Media
How is climate change affecting our health?
SCWIST BROWN BAG SERIES 2020
Keywords: Climate change, human health, environmental health.
Science Slam Vancouver: Pollen, Allergies & Climate Change
3 Minute Thesis Competition Finals 2017 - Cecilia Sierra-Heredia
Cecilia Sierra-Heredia is currently in the Health Sciences PhD program. Her presentation title is "Climate Change, Pollen, and the Development of Asthma".
Still sneezing? Climate change may prolong allergy season
The Conversation CanadaOnline
URL: https://theconversation.com/still-sneezing-climate-change-may-prolong-allergy-season-121681
How to protect your children from wildfire smoke
The Conversation CanadaOnline
URL: https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-your-children-from-wildfire-smoke-99434
Aeroallergens in Canada: Distribution, Public Health Impacts, and Opportunities for Prevention
by Cecilia Sierra-Heredia, Michelle North, Jeff Brook, Christina Daly , Anne K. Ellis, Dave Henderson, Sarah B. Henderson, Éric Lavigne and Tim K. Takaro
Published by International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
July 25, 2018
Aeroallergens occur naturally in the environment and are widely dispersed across Canada, yet their public health implications are not well-understood. This review intends to provide a scientific and public health-oriented perspective on aeroallergens in Canada: their distribution, health impacts, and new developments including the effects of climate change and the potential role of aeroallergens in the development of allergies and asthma. The review also describes anthropogenic effects on plant distribution and diversity, and how aeroallergens interact with other environmental elements, such as air pollution and weather events. Increased understanding of the relationships between aeroallergens and health will enhance our ability to provide accurate information, improve preventive measures and provide timely treatments for affected populations.
Biography
Cecilia Sierra Heredia is a Research Associate at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She completed a M.Sc in Health Sciences at SFU, a M.A. in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology at UBC, and a B.Psych at the National University in Mexico (UNAM). Her research investigates why children develop allergies and asthma, linking attitudes towards climate change and aero-allergens to respiratory illness in childhood. Her work highlights the need to adjust public health policies to face the imminent respiratory health challenges awaiting us in the face of climate change.