentalists and the public. It is being held in the Alumni Auditorium, Shands Jacksonville, 655 W. Eighth St. Interested parties should RSVP to Lorrie DeFrank at (904) 244-7023.

For more information, please contact:
Shands Jacksonville Public Relations
(904) 244-3268

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