Nov 1, 2012
From the Portsmouth Patch
By Heikki Perry
A National Public Radio story indicates that people respond more favorably to issues framed in a health context rather than an environmental one, connecting
our health to the environment. And there is much to be concerned about, according to three local experts.
The fall NPR story, titled “When Heat Kills: Global Warming As Public Health Threat,” cites emerging science that ”shows that people respond more favorably to warnings about climate change when it’s portrayed as a health issue rather than as an environmental problem.” Health officials carry special credibility, the story says, “far more so than politicians, journalists, environmental activists and other widely heard voices on this topic.”
What do two local health-care providers, and a small-business owner whose company helps protect the environment, say about how local environments affect Seacoast residents’ health?
Healing Hands Community Chiropractic
Dr. Jessica Caruso of Healing Hands Community Chiropractic, 40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, notes that a bad indoor environment significantly contributes to people’s health problems. Caruso conducts a workshop called “Hidden Health Hazards in the Home.”
“Today’s smaller, energy-efficient homes trap indoor air pollutants and hazardous chemicals resulting in the air inside your home being worse than outdoor pollution,” she says. “Studies by the federal Environmental Protection Agency have shown that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be two to five times and occasionally, more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels.”
To read the full article, click here!
For online newspaper article: http://portsmouth-nh.patch.com/blog_posts/environment-plays-huge-role-on-health