Environmental Health The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health ...linking...linking thethe sciencescience andand practicepractice ofof EnvironmentalEnvironmental HealthHealth Environmental Health The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health ABN 58 000 031 998 Advisory Board Ms Jan Bowman, Department of Human Services, Victoria Professor Valerie A. Brown AO, University of Western Sydney Dr Nancy Cromar, Flinders University Associate Professor Heather Gardner Mr Murray McCafferty, Acting Company Secretary, Australian Institute of Environmental Health Mr John Murrihy, Bayside City Council, Victoria and Director, Australian Institute of Environmental Health Mr Ron Pickett, Curtin University Dr Eve Richards, TAFE Tasmania Dr Thomas Tenkate, Queensland Health Editor Associate Professor Heather Gardner Editorial Committee Dr Ross Bailie, Menzies School of Health Research Mr Dean Bertolatti, Curtin University of Technology Mr Peter Davey, Griffith University Ms Louise Dunn, Swinburne University of Technology Professor Christine Ewan, University of Wollongong Associate Professor Howard Fallowfield, Flinders University Ms Jane Heyworth, University of Western Australia Mr Stuart Heggie, Tropical Public Health Unit, Cairns Dr Deborah Hennessy, Developing Health Care, Kent, UK Professor Steve Hrudey, University of Alberta, Canada Professor Michael Jackson, University of Strathclyde, Scotland Mr Ross Jackson, Maddock Lonie & Chisholm, Melbourne Mr Steve Jeffes, TAFE Tasmania Mr Eric Johnson, Department of Health & Human Services, Hobart Mr George Kupfer, Underwriters Laboratories Inc, Illinois, USA Professor Vivian Lin, La Trobe University Mr Ian MacArthur, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, London Dr Bruce Macler, U.S. Environment Protection Agency Dr Anne Neller, University of the Sunshine Coast Professor Peter Newman, Murdoch University Dr Eric Noji, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, USA Dr Dino Pisaniello, Adelaide University Dr Scott Ritchie, Tropical Public Health Unit, Cairns Professor Rod Simpson, University of the Sunshine Coast Mr Jim Smith, President, AIEH Victoria Division Mr Peter Stephenson, University of Western Sydney Ms Melissa Stoneham, Queensland University of Technology Ms Isobel Stout, Christchurch City Council Ms Sharon Tuffin, Department of Health & Aged Care, Canberra Ms Glenda Verrinder, La Trobe University Bendigo Ms Jennie Westaway, Curtin University of Technology Environmental Health © 2001 ISSN 1444-5212 Environmental Health Vol. 1 No. 4 2001 3 Environmental Health The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health …linking the science and practice of environmental health The Australian Institute of Environmental Health gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance and support provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care in relation to the publication of Environmental Health. However, the opinions expressed in this Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth. Copyright is reserved and requests for permission to reproduce all or any part of the material appearing in Environmental Health must be made in writing to the Editor. All opinions expressed in the journal are those of the authors. The Editor, Advisory Board, Editorial Committee and the publishers do not hold themselves responsible for statements by contributors. Published by Environmental Health, The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health. Correspondence to: Associate Professor Heather Gardner, Editor, P O Box 68 Kangaroo Ground, Victoria, 3097, Australia. Cover Design by: Motiv Design, Stepney, South Australia Typeset by: Mac-Nificent, Northcote, Victoria Printed by: MatGraphics & Marketing, Notting Hill, Victoria The Journal is printed on recycled paper. Environmental Health © 2001 ISSN 1444-5212 4 Environmental Health Vol. 1 No. 4 2001 Environmental Health The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health Special Issue Climate Change and Health Environmental Health Vol. 1 No. 4 2001 5 6 Environmental Health Vol. 1 No. 4 2001 CONTENTS EDITORIALS New Minister for Health and Ageing Heather Gardner....................................................................................................................................................................................12 Global Climate Change and Health: Research Challenges, Ecological Concepts and Sustainability A. J. McMichael........................................................................................................................................................................................13 Global Climate Change and Health: The Challenges Facing Policy Makers Gwen Andrews.........................................................................................................................................................................................16 ARTICLES Thinking Globally and Acting Locally: Climate Change and Environmental Health Practice - A Discussion Paper Valerie A. Brown AO..............................................................................................................................................................................17 West Nile Virus Hudson H. Birden Jr..............................................................................................................................................................................28 Environmental Change, Global Warming and Infectious Diseases in Northern Australia Bart J. Currie..............................................................................................................................................................................................34 Effects of Climate Variation on the Transmission of Ross River Virus in Queensland, Australia Shilu Tong and Wenbiao Hu ............................................................................................................................................................44 Climate Variability and the Dengue Outbreak in Townsville, Queensland, 1992-93 Peng Bi, Shilu Tong, Ken Donald, Kevin A. Parton and Jack Hobbs............................................................................53 Laboratory Evaluation of an Aerosol Insecticide Surface Spray Against the Mosquito Aedes aegypti Coral E. Gartner, Scott A. Ritchie and Michael F. Capra ..................................................................................................60 Vaccine Storage and Handling: Maintaining the Cold Chain under Global Warming Paul J. Beggs ..............................................................................................................................................................................................66 The Predicted Impact of Climate Change on Toxic Algal (Cyanobacterial) Blooms and Toxin Production in Queensland Glen Shaw, Corinne Garnett, Michael R. Moore and Paul Florian.............................................................................75 Despite Awareness Programs Residents of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, Are Not Prepared for Natural Disasters Pam Dyer, Ron Neller and Anne Neller ..................................................................................................................................88 Indoor Air Influences on Total Personal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide: A Pilot Study T. Beer, M. D. Keywood, G. P.Ayers, R.W. Gillett, J. Powell and P. C. Manins......................................................105 REPORTS AND REVIEWS Human Frontiers, Environments and Disease: Past Patterns, Uncertain Futures Valerie A. Brown ..................................................................................................................................................................................111 Air Pollution and Health Risk J.W. Edwards.........................................................................................................................................................................................113 Environmental Health Vol. 1 No. 4 2001 7 Environmental Health The Journal of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health Call for Papers The Journal is seeking papers for GUEST EDITORIALS publication. Guest Editorials address topics of current interest. Environmental Health is a quarterly, international, These may include Reports on current research, peer-reviewed journal designed to publish articles policy or practice issues, or on Symposia or on a range of issues influencing environmental Conferences. Editorials should be approximately health. The Journal aims to provide a link 700 words in length. between the science and practice of environmental health, with a particular emphasis RESEARCH AND THEORY on Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. Articles under Research and Theory should be The Journal publishes articles on research and 3000-5000 words in length and can include either theory, policy reports and analyses, case studies of professional practice initiatives, changes in quantitative or qualitative research and legislation and regulations and their implications, theoretical articles. Up to six key words should be global influences in environmental health, and included. Name/s and affiliation/s of author/s to book reviews. Special Issues of Conference be included at start of paper and contact details Proceedings or on themes of particular interest, including email address at the end. and review articles will also be published. The Journal recognises