1
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Weitz CA. Coping with extreme heat: current exposure and implications for the future. Evol Med Public Health 2024; 12:eoae015. [PMID: 39359409 PMCID: PMC11445678 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
A preview of how effective behavioral, biological and technological responses might be in the future, when outdoor conditions will be at least 2°C hotter than current levels, is available today from studies of individuals already living in extreme heat. In areas where high temperatures are common-particularly those in the hot and humid tropics-several studies report that indoor temperatures in low-income housing can be significantly hotter than those outdoors. A case study indicates that daily indoor heat indexes in almost all the 123 slum dwellings monitored in Kolkata during the summer were above 41°C (106°F) for at least an hour. Economic constraints make it unlikely that technological fixes, such as air conditioners, will remedy conditions like these-now or in the future. People without access to air conditioning will have to rely on behavioral adjustments and/or biological/physiological acclimatization. One important unknown is whether individuals who have lived their entire lives in hot environments without air conditioning possess natural levels of acclimatization greater than those indicated by controlled laboratory studies. Answering questions about the future will require more studies of heat conditions experienced by individuals, more information on indoor versus outdoor heat conditions, and a greater understanding of the behavioral and biological adjustments made by people living today in extremely hot conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Weitz
- Department of Anthropology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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2
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Ellis KN, First JM, Kintziger KW, Hunter E. Overnight heat in sleep spaces of housed and unhoused residents: results and recommendations from a Knoxville, Tennessee, case study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:637-646. [PMID: 38189990 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02611-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Nighttime heat is an important factor in heat-health outcomes, though nighttime heat exposure and its impacts are poorly understood. We assessed overnight heat in indoor (n = 12) and outdoor (n = 3) living spaces in Knoxville, Tennessee, using iButton Hygrochrons in August 2021. Indoor sleep spaces, all of which were air conditioned, reported a variety of overnight conditions. Indoor sleep spaces were both warmer and cooler than outdoor temperatures overnight, and some participants noted having physical health effects of overnight heat in their homes. Downtown outdoor sleep spaces, including a park and encampment, exhibited an urban heat island signal, staying warmer than other outdoor areas. Future research should focus on the intensity and length of the overnight recovery period for individuals and how that affects heat-health outcomes, especially after being exposed to daytime heat. Specifically, do homes reach a cool enough temperature for recovery, and do outdoor sleeping spaces offer a long enough and cool enough period for recovery? We provide some recommendations for such future studies, including (1) focus on purposeful sampling, (2) use deliberate sensor placement for representative results, (3) prepare for participant drop-off due to non-compliance and technological problems, and (4) strategically gather demographic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey N Ellis
- Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Jennifer M First
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - Ella Hunter
- Department of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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3
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Novak R, Robinson JA, Frantzidis C, Sejdullahu I, Persico MG, Kontić D, Sarigiannis D, Kocman D. Integrated assessment of personal monitor applications for evaluating exposure to urban stressors: A scoping review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 226:115685. [PMID: 36921791 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Urban stressors pose a health risk, and individual-level assessments provide necessary and fine-grained insight into exposure. An ever-increasing amount of research literature on individual-level exposure to urban stressors using data collected with personal monitors, has called for an integrated assessment approach to identify trends, gaps and needs, and provide recommendations for future research. To this end, a scoping review of the respective literature was performed, as part of the H2020 URBANOME project. Moreover, three specific aims were identified: (i) determine current state of research, (ii) analyse literature according with a waterfall methodological framework and identify gaps and needs, and (iii) provide recommendations for more integrated, inclusive and robust approaches. Knowledge and gaps were extracted based on a systematic approach, e.g., data extraction questionnaires, as well as through the expertise of the researchers performing the review. The findings were assessed through a waterfall methodology of delineating projects into four phases. Studies described in the papers vary in their scope, with most assessing exposure in a single macro domain, though a trend of moving towards multi-domain assessment is evident. Simultaneous measurements of multiple stressors are not common, and papers predominantly assess exposure to air pollution. As urban environments become more diverse, stakeholders from different groups are included in the study designs. Most frequently (per the quadruple helix model), civil society/NGO groups are involved, followed by government and policymakers, while business or private sector stakeholders are less frequently represented. Participants in general function as data collectors and are rarely involved in other phases of the research. While more active involvement is not necessary, more collaborative approaches show higher engagement and motivation of participants to alter their lifestyles based on the research results. The identified trends, gaps and needs can aid future exposure research and provide recommendations on addressing different urban communities and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rok Novak
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Johanna Amalia Robinson
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Center for Research and Development, Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, Ulica Ambrožiča Novljana 5, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christos Frantzidis
- Biomedical Engineering & Aerospace Neuroscience (BEAN), Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Greek Aerospace Medical Association and Space Research (GASMA-SR), Greece
| | - Iliriana Sejdullahu
- Ambiente Italia Società a Responsabilità Limitata, Department of Adaptation and Resilience, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Giovanni Persico
- Urban Resilience Department, City of Milan, Italy; Postgraduate School of Health Statistics and Biometrics, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Davor Kontić
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Centre for Participatory Research, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dimosthenis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Centre on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Science, Technology and Society, University School of Advanced Study IUSS, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - David Kocman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Kim EK, Conrow L, Röcke C, Chaix B, Weibel R, Perchoux C. Advances and challenges in sensor-based research in mobility, health, and place. Health Place 2023; 79:102972. [PMID: 36740543 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.102972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Kyeong Kim
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Lindsey Conrow
- Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Christina Röcke
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Gerontology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Basile Chaix
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Nemesis research team, Paris, France
| | - Robert Weibel
- Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Camille Perchoux
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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5
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Guzman-Echavarria G, Middel A, Vanos J. Beyond heat exposure - new methods to quantify and link personal heat exposure, stress, and strain in diverse populations and climates: The journal Temperature toolbox. Temperature (Austin) 2022; 10:358-378. [PMID: 37554380 PMCID: PMC10405775 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2022.2149024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-scale personal heat exposure (PHE) information can help prevent or minimize weather-related deaths, illnesses, and reduced work productivity. Common methods to estimate heat risk do not simultaneously account for the intensity, frequency, and duration of thermal exposures, nor do they include inter-individual factors that modify physiological response. This study demonstrates new whole-body net thermal load estimations to link PHE to heat stress and strain over time. We apply a human-environment heat exchange model to examine how time-varying net thermal loads differ across climate contexts, personal attributes, and spatiotemporal scales. First, we investigate summertime climatic PHE impacts for three US cities: Phoenix, Miami, and New York. Second, we model body morphology and acclimatization for three profiles (middle-aged male/female; female >65 years). Finally, we quantify model sensitivity using representative data at synoptic and micro-scales. For all cases, we compare required and potential evaporative heat losses that can lead to dangerous thermal exposures based on (un)compensable heat stress. Results reveal misclassifications in heat stress or strain due to incomplete environmental data and assumed equivalent physiology and activities between people. Heat strain is most poorly represented by PHE alone for the elderly, non-acclimatized, those engaged in strenuous activities, and when negating solar radiation. Moreover, humid versus dry heat across climates elicits distinct thermal responses from the body. We outline criteria for inclusive PHE evaluations connecting heat exposure, stress, and strain while using physiological-based methods to avoid misclassifications. This work underlines the value of moving from "one-size-fits-all" thermal indices to "fit-for-purpose" approaches using personalized information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisel Guzman-Echavarria
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Ariane Middel
- School of Arts, Media and Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University,Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jennifer Vanos
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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6
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Milando CW, Black-Ingersoll F, Heidari L, López-Hernández I, de Lange J, Negassa A, McIntyre AM, Martinez MPB, Bongiovanni R, Levy JI, Kinney PL, Scammell MK, Fabian MP. Mixed methods assessment of personal heat exposure, sleep, physical activity, and heat adaptation strategies among urban residents in the Boston area, MA. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2314. [PMID: 36496371 PMCID: PMC9739346 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14692-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events necessitates interventions to reduce heat exposures. Local opportunities for heat adaptation may be optimally identified through collection of both quantitative exposure metrics and qualitative data on perceptions of heat. In this study, we used mixed methods to characterize heat exposure among urban residents in the area of Boston, Massachusetts, US, in summer 2020. Repeated interviews of N = 24 study participants ascertained heat vulnerability and adaptation strategies. Participants also used low-cost sensors to collect temperature, location, sleep, and physical activity data. We saw significant differences across temperature metrics: median personal temperature exposures were 3.9 °C higher than median ambient weather station temperatures. Existing air conditioning (AC) units did not adequately control indoor temperatures to desired thermostat levels: even with AC use, indoor maximum temperatures increased by 0.24 °C per °C of maximum outdoor temperature. Sleep duration was not associated with indoor or outdoor temperature. On warmer days, we observed a range of changes in time-at-home, expected given our small study size. Interview results further indicated opportunities for heat adaptation interventions including AC upgrades, hydration education campaigns, and amelioration of energy costs during high heat periods. Our mixed methods design informs heat adaptation interventions tailored to the challenges faced by residents in the study area. The strength of our community-academic partnership was a large part of the success of the mixed methods approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad W Milando
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Flannery Black-Ingersoll
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Leila Heidari
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Julie de Lange
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Abgel Negassa
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Alina M McIntyre
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - M Pilar Botana Martinez
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Jonathan I Levy
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Madeleine K Scammell
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - M Patricia Fabian
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Institute for Global Sustainability, Boston University, Boston, 02118, USA
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7
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Koch M, Matzke I, Huhn S, Gunga HC, Maggioni MA, Munga S, Obor D, Sié A, Boudo V, Bunker A, Dambach P, Bärnighausen T, Barteit S. Wearables for Measuring Health Effects of Climate Change–Induced Weather Extremes: Scoping Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e39532. [PMID: 36083624 PMCID: PMC9508665 DOI: 10.2196/39532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Although climate change is one of the biggest global health threats, individual-level and short-term data on direct exposure and health impacts are still scarce. Wearable electronic devices (wearables) present a potential solution to this research gap. Wearables have become widely accepted in various areas of health research for ecological momentary assessment, and some studies have used wearables in the field of climate change and health. However, these studies vary in study design, demographics, and outcome variables, and existing research has not been mapped.
Objective
In this review, we aimed to map existing research on wearables used to detect direct health impacts and individual exposure during climate change–induced weather extremes, such as heat waves or wildfires.
Methods
We conducted a scoping review according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) framework and systematically searched 6 databases (PubMed [MEDLINE], IEEE Xplore, CINAHL [EBSCOhost], WoS, Scopus, Ovid [MEDLINE], and Google Scholar). The search yielded 1871 results. Abstracts and full texts were screened by 2 reviewers (MK and IM) independently using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria comprised studies published since 2010 that used off-the-shelf wearables that were neither invasive nor obtrusive to the user in the setting of climate change–related weather extremes. Data were charted using a structured form, and the study outcomes were narratively synthesized.
Results
The review included 55,284 study participants using wearables in 53 studies. Most studies were conducted in upper–middle-income and high-income countries (50/53, 94%) in urban environments (25/53, 47%) or in a climatic chamber (19/53, 36%) and assessed the health effects of heat exposure (52/53, 98%). The majority reported adverse health effects of heat exposure on sleep, physical activity, and heart rate. The remaining studies assessed occupational heat stress or compared individual- and area-level heat exposure. In total, 26% (14/53) of studies determined that all examined wearables were valid and reliable for measuring health parameters during heat exposure when compared with standard methods.
Conclusions
Wearables have been used successfully in large-scale research to measure the health implications of climate change–related weather extremes. More research is needed in low-income countries and vulnerable populations with pre-existing conditions. In addition, further research could focus on the health impacts of other climate change–related conditions and the effectiveness of adaptation measures at the individual level to such weather extremes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Koch
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ina Matzke
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Huhn
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanns-Christian Gunga
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environment Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Anna Maggioni
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environment Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - David Obor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ali Sié
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre de Recherche en Santé, Nouna, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Aditi Bunker
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peter Dambach
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sandra Barteit
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Wang Y, Huang Y, Shen F, Zhang T, Hu J, Chen H, Huang L. Exploring a more reasonable temperature exposure calculation method based on individual exposure survey and city-scale heat exposure impact assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113317. [PMID: 35513062 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The inability to quantify the difference between ambient temperature (AT) and personal exposure temperature (PET) is a common limitation in environmental health research. The actual exposure variability is underestimated when we used measurements from fixed monitoring stations to estimate PET. The study aims to explore a more reasonable temperature exposure calculation method to relate PET to AT and links heat exposure to adverse health events. We measured hourly PET of 129 participants from July 8th to July 13th, 2021 in Xinyi City, China. The linear mixed-effects model was used to build the relationship between hourly PET and AT in rural and town. Several calculation methods that can capture the intensity, frequency and duration of daily exposure were used to calculate the daily PET and AT and establish the relationship between the two factors. A generalized linear model was used to establish the relationship between city-scale AT indicators and health endpoints from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2015 in Shanghai, China. The result showed that the hourly PET was significantly related to AT, wind speed, air pressure, precipitation, outside time, and air-conditioning use. Among several daily temperature indicators, we found that ATDHAT (Degree Hours Above Threshold (27.4 °C)) was tight with the PETDHAT in different regions (R2 > 0.99). DHAT strengthened the relationship between daily AT and health endpoint in the urban-scale heat-related health impact study, especially in respiratory diseases. The method proposed in this study can improve the accuracy of future epidemiological studies on the effects of heat exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yujia Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fuzhen Shen
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6BX, UK
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jianlin Hu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Jiangsu Meteorological Observatory, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Lei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Ai S, Zhou H, Wang C, Qian ZM, McMillin SE, Huang C, Zhang T, Xu L, Li Z, Lin H. Effect and attributable burden of hot extremes on bacillary dysentery in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:155028. [PMID: 35390371 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High atmospheric temperature has been associated with the occurrence of bacillary dysentery (BD). Recent studies have suggested that hot extremes may influence health outcomes, however, none have examined the association between hot extremes and BD risk, especially at the national level. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect and attributable burden of hot extremes on BD cases and to identify populations at high risk of BD. METHODS Daily incident BD data of 31 provincial capital cities from 2010 to 2018 were collected from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, weather data was obtained from the fifth generation of the European Re-Analysis Dataset. Three types of hot extremes, including hot day, hot night, and hot day and night, were defined according to single or sequential occurrence of daytime hot and nighttime hot within 24 h. A two-stage analytical strategy combined with distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) was used to evaluate city-specific associations and national pooled estimates. RESULTS Hot extremes were significantly associated with the risk of BD on lagged 1-6 days. The overall cumulative relative risk (RR) was 1.136 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.022, 1.263] for hot day, 1.181 (95% CI: 1.019, 1.369) for hot night, and 1.154 (95% CI: 1.038, 1.283) for hot day and night. Northern residents, females, and children younger than or equal to 14 years old were vulnerable under hot night, southern residents were vulnerable under hot day, and males were vulnerable under hot day and night. 1.854% (95% CI: 1.294%, 2.205%) of BD cases can be attributable to hot extremes, among which, hot night accounted for a large proportion. CONCLUSIONS Hot extremes may significantly increase the incidence risk and disease burden of BD. Type-specific protective measures should be taken to reduce the risk of BD, especially in those we found to be particularly vulnerable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Ai
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Haijian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102200, China
| | - Changke Wang
- National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100089, China
| | - Zhengmin Min Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63104, United States of America
| | - Stephen Edward McMillin
- School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63103, United States of America
| | - Cunrui Huang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tuantuan Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519082, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519082, China
| | - Lianlian Xu
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519082, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519082, China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102200, China.
| | - Hualiang Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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10
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Hass AL, McCanless K, Cooper W, Ellis K, Fuhrmann C, Kintziger KW, Sugg M, Runkle J. Heat exposure misclassification: Do current methods of classifying diurnal range in individually experienced temperatures and heat indices accurately reflect personal exposure? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:1339-1348. [PMID: 35378617 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wearable sensors have been used to collect information on individual exposure to excessive heat and humidity. To date, no consistent diurnal classification method has been established, potentially resulting in missed opportunities to understand personal diurnal patterns in heat exposure. Using individually experienced temperatures (IET) and heat indices (IEHI) collected in the southeastern United States, this work aims to determine whether current methods of classifying IETs and IEHIs accurately characterize "day," which is typically the warmest conditions, and "night," which is typically the coolest conditions. IET and IEHI data from four locations were compared with the closest hourly weather station. Different day/night classifications were compared to determine efficacy. Results indicate that diurnal IET and IEHI ranges are higher than fixed-site ranges. Maximum IETs and IEHIs are warmer and occur later in the day than ambient conditions. Minimum IETs are lower and occur earlier in the day than at weather stations, which conflicts with previous assumptions that minimum temperatures occur at night. When compared to commonly used classification methods, a method of classifying day and night based on sunrise and sunset times best captured the occurrence of maximum IETs and IEHIs. Maximum IETs and IEHIs are often identified later in the evening, while minimum IETs and IEHIs occur throughout the day. These findings support future research focusing on nighttime heat exposure, which can exacerbate heat-related health issues, and diurnal patterns of personal exposure throughout the entire day as individual patterns do not necessarily follow the diurnal pattern seen in ambient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa L Hass
- Department of Geosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 9, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
| | - Kathryn McCanless
- Department of Geosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 9, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
| | - Winton Cooper
- Department of Geosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 9, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA
| | - Kelsey Ellis
- Department of Geography, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - Kristina W Kintziger
- Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Margaret Sugg
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer Runkle
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Asheville, NC, USA
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11
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Weitz CA, Mukhopadhyay B, Das K. Individually experienced heat stress among elderly residents of an urban slum and rural village in India. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:1145-1162. [PMID: 35359160 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02264-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups to heat-related illnesses and mortality. In tropical countries like India, where heat waves have increased in frequency and severity, few studies have focused on the level of stress experienced by the elderly. The study presented here included 130 elderly residents of Kolkata slums and 180 elderly residents of rural villages about 75 km south of Kolkata. It used miniature monitoring devices to continuously measure temperature, humidity, and heat index experienced during everyday activities over 24-h study periods, during hot summer months. In the Kolkata slum, construction materials and the urban heat island effect combined to create hotter indoor than outdoor conditions throughout the day, and particularly at night. As a result, elderly slum residents were 4.3 times more likely to experience dangerous heat index levels (≥ 45°C) compared to rural village elderly. In both locations, the median 24-h heat indexes of active elderly were up to 2°C higher than inactive/sedentary elderly (F = 25.479, p < 0.001). Among Kolkata slums residents, there were no significant gender differences in heat exposure during the day or night, but in the rural village, elderly women were 4 times more likely to experience dangerous heat index levels during the hottest times of the day compared to elderly men. Given the decline in thermoregulatory capacity associated with aging and the increasing severity of extreme summer heat in India, these results forecast a growing public health challenge that will require both scientific and government attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Weitz
- Department of Anthropology, Temple University, 214 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Barun Mukhopadhyay
- Formerly, Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, 700 108, India
- Indian Anthropological Society, Kolkata, 700 019, India
| | - Ketaki Das
- West Bengal Voluntary Health Association, Kolkata, 700107, India
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12
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Razzak JA, Agrawal P, Chand Z, Quraishy S, Ghaffar A, Hyder AA. Impact of community education on heat-related health outcomes and heat literacy among low-income communities in Karachi, Pakistan: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-006845. [PMID: 35101860 PMCID: PMC8804631 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme heat exposure is a growing public health concern. In this trial, we tested the impact of a community health worker (CHW) led heat education programme on all-cause mortality, unplanned hospital visits and changes in knowledge and practices in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS The Heat Emergency Awareness and Treatment trial was a community-based, open-label, two-group, unblinded cluster-randomised controlled trial that implemented a CHW-led educational intervention between March and May 2018 in Karachi, Pakistan. We randomly assigned (1:1) 16 clusters, each with ~185 households or 1000 population, to the intervention or usual care (control group). We collected data on all-cause mortality, unplanned hospital visits, evidence of heat illness through surveillance and a knowledge and practice survey during the summer months of 2017 (preintervention) and 2018 (postintervention). FINDINGS We recruited 18 554 participants from 2991 households (9877 individuals (1593 households) in the control group and 8668 individuals (1398 households) in the intervention group). After controlling for temporal trends, there was a 38% (adjusted OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.77) reduction in hospital visits for any cause in the intervention group compared with the control group. In addition, there was an improvement in many areas of knowledge and practices, but there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality. INTERPRETATION A CHW-led community intervention was associated with decreased unscheduled hospital visits, improved heat literacy and practices but did not impact all-cause mortality. CHWs could play an essential role in preparing communities for extreme heat events. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03513315.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Abdul Razzak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Priyanka Agrawal
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zaheer Chand
- MLE Department, Aman Foundation, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Saadia Quraishy
- MLE Department, Aman Foundation/West London Heath Trust, London, UK
| | - Abdul Ghaffar
- Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- MLE Department, George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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13
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Schwarz L, Castillo EM, Chan TC, Brennan JJ, Sbiroli ES, Carrasco-Escobar G, Nguyen A, Clemesha RES, Gershunov A, Benmarhnia T. Heat Waves and Emergency Department Visits Among the Homeless, San Diego, 2012-2019. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:98-106. [PMID: 34936416 PMCID: PMC8713618 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To determine the effect of heat waves on emergency department (ED) visits for individuals experiencing homelessness and explore vulnerability factors. Methods. We used a unique highly detailed data set on sociodemographics of ED visits in San Diego, California, 2012 to 2019. We applied a time-stratified case-crossover design to study the association between various heat wave definitions and ED visits. We compared associations with a similar population not experiencing homelessness using coarsened exact matching. Results. Of the 24 688 individuals identified as experiencing homelessness who visited an ED, most were younger than 65 years (94%) and of non-Hispanic ethnicity (84%), and 14% indicated the need for a psychiatric consultation. Results indicated a positive association, with the strongest risk of ED visits during daytime (e.g., 99th percentile, 2 days) heat waves (odds ratio = 1.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.02, 1.64). Patients experiencing homelessness who were younger or elderly and who required a psychiatric consultation were particularly vulnerable to heat waves. Odds of ED visits were higher for individuals experiencing homelessness after matching to nonhomeless individuals based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Conclusions. It is important to prioritize individuals experiencing homelessness in heat action plans and consider vulnerability factors to reduce their burden. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(1):98-106. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306557).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Schwarz
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Edward M Castillo
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Theodore C Chan
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Jesse J Brennan
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Emily S Sbiroli
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Andrew Nguyen
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Rachel E S Clemesha
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Alexander Gershunov
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Lara Schwarz and Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar are with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla. Edward M. Castillo, Theodore C. Chan, Jesse J. Brennan, and Emily S. Sbiroli are with the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Andrew Nguyen, Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Alexander Gershunov, and Tarik Benmarhnia are with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
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14
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Heat Perception and Coping Strategies: A Structured Interview-Based Study of Elderly People in Cologne, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18147495. [PMID: 34299944 PMCID: PMC8304511 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The transdisciplinary project “Heat-Health Action Plan for Elderly People in Cologne” addresses the most heat-vulnerable risk group, people over 65 years of age. A quantitative study aimed to better understand heat perception and coping strategies of elderly people during heat waves to inform heat-health action plans. We conducted a representative quantitative survey via structured interviews with 258 randomly chosen people over 65 years old, living in their own homes in four areas of Cologne, Germany. These areas varied, both in terms of social status and heat strain. Data regarding demographics, health status, coping strategies, and heat perception were collected in personal interviews from August to October 2019. The majority of the participants perceived heat strain as moderate to very challenging. Women, people with a lower monthly income, and those with a lower health status found the heat more challenging. We found that participants adapted to heat with a number of body-related, home-protective, and activity-related coping strategies. The number of coping strategies was associated with perceived personal heat strain. There is a definite underuse of water-related heat adaption strategies among the elderly. This is of increasing relevance, as rising heat impact will lead to more heat-related geriatric morbidity. Our results are seminal to inform elderly-specific, socio-adapted local heat-health action plans.
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15
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Hass AL, Runkle JD, Sugg MM. The driving influences of human perception to extreme heat: A scoping review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111173. [PMID: 33865817 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Prior research demonstrates a link between heat risk perception and population response to a heat warning. Communicating a precise and understandable definition of "heat" or "heatwaves" can affect how a population perceives and responds to extreme heat. Still, little is known about how heat perception affects behavior changes to heat and heat communication across diverse populations. This scoping review aims to identify and describe the main themes and findings of recent heat perception research globally and map critical research gaps and priorities for future studies. Results revealed risk perception influences a person's exposure to and behavioral response to excessive heat. Risk perception varied geographically along the rural-urban continuum and was typically higher among vulnerable subgroups, including populations who were low-income, minority, and in poor health. A more integrated approach to refining risk communication strategies that result in a behavioral change and incorporates the individual, social, and cultural components of impactful group-based or community-wide interventions is needed. Research employing longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs and advanced statistical techniques are required to tease apart the independent and interacting factors that causally influence risk communication, heat perception, and adaptive behaviors. We advance a framework to conceptualize the structural, environmental, personal, and social drivers of population heat risk perception and how they interact to influence heat perception and adaptive behaviors. Our findings map future research priorities needed for heat perception and a framework to drive future research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa L Hass
- Department of Geosciences, Middle Tennessee State University, MTSU Box 9, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
| | - Jennifer D Runkle
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801, USA.
| | - Margaret M Sugg
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, PO Box 32066, Boone, NC, 28608, USA.
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16
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Anderson V, Leung ACW, Mehdipoor H, Jänicke B, Milošević D, Oliveira A, Manavvi S, Kabano P, Dzyuban Y, Aguilar R, Agan PN, Kunda JJ, Garcia-Chapeton G, de França Carvalho Fonsêca V, Nascimento ST, Zurita-Milla R. Technological opportunities for sensing of the health effects of weather and climate change: a state-of-the-art-review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:779-803. [PMID: 33427946 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-02063-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sensing and measuring meteorological and physiological parameters of humans, animals, and plants are necessary to understand the complex interactions that occur between atmospheric processes and the health of the living organisms. Advanced sensing technologies have provided both meteorological and biological data across increasingly vast spatial, spectral, temporal, and thematic scales. Information and communication technologies have reduced barriers to data dissemination, enabling the circulation of information across different jurisdictions and disciplines. Due to the advancement and rapid dissemination of these technologies, a review of the opportunities for sensing the health effects of weather and climate change is necessary. This paper provides such an overview by focusing on existing and emerging technologies and their opportunities and challenges for studying the health effects of weather and climate change on humans, animals, and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Anderson
- Climate Lab, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Andrew C W Leung
- Climate Lab, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Data & Services Section, Atmospheric Monitoring and Data Services, Meteorological Services of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Hamed Mehdipoor
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Dragan Milošević
- Climatology and Hydrology Research Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
| | - Ana Oliveira
- IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - S Manavvi
- Department of Architecture and Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Peter Kabano
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
- Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education & Development, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
| | - Yuliya Dzyuban
- Office of Core Curriculum, Singapore Management University, Administration Building, 81 Victoria Street, Singapore, 188065, Singapore
| | - Rosa Aguilar
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Nkashi Agan
- Department of General Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Federal University Wukari, P.M.B 1020, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
| | - Jonah Joshua Kunda
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Gustavo Garcia-Chapeton
- División de Ciencia y Tecnología, Centro Universitario de Occidente - CUNOC, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala - USAC, Calle Rodolfo Robles 29-99 zona 1, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
| | - Vinicius de França Carvalho Fonsêca
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, 2193, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Innovation Group of Biometeorology, Behavior and Animal Welfare (INOBIO-MANERA), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, 58397 000, Brazil
| | - Sheila Tavares Nascimento
- Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-970, Brazil
| | - Raul Zurita-Milla
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
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17
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Grigorieva EA. Adventurous tourism: acclimatization problems and decisions in trans-boundary travels. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:717-728. [PMID: 32060648 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01875-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
As the twenty-first-Century Maritime Silk Road tourism program aims on development of new tourist routes with special interest on the polar regions of the Arctic and the Antarctic, as well as the Tibetan Plateau, management of climate risks in travels and their reduction is an important issue for achievement of its goals at national and local levels. Acclimatization is crucial for adventurous tourists, and especially for those traveling to extremely cold and highly elevated environments, when climate and weather in tourist destination differ significantly from those at home. The Acclimatization Thermal Strain Index for Tourism (ATSIT) is designed and used to measure numerically the physiological expenses a traveler pays during the acclimatization process. The purpose of the present study is to examine acclimatization consequences for travels from Beijing, capital of China, to destinations at the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the Tibetan Plateau, collectively referred to as the 3Polar regions, during the main seasons of winter and summer, and back. The results show that acclimatizing to cold involves greater physiological strain than adjustment to heat. Acclimatization load in winter is low for all travels from Beijing and back home. ATSIT projections detect the most harmful degree of discomfort for summer travels from Beijing. The greatest acclimatization impact comes when changing locales from hot and humid to cold and dry climatic conditions, which might cause high and very high physiological strain. Moreover, as many destinations in the 3Polar regions, mostly in the Tibetan Plateau, are located in mountains, a special acclimatization plan is required to weaken the threat of mountain sickness. The results will be helpful for warning stakeholders and the decision makers in the tourism sector of economies, and are expected to be translated into action for the development of proper intervention procedures in health control, to minimize population loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Grigorieva
- Institute for Complex Analysis of Regional Problems Far Eastern Branch Russian Academy of Sciences (ICARP FEB RAS), Birobidzhan, Russia.
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18
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Infusino E, Caloiero T, Fusto F, Calderaro G, Brutto A, Tagarelli G. Characterization of the 2017 Summer Heat Waves and Their Effects on the Population of an Area of Southern Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18030970. [PMID: 33499298 PMCID: PMC7908494 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of bioclimatic comfort is paramount for improving people’s quality of life. To this purpose, several studies related to climatic comfort/discomfort have been recently published. These studies mainly focus on the analysis of temperature and relative humidity, i.e., the main variables influencing the environmental stress in the human body. In this context, the present work aims to analyze the number of visits to the hospital emergency department made by the inhabitants of the Crati River valley (Calabria region, southern Italy) during the heat waves that accompanied the African anticyclone in the summer of 2017. The analysis of the bioclimatic comfort was performed using the humidity index. Results showed that greater the index, the higher the number of accesses to the emergency department, in particular by the most vulnerable population groups, such as children and the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Infusino
- Department of Environmental Engineering (DIAm), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 41C, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Tommaso Caloiero
- National Research Council—Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in Mediterranean (CNR—ISAFOM), Via Cavour 4/6, 87036 Rende, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0984-841-464
| | - Francesco Fusto
- Multi-Risk Functional Center, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Calabria, Viale degli Angioini 143, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Gianfranco Calderaro
- Health Protection Department of the Calabria Region, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (G.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Angelo Brutto
- Health Protection Department of the Calabria Region, Viale Europa, Località Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (G.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Giuseppe Tagarelli
- National Research Council—Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in Mediterranean (CNR—ISAFOM), Via Cavour 4/6, 87036 Rende, Italy;
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Chen G, Wang D, Wang Q, Li Y, Wang X, Hang J, Gao P, Ou C, Wang K. Scaled outdoor experimental studies of urban thermal environment in street canyon models with various aspect ratios and thermal storage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 726:138147. [PMID: 32305749 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Street aspect ratios and urban thermal storage largely determine the thermal environment in cities. By performing scaled outdoor measurements in summer of 2017 in Guangzhou, China, we investigate these impacts on spatial/temporal characteristics of urban thermal environment which are still unclear so far. Two types of street canyon models are investigated, i.e. the 'hollow' model resembling hollow concrete buildings and the 'sand' model consisting of buildings filled with sand attaining much greater thermal storage. For each model, three street aspect ratios (building height/street width, H/W = 1, 2, 3; H = 1.2 m) are considered. The diurnal variations of air-wall surface temperatures are observed and their characteristics are quantified for various cases. The daily average temperature and daily temperature range (DTR) of wall temperature vary significantly with different aspect ratios and thermal storage. During the daytime, wider street canyon (H/W = 1) with less shading area experiences higher temperature than narrower ones (H/W = 2, 3) as more solar radiation received by wall surfaces. At night, wider street canyon cools down quicker due to stronger upward longwave radiation and night ventilation. For hollow models, H/W = 1 attains DTR of 12.1 °C, which is 1.2 and 2.1 °C larger than that of H/W = 2, 3. Moreover, the sand models experience smaller DTR and a less changing rate of wall temperature than hollow models because larger thermal storage absorbs more heat in the daytime and releases more at night. DTR of hollow models with H/W = 1, 2, 3 is 4.5, 4.6 and 3.8 °C greater than sand models respectively. For both hollow and sand models, wider streets experience a little higher daily average temperature (0.3-0.6 °C) than narrower ones. Our study provides direct evidence in how man-made urban structures influence urban climate and also suggests the possibility to control outdoor thermal environment by optimize urban morphology and thermal storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanwen Chen
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China 510275
| | - Dongyang Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China 510275
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jian Hang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China 510275; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhuhai (519000), China.
| | - Peng Gao
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China 510275
| | - Cuiyun Ou
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China 510275
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
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Sugg MM, Fuhrmann CM, Runkle JD. Perceptions and experiences of outdoor occupational workers using digital devices for geospatial biometeorological monitoring. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2020; 64:471-483. [PMID: 31811392 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01833-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wearable devices have the potential to track and monitor a wide range of biometeorological conditions (e.g., temperature, UV, air quality) and health outcomes (e.g., mental stress, physical activity, physiologic strain, and cognitive impairments). These sensors provide the potential for personalized environmental exposure information that can be harnessed for at-risk populations. Personalized environmental exposure information is of particular importance for populations that are continuously exposed to hazardous environmental conditions or with underlying health conditions. Yet, for these devices to be effective, individuals must be willing to monitor their health and, if prompted, adhere to warnings or notifications. To date, no study has examined the perceptions and use of digital devices and wearable sensors among vulnerable outdoor working populations. This study evaluated digital device use and perceptions among a population of groundworkers in three diverse geographic sites in the southeastern USA (Boone, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Starkville, MS). Our results demonstrate that biometeorological health interventions should focus on smartphone technology as a platform for monitoring environmental exposure and associated health outcomes. It was encouraging to find that those study participants were very likely to wear sensors and utilize global positioning system technology despite potential privacy issues. In addition, 3 out of 4 workers indicated that they would change their behavior if given a personalized heat preventive warning. Future development of wearable sensors and smartphone applications should integrate personalized weather warnings and ensure privacy to facilitate the use of these technologies among vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Sugg
- Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, P.O. Box 32066, Boone, NC, 28608, USA.
| | - Christopher M Fuhrmann
- Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 5448, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Jennifer D Runkle
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801, USA
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Motivation for Heat Adaption: How Perception and Exposure Affect Individual Behaviors During Hot Weather in Knoxville, Tennessee. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10100591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Heat is the deadliest meteorological hazard; however, those exposed to heat often do not feel they are in danger of heat-health effects and do not take precautions to avoid heat exposure. Socioeconomic factors, such as the high cost of running air conditioning, might prevent people from taking adaption measures. We assessed via a mixed-methods survey how residents of urban Knoxville, Tennessee, (n = 86) describe and interpret their personal vulnerability during hot weather. Thematic analyses reveal that many respondents describe uncomfortably hot weather based on its consequences, such as health effects and the need to change normal behavior, which misaligns with traditional heat-communication measures using specific weather conditions. Only 55% of those who perceived excessive heat as dangerous cited health as a cause for concern. Respondents who have experienced health issues during hot weather were more likely to perceive heat as dangerous and take actions to reduce heat exposure. Social cohesion was not a chief concern for our respondents, even though it has been connected to reducing time-delayed heat-health effects. Results support using thematic analyses, an underutilized tool in climatology research, to improve understanding of public perception of atmospheric hazards. We recommend a multi-faceted approach to addressing heat vulnerability.
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