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Jones KK, Vijay V, Zenk SN. SchoolHEAT: Racial and Ethnic Inequity in School Temperature. J Urban Health 2024:10.1007/s11524-024-00919-y. [PMID: 39316310 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00919-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to high environmental temperature is detrimental to health through multiple pathways. This paper describes disparities in school-based high-temperature exposure at metropolitan schools in the United States. Using school location and sociodemographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics, neighborhood data from the US Census Bureau, and land surface temperature (LST) data from the Aqua Earth-observing satellite mission, we find that for every 10% more Black or Hispanic residents in the neighborhood, schools have LST 0.25 °C and 0.38 °C hotter, respectively. When the Black or Hispanic student population is greater than the neighborhood population, LST is an additional 0.20 °C and 0.40 °C for each 10% increase in students over neighborhood population, respectively. Black and Hispanic students are overrepresented in the hottest schools, making up 58.7% of students in the hottest 20% of schools, compared to only 30.0% of students in the coolest 20% of schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly K Jones
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute On Minority Health and Health Disparities, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 800, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Varsha Vijay
- Science Based Targets Network, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Shannon N Zenk
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute On Minority Health and Health Disparities, 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 800, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- National Institute of Nursing Research, Bethesda, USA
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2
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Meltzer GY, Factor-Litvak P, Herbstman JB, Wylie BJ, Hernández D. Indoor Temperature and Energy Insecurity: Implications for Prenatal Health Disparities in Extreme Heat Events. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:35001. [PMID: 38446582 PMCID: PMC10917082 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme heat events are a major public health concern and are only expected to increase in intensity and severity as climate change continues to accelerate. Pregnant people are physiologically more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, and exposure can induce harm on both the pregnant person and the fetus. OBJECTIVES This commentary argues that there is a need for greater epidemiological research on indoor heat exposure and energy insecurity as potential drivers of maternal and child environmental health disparities. DISCUSSION While there is substantial evidence linking ambient (outdoor) high temperature to pregnancy-related outcomes, there is a lack of epidemiological evidence to date on pregnant people's exposure to high indoor temperature and adverse maternal and/or child health outcomes. Energy insecurity is disproportionately experienced by people with low incomes and/or people of color, and indoor temperature may play a role in shaping socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and child health in the United States. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between indoor heat exposure, energy insecurity, and pregnancy outcomes in both parents and children and to inform potential policies and practices to enhance resilience and reduce maternal/child health disparities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13706.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Y. Meltzer
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julie B. Herbstman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Blair J. Wylie
- Collaborative for Women's Environmental Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Diana Hernández
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
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Hampo CC, Schinasi LH, Hoque S. Surviving indoor heat stress in United States: A comprehensive review exploring the impact of overheating on the thermal comfort, health, and social economic factors of occupants. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25801. [PMID: 38371979 PMCID: PMC10873744 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In the face of escalating global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme heat events, the mitigation of building overheating has become an urgent priority. This comprehensive review converges insights from building science and public health domains to offer a thorough understanding of the multifaceted impacts of indoor overheating on occupants. The paper addresses a significant research gap by offering a holistic exploration of indoor overheating of residential buildings and its consequences, with a specific focus on the United States, an economically diverse nation that has been underrepresented in the literature. The review illuminates the effects of overheating on thermal comfort, health, and socio-economic aspects within the built environment. It emphasizes associated repercussions, including heightened cooling energy consumption, increased peak electricity demand, and elevated vulnerability, leading to exacerbated heat-related mortality and morbidity rates, especially among disadvantaged groups. The study concludes that vulnerabilities to these impacts are intricately tied to regional climatic conditions, highlighting the inadequacy of a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailored interventions for each climate zone are deemed necessary, considering the consistent occurrence of indoor temperatures surpassing outdoor levels, known as superheating, which poses distinct challenges. The research underscores the urgency of addressing indoor overheating as a critical facet of public health, acknowledging direct socioeconomic repercussions. It advocates for further research to inform comprehensive policies that safeguard public health across diverse indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chima Cyril Hampo
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, USA
| | - Leah H. Schinasi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Simi Hoque
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, USA
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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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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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Teyton A, Tremblay M, Tardif I, Lemieux MA, Nour K, Benmarhnia T. A Longitudinal Study on the Impact of Indoor Temperature on Heat-Related Symptoms in Older Adults Living in Non-Air-Conditioned Households. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:77003. [PMID: 35857398 PMCID: PMC9282277 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both chronic and acute heat result in a substantial health burden globally, causing particular concern for at-risk populations, such as older adults. Outdoor temperatures are often assessed as the exposure and are used for heat warning systems despite individuals spending most of their time indoors. Many studies use ecological designs, with death or hospitalizations rates. Individual-level outcomes that are directly related to heat-symptoms should also be considered to refine prevention efforts. OBJECTIVES In this longitudinal study, we assessed the association between indoor temperature and proximal symptoms in individuals ≥60 years of age living in non-air-conditioned households in Montérégie, Quebec, during the 2017-2018 summer months. METHODS We gathered continuously measured indoor temperature and humidity from HOBO sensors and repeated health-related questionnaires about health-related symptoms administered across three periods of increasing outdoor temperatures, where the reference measurement (T1) occurred during a cool period with a target temperature of 18-22°C and two measurements (T2 and T3) occurred during warmer periods with target temperatures of 28-30°C and 30-33°C, respectively. We used generalized estimating equations with Poisson regression models and estimated risk ratios (RRs) between temperature, humidity, and each heat-related symptom. RESULTS Participants (n=277) had an average age (mean±standard deviation) of 72.8±7.02y. Higher indoor temperatures were associated with increased risk of dry mouth (T3 RR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.8, 3.5), fatigue (RR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.8, 3.0), thirst (RR=3.4; 95% CI: 2.5, 4.5), less frequent urination (RR=3.7; 95% CI: 1.8, 7.3), and trouble sleeping (RR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.6, 3.2) compared with T1. We identified a nonlinear relationship with indoor temperatures across most symptoms of interest. DISCUSSION This study identified that increasing indoor temperatures were associated with various health symptoms. By considering the prevalence of these early stage outcomes and indoor temperature exposures, adaptation strategies may be improved to minimize the burden of heat among vulnerable communities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10291.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Teyton
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mathieu Tremblay
- Public Health Department, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, Longueuil, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Tardif
- Public Health Department, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, Longueuil, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Lemieux
- Public Health Department, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, Longueuil, Québec, Canada
| | - Kareen Nour
- Public Health Department, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, Longueuil, Québec, Canada
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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