Environmental Justice in Vulnerable Populations: Climate Change and Congenital Heart Disease in American...

The health impacts of environmental change are subtle and cumulative. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that exposure to the forces driving climate change, including heat and pollution, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, including a higher incidence of congenital and acquired heart disease. Due to compounding historical structural inequities subsequently codified by government policy, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations are disproportionately exposed to the downstream impacts of climate change and are among the most vulnerable to health-related consequences. In this article, we review the evidence that supports the effects of climate change and pollution on the development of congenital heart disease (CHD). We then review the disparate exposures in AI/AN communities and suggest that further research is required to understand the effects of prenatal exposure to environmental degradation and limit its health consequences among AI/AN people. We subsequently highlight potential mitigating actions for AI/AN communities.