Dr. Aaron Bernstein blogs on climate change and children's health.
Remember last July? It was hot. During a three-day swelter early in the month, the mercury topped 100°F in Boston for only about the twelfth time in the past century. I wasn’t surprised when I found myself caring for many kids at Children’s who wound up with asthma attacks that left them gasping for air, while just trying to enjoy a summer day.
Heat catalyzes the production of ground-level ozone, a potent lung irritant. It also poses particular troubles for kids with other chronic illnesses, including diabetes and kidney disease, in addition to causing dehydration and heatstroke.
Read the full blog post at Vector, Children's Hospital Boston's science and clinical innovation blog. Visit Site
