A feature in the School of Medicine’s online magazine highlighted the innovative work of Duke faculty in addressing the critical links between climate change and human health, as they lead efforts to understand and mitigate these impacts. Highlighted projects included:
- Radon and Lung Cancer Risk: Tomi Akinyemiju’s team is investigating the association between climate-related environmental patterns and radon exposure, a rising factor in non-smoking-related lung cancer.
- Agricultural Resilience in Madagascar: JJ Strouse and James Herrera work with communities in Madagascar to understand and reduce the impact of higher temperatures on rice production and other staple crops, which are critical to local food security.
- Mental Health and Extreme Weather: Rajendra Morey examines how climate change-driven extreme weather events affect mental health, aiming to identify strategies for mental health resilience amid environmental crises.
- Fungal Pathogens and Heat Stress: Asiya Gusa explores the effects of heat on fungal pathogens, which could increase their virulence and pose growing risks to human health in warming climates.
- Health Risks from Amazon Flooding: Catherine Staton’s team is addressing the health impacts of flooding along the Amazon River in Brazil, including efforts to improve health care access and reduce hazards such as venomous snakebites.