Pediatrician Addresses Climate Change Impact on Children’s Health in New Book

For years, pediatrician Debra Hendrickson hesitated to discuss climate change with her patients’ families. Treating children in Reno, Nevada, for conditions like asthma and depression, she rarely broached the topic of how rising global temperatures were impacting their health. That changed in 2018 when she found herself treating two young boys struggling to breathe due to exposure to wildfire smoke. When one father asked about the hazy sky, Hendrickson, who has a background in environmental science, decided to be candid: “It’s climate change,” she explained. To her surprise, her honesty was met with understanding.

Since that day, Hendrickson has made climate change a regular part of her conversations with patients and their families. In her new book, The Air They Breathe: A Pediatrician on the Frontlines of Climate Change, she shares her experiences and offers insights into how the changing environment is affecting children’s health, often with serious consequences. “I wrote this because I wanted parents to understand the urgency of the moment we’re in,” she says.

As children return to school, Hendrickson hopes parents and educators become more aware of the risks posed by climate change. High temperatures are linked to learning difficulties and behavioral problems, especially in schools not equipped with air conditioning. Additionally, wildfire smoke, a frequent hazard in the western United States, poses a significant threat to children’s lungs and overall health due to particulate pollution and toxic chemicals. Such exposure can lead to increased respiratory issues and long-term damage to developing organs.

Children are particularly vulnerable to these hazards because their bodies are still growing, and they rely on adults to protect them from environmental risks. Unlike adults, they may not recognize the signs of heat illness or understand when they are at risk. Hendrickson emphasizes that children’s immature judgment and physiological differences make them more susceptible to the harmful effects of climate change.

Beyond physical health, climate change is also affecting children emotionally. Hendrickson recounts the story of a young girl who, feeling overwhelmed by the dire predictions of climate scientists, questioned whether she wanted to have children of her own. Hendrickson believes it’s crucial for young people to channel their anxiety into positive actions, like participating in environmental projects, which can help them feel more empowered and less anxious.

Discussing climate change with families can be challenging, given the political nature of the topic. Hendrickson has learned to approach it gently, using current events as a starting point. She finds that focusing on immediate health benefits, such as clean air and water, helps make the conversation less contentious. “People may have different explanations for what’s going on, but they understand that this is happening,” she says.

When faced with resistance, Hendrickson adopts a non-confrontational approach, asking questions and offering support rather than lecturing. She believes this strategy helps build trust and opens the door to more productive conversations.

Reflecting on her journey, Hendrickson expresses anger and frustration at how climate change is compromising the future of her young patients. “It’s a crime against them that we are all sitting back and watching,” she says. Through her book and her work, she hopes to raise awareness and inspire action to protect the health and well-being of the next generation.

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