Report on Public Health and Air Quality Alerts in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Context: Air Quality Degradation and Global Development Challenges

Recent air quality alerts, largely attributed to environmental factors such as wildfires, present a significant challenge to public health and sustainable development. The degradation of air quality, measured by a rising Air Quality Index (AQI), directly impacts the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This issue underscores the interconnectedness of environmental health and human well-being, particularly concerning SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), as climate-related events like wildfires are a primary source of air pollution.

Analysis of Health Implications Amidst Poor Air Quality

Exposure to elevated levels of air pollution poses a direct threat to human health, undermining progress toward SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Certain demographic groups are disproportionately affected by poor air quality, highlighting inequalities in health outcomes that SDG 3 seeks to eliminate. These groups include:

• Individuals with pre-existing lung diseases such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who may experience immediate breathing difficulties and symptom aggravation.
• Persons with underlying heart conditions, who face an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes.
• Children and adolescents, whose lung development may be impaired by exposure.
• Pregnant women and the elderly, who are advised to exercise extreme caution.

In severe pollution scenarios, temporary relocation for high-risk individuals may be necessary to mitigate health risks and uphold the principles of SDG 11, which includes providing safe living environments.

Effects on the General Population

Even healthy individuals are not immune to the adverse effects of unhealthy air quality. Exposure can lead to the development of respiratory issues, demonstrating that air pollution is a universal health risk that challenges the foundational goals of SDG 3.

Protective Measures and Health System Response Aligned with SDG 3

In response to air quality advisories, MyMichigan Health has issued recommendations that align with the preventative principles of SDG 3 and the goal of creating resilient communities under SDG 11.

Individual and Community Actions for Health Protection

The following preventative measures are recommended to safeguard personal health:

1. Remain Indoors: Limit time spent outdoors and curtail strenuous activities whenever possible.
2. Use Protective Masks: If outdoor exposure is unavoidable, wear a high-quality protective mask, such as an N95, to reduce inhalation of pollutants.
3. Improve Indoor Air Quality: Utilize air conditioning and air purifiers to filter indoor air.
4. Recirculate Air: Activate the air recirculation setting in vehicles and home central air systems to prevent polluted outdoor air from entering.

Medical Guidance and Emergency Response

A robust and responsive healthcare system is critical for achieving SDG 3. Immediate medical attention should be sought for the following symptoms:

• Significant respiratory difficulties
• Chest pain or tightness
• Wheezing
• Deterioration of existing respiratory conditions

It is essential for individuals with chronic conditions like asthma or COPD to adhere to their medication schedules and ensure rescue inhalers are accessible. Consultation with healthcare providers is advised for any symptoms related to air quality exposure, reinforcing the importance of accessible healthcare services as outlined in SDG 3.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s primary focus is on the health consequences of poor air quality. It explicitly details the risks for individuals with pre-existing conditions like asthma and COPD, as well as for healthy people, children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The advice provided by MyMichigan Health is aimed at preventing illness and protecting human well-being, which is the core mission of SDG 3.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article discusses air pollution as a community-wide issue affecting Midland, Michigan. It references the “Air Quality Index (AQI),” a key metric for urban environmental quality. The goal of making cities safe, resilient, and sustainable includes managing air quality to protect inhabitants, directly aligning with the concerns raised in the article.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article identifies “wildfires” as a source of the air pollution. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires are widely linked to climate change. The article’s content, which focuses on coping with the effects of wildfire smoke, is an example of adapting to climate-related hazards, a key component of SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   This target is directly addressed. The article is entirely about the “illnesses” resulting from air pollution. It states that exposure can “trigger breathing difficulties,” “aggravate existing symptoms” of lung diseases, cause healthy people to “develop breathing issues,” and increase the risk of “heart attacks or strokes.” It also mentions that pollution can lead to “impaired lung development” in children. The medical advice provided aims to reduce these health impacts.

2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

   This target is relevant as the article centers on the problem of urban/regional air quality. It notes that “air pollution, especially from wildfires, becomes a common issue, air quality is significantly impacted.” The specific mention of the “Air Quality Index (AQI)” rising to “unhealthy levels” highlights the focus on monitoring and managing urban air quality, which is the essence of this target.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article provides a clear example of building adaptive capacity to a climate-related hazard (wildfire smoke). The recommendations from MyMichigan Health—such as to “stay indoors whenever possible,” “wear a protective mask such as a N95,” use “air conditioning and air purifiers,” and for high-risk individuals to “temporarily locate”—are all adaptive strategies to protect human health from the impacts of this hazard.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.

  This indicator is implied through the article’s discussion of severe health outcomes. The warning that people with heart conditions “may face increased risks of heart attacks or strokes” directly relates to mortality. Furthermore, the advice to “seek medical attention immediately” for “significant respiratory difficulties, chest pain or tightness” underscores the life-threatening potential of air pollution exposure, which this indicator measures.

• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).

  This indicator is directly implied by the reference to the “Air Quality Index (AQI).” The AQI is a public-facing tool that is calculated based on the concentration of specific air pollutants, including the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is a primary component of wildfire smoke. The article’s statement that “The pollution causes the Air Quality Index (AQI) to rise to unhealthy levels” shows that the concentration of these pollutants is the underlying metric being discussed.

• Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change…

  While the article operates at a local, not national, level, it demonstrates the operationalization of an adaptive strategy. The public health communication from “MyMichigan Health of Midland” sharing “some tips to help keep yourself and others safe and healthy during air quality alerts” is a functional plan to increase community resilience. The specific advice given represents the implementation of such a strategy.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wnem.com