Bedford, NH, World Health Day, April 7, 2008 - Mark R. Windt, MD, an allergy and respiratory physician from NH’s Seacoast, was one of two American physicians to participate in the first ever international workshop and discussion regarding the public health impact of global warming in Leuven, Belgium in Mid-March.

The workshop, The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Respiratory Disease, brought together representatives from the American Thoracic Society (ATS), its European counterpart, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Health and Environment Network (HENVINET) to broaden the discussion of environmental changes from relating only to environmental impact to the inevitable public health consequences that will also follow.

“This gathering was groundbreaking in terms of looking closely at the health effects, as opposed to just the ecological effects of global climate change,” said Windt.  “We know the changes we have already seen have led to increased incidence of asthma, allergies, rhinitis, and many other conditions.” Windt serves on the Environmental Health Policy Committee of the ATS.  This committee advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He was one of four representatives of the ATS present at the discussions. 

In his closing remarks at the two-day meeting, Dr. Roberto Bertolini, a Vice President of the Public Health Division of the World Health Organization (WHO), made an impassioned plea for physicians around the world to spearhead efforts to contain and begin to reverse the climate changes that have been driven by human activity.  “It is time for doctors to deal with this (global climate change) on a medical basis,” said Windt. “We need to take this from research models to the patient’s bedside to actively make a difference.”

Windt is also a longtime member of the Board of Directors of Breathe New Hampshire.  Breathe New Hampshire has been serving the state in matters of lung health since 1916. It is the state’s leading organization in all matters related to respiratory health.

“I’m pleased that Breathe New Hampshire is including environmental issues in its focus and is collaborating with other organizations in this field. We all need to do all that we can to keep the air we breathe as healthy as possible, both inside and outside, to make a difference for our children and future generations,” said Windt.