1
|
Psistaki K, Kouis P, Michanikou A, Yiallouros PK, Papatheodorou SI, Paschalidou AΚ. Temporal trends in temperature-related mortality and evidence for maladaptation to heat and cold in the Eastern Mediterranean region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173899. [PMID: 38862043 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173899] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The eastern Mediterranean region is characterized by rising temperature trends exceeding the corresponding global averages and is considered a climate change hot-spot. Although previous studies have thoroughly investigated the impact of extreme heat and cold on human mortality and morbidity, both for the current and future climate change scenarios, the temporal trends in temperature-related mortality or the potential historical adaptation to heat and cold extremes has never been studied in this region. This study focuses on cardiovascular mortality and assesses the temporal evolution of the Minimum Mortality Temperature (MMT), as well as the disease-specific cold- and heat-attributable fraction of mortality in three typical eastern Mediterranean environments (Athens, Thessaloniki and Cyprus). Data on daily cardiovascular mortality (ICD-10 code: I00-I99) and meteorological parameters were available between 1999 and 2019 for Athens, 1999 to 2018 for Thessaloniki and 2004 to 2019 for Cyprus. Estimation of cardiovascular MMT and mortality fractions relied on time-series Poisson regressions with distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) controlling for seasonal and long-term trends, performed over a series of rolling sub-periods at each site. The results indicated that in Athens, the MMT decreased from 23 °C (67.5th percentile) in 1999-2007 to 21.8 °C (62nd percentile) in 2011-2019, while in Cyprus the MMT decreased from 26.3 °C (79th percentile) in 2004-2012 to 23.9 °C (66.5th percentile) in 2011-2019. In Thessaloniki, the decrease in MMT was rather negligible. In all regions under study, the fractions of mortality attributed to both cold and heat followed an upward trend throughout the years. In conclusion, the demonstrated increase in cold attributable fraction and the decreasing temporal trend of MMT across the examined sites are suggestive of maladaptation to extreme temperatures in regions with warm climate and highlight the need for relevant public health policies and interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Psistaki
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece.
| | | | | | | | - Stefania I Papatheodorou
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Anastasia Κ Paschalidou
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wan K, Hajat S, Doherty RM, Feng Z. Integrating Shared Socioeconomic Pathway-informed adaptation into temperature-related mortality projections under climate change. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118731. [PMID: 38492839 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118731] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The extent to which populations will successfully adapt to continued warming temperatures will be a crucial factor in determining future health burdens. Previous health impact assessments of future temperature-related mortality burdens mostly disregard adaptation or make simplistic assumptions. We apply a novel evidence-based approach to model adaptation that takes into account the fact that adaptation potential is likely to vary at different temperatures. Temporal changes in age-specific mortality risk associated with low and high temperatures were characterised for Scotland between 1974 and 2018 using temperature-specific RR ratios to reflect past changes in adaptive capacity. Three scenarios of future adaption were constructed consistent with the SSPs. These adaptation projections were combined with climate and population projections to estimate the mortality burdens attributable to high (above the 90th percentile of the historical temperature distribution) and low (below the 10th percentile) temperatures up to 2080 under five RCP-SSP scenarios. A decomposition analysis was conducted to attribute the change in the mortality burden into adaptation, climate and population. In 1980-2000, the heat burden (21 deaths/year) was smaller than the colder burden (312 deaths/year). In the 2060-2080 period, the heat burden was projected to be the highest under RCP8.5-SSP5 (1285 deaths/year), and the cold burden was the highest under RCP4.5-SSP4 (320 deaths/year). The net burden was lowest under RCP2.6-SSP1 and highest under RCP8.5-SSP5. Improvements in adaptation was the largest factor reducing the cold burden under RCP2.6-SSP1 whilst temperature increase was the biggest factor contributing to the high heat burdens under RCP8.5-SSP5. Ambient heat will become a more important health determinant than cold in Scotland under all climate change and socio-economic scenarios. Adaptive capacity will not fully counter projected increases in heat deaths, underscoring the need for more ambitious climate mitigation measures for Scotland and elsewhere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wan
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ruth M Doherty
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zhiqiang Feng
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kivimäki M, Batty GD, Pentti J, Suomi J, Nyberg ST, Merikanto J, Nordling K, Ervasti J, Suominen SB, Partanen AI, Stenholm S, Käyhkö J, Vahtera J. Climate Change, Summer Temperature, and Heat-Related Mortality in Finland: Multicohort Study with Projections for a Sustainable vs. Fossil-Fueled Future to 2050. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:127020. [PMID: 38150315 PMCID: PMC10752417 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change scenarios illustrate various pathways in terms of global warming ranging from "sustainable development" (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway SSP1-1.9), the best-case scenario, to 'fossil-fueled development' (SSP5-8.5), the worst-case scenario. OBJECTIVES We examined the extent to which increase in daily average urban summer temperature is associated with future cause-specific mortality and projected heat-related mortality burden for the current warming trend and these two scenarios. METHODS We did an observational cohort study of 363,754 participants living in six cities in Finland. Using residential addresses, participants were linked to daily temperature records and electronic death records from national registries during summers (1 May to 30 September) 2000 to 2018. For each day of observation, heat index (average daily air temperature weighted by humidity) for the preceding 7 d was calculated for participants' residential area using a geographic grid at a spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km . We examined associations of the summer heat index with risk of death by cause for all participants adjusting for a wide range of individual-level covariates and in subsidiary analyses using case-crossover design, computed the related period population attributable fraction (PAF), and projected change in PAF from summers 2000-2018 compared with those in 2030-2050. RESULTS During a cohort total exposure period of 582,111,979 summer days (3,880,746 person-summers), we recorded 4,094 deaths, including 949 from cardiovascular disease. The multivariable-adjusted rate ratio (RR) for high (≥ 21 ° C ) vs. reference (14 - 15 ° C ) heat index was 1.70 (95% CI: 1.28, 2.27) for cardiovascular mortality, but it did not reach statistical significance for noncardiovascular deaths, RR = 1.14 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.36), a finding replicated in case-crossover analysis. According to projections for 2030-2050, PAF of summertime cardiovascular mortality attributable to high heat will be 4.4% (1.8%-7.3%) under the sustainable development scenario, but 7.6% (3.2%-12.3%) under the fossil-fueled development scenario. In the six cities, the estimated annual number of summertime heat-related cardiovascular deaths under the two scenarios will be 174 and 298 for a total population of 1,759,468 people. DISCUSSION The increase in average urban summer temperature will raise heat-related cardiovascular mortality burden. The estimated magnitude of this burden is > 1.5 times greater if future climate change is driven by fossil fuels rather than sustainable development. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12080.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mika Kivimäki
- University College London (UCL) Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
- Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - G. David Batty
- University College London (UCL) Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
| | - Jaana Pentti
- Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, UTU, Turku, Finland
| | - Juuso Suomi
- Department of Geography and Geology, UTU, Turku, Finland
| | - Solja T. Nyberg
- Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Kalle Nordling
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jenni Ervasti
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sakari B. Suominen
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
- Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- School of Health Science, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden
| | | | - Sari Stenholm
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, UTU, Turku, Finland
| | - Jukka Käyhkö
- Department of Geography and Geology, UTU, Turku, Finland
| | - Jussi Vahtera
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
- Centre for Population Health Research, UTU, Turku, Finland
- Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thawonmas R, Hashizume M, Kim Y. Projections of Temperature-Related Suicide under Climate Change Scenarios in Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117012. [PMID: 37995154 PMCID: PMC10666824 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of climate change on mental health largely remains to be evaluated. Although growing evidence has reported a short-term association between suicide and temperature, future projections of temperature-attributable suicide have not been thoroughly examined. OBJECTIVES We aimed to project the excess temperature-related suicide mortality in Japan under three climate change scenarios until the 2090s. METHODS Daily time series of mean temperature and the number of suicide deaths in 1973-2015 were collected for 47 prefectures in Japan. A two-stage time-stratified case-crossover analysis was used to estimate the temperature-suicide association. We obtained the modeled daily temperature series using five general circulation models under three climate change scenarios from the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios (SSPs): SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5. We projected the excess temperature-related suicide mortality until 2099 for each scenario and evaluated the net relative changes compared with the 2010s. RESULTS During 1973-2015, there was a total of 1,049,592 suicides in Japan. Net increases in temperature-related excess suicide mortality were estimated under all scenarios. The net change in 2090-2099 compared with 2010-2019 was 1.3% [95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 0.6, 2.4] for the intermediate-emission scenario (SSP2-4.5), 0.6% (95% eCI: 0.1, 1.6) for a low-emission scenario (SSP1-2.6), and 2.4% (95% eCI: 0.7, 3.9) for the extreme scenario (SSP5-8.5). The increases were greater the more extreme the scenarios were, with the highest increase under the most extreme scenario (SSP5-8.5). DISCUSSION This study indicates that Japan may experience a net increase in excess temperature-related suicide mortality, especially under the intermediate and extreme scenarios. The findings underscore the importance of mitigation policies. Further investigations of the future impacts of climate change on mental health including suicide are warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11246.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramita Thawonmas
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Global Environmental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Linh Tran NQ, Cam Hong Le HT, Pham CT, Nguyen XH, Tran ND, Thi Tran TH, Nghiem S, Ly Luong TM, Bui V, Nguyen-Huy T, Doan VQ, Dang KA, Thuong Do TH, Thi Ngo HK, Nguyen TV, Nguyen NH, Do MC, Ton TN, Thu Dang TA, Nguyen K, Tran XB, Thai P, Phung D. Climate change and human health in Vietnam: a systematic review and additional analyses on current impacts, future risk, and adaptation. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2023; 40:100943. [PMID: 38116497 PMCID: PMC10730327 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate climate change's impact on health and adaptation in Vietnam through a systematic review and additional analyses of heat exposure, heat vulnerability, awareness and engagement, and projected health costs. Out of 127 reviewed studies, findings indicated the wider spread of infectious diseases, and increased mortality and hospitalisation risks associated with extreme heat, droughts, and floods. However, there are few studies addressing health cost, awareness, engagement, adaptation, and policy. Additional analyses showed rising heatwave exposure across Vietnam and global above-average vulnerability to heat. By 2050, climate change is projected to cost up to USD1-3B in healthcare costs, USD3-20B in premature deaths, and USD6-23B in work loss. Despite increased media focus on climate and health, a gap between public and government publications highlighted the need for more governmental engagement. Vietnam's climate policies have faced implementation challenges, including top-down approaches, lack of cooperation, low adaptive capacity, and limited resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nu Quy Linh Tran
- Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Huynh Thi Cam Hong Le
- Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Xuan Huong Nguyen
- Centre for Scientific Research and International Collaboration, Phan Chau Trinh University, Quang Nam, Vietnam
| | - Ngoc Dang Tran
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | | | - Son Nghiem
- Department of Health Economics, Wellbeing and Society, Australian National University, Australia
| | - Thi Mai Ly Luong
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Vietnam University of Science, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Vinh Bui
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Australia
| | - Thong Nguyen-Huy
- Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
| | - Van Quang Doan
- Centre for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kim Anh Dang
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Thi Hoai Thuong Do
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Hieu Kim Thi Ngo
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | | | - Ngoc Huy Nguyen
- Vietnam National University - Vietnam Japan University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Manh Cuong Do
- Health Environment Management Agency, Ministry of Health, Vietnam
| | | | - Thi Anh Thu Dang
- Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam
| | - Kien Nguyen
- Hue University of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam
| | | | - Phong Thai
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Dung Phung
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oka K, Honda Y, Phung VLH, Hijioka Y. Prediction of climate change impacts on heatstroke cases in Japan's 47 prefectures with the effect of long-term heat adaptation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023:116390. [PMID: 37302741 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the negative consequences of increased air temperatures due to global warming is the associated increase in heat-related mortality and morbidity. Studies that focused on future predictions of heat-related morbidity do not consider the effect of long-term heat adaptation measures, nor do they use evidence-based methods. Therefore, this study aimed to predict the future heatstroke cases for all 47 prefectures of Japan, by considering long-term heat adaptation by translating current geographical differences in heat adaptation to future temporal heat adaptation. Predictions were conducted for age groups of 7-17, 18-64, and ≥65 years. The prediction period was set to a base period (1981-2000), mid-21st century (2031-2050), and the end of the 21st century (2081-2100). We found that the average heatstroke incidence (number of patients with heatstroke transported by ambulance per population) in Japan under five representative climate models and three greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios increased by 2.92- for 7-17 years, 3.66- for 18-64 years, and 3.26-fold for ≥65 years at the end of the 21st century without heat adaptation. The corresponding numbers were 1.57 for 7-17 years, 1.77 for 18-64 years, and 1.69 for ≥65 years with heat adaptation. Furthermore, the average number of patients with heatstroke transported by ambulance (NPHTA) under all climate models and GHG emissions scenarios increased by 1.02- for 7-17 years, 1.76- for 18-64 years, and 5.50-fold for ≥65 years at the end of 21st century without heat adaptation, where demographic changes were considered. The corresponding numbers were 0.55 for 7-17 years, 0.82 for 18-64 years, and 2.74 for ≥65 years with heat adaptation. The heatstroke incidence, as well as the NPHTA, substantially decreased when heat adaptation was considered. Our method could be applicable to other regions across the globe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazutaka Oka
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Yasushi Honda
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Vera Ling Hui Phung
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Hijioka
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu J, Dong H, Li M, Wu Y, Zhang C, Chen J, Yang Z, Lin G, Liu DL, Yang J. Projecting the excess mortality due to heatwave and its characteristics under climate change, population and adaptation scenarios. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 250:114157. [PMID: 36989996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heatwaves have significant adverse effects on human health. The frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves are projected to increase dramatically, in the context of global warming. However, there are few comprehensive assessments of the health impact of heatwaves considering different definitions, and their characteristics under climate change scenarios. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare future excess mortality related to heatwaves among different definitions under climate change, population, and adaptation scenarios in China and further explore the mortality burden associated with heatwave characteristics. METHODS Daily data during 2010-2019 were collected in Guangzhou, China. We adopted nine common heatwave definitions and applied quasi-Poisson models to estimate the effects of heatwaves and their characteristics' impact on mortality. We then projected the excess mortality associated with heatwaves and their characteristics concerning climate change, population, and adaptation scenarios. RESULTS The relative risks of the nine common heatwave definitions ranged from 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) to 1.24 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.35). Heatwave-related excess mortality will consistently increase in the future decades considering multiple heatwave definitions, with more rapidly increasing rates under the Shared Socioeconomic Path5-8.5 and non-adaptability scenarios. Regarding heatwave characteristics, the intensity is the main factor involved in the threat of heatwaves. The increasing trend of characteristic-related mortality burden is similar to that of heatwaves, and the mortality burden caused by the duration of the heatwaves was the largest among all characteristics. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive picture of the impact of heatwaves and their characteristics on public health under various climate change scenarios, population changes, and adaptive assumptions. The results may provide important public health implications for policymakers in planning climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, and implementing specific plans.
Collapse
|
8
|
Silveira IH, Hartwig SV, Moura MN, Cortes TR, Junger WL, Cirino G, Ignotti E, de Oliveira BFA. Heat waves and mortality in the Brazilian Amazon: Effect modification by heat wave characteristics, population subgroup, and cause of death. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114109. [PMID: 36599199 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Brazilian Amazon faces overlapping socio-environmental, sanitary, and climate challenges, and is a hotspot of concern due to projected increases in temperature and in the frequency of heat waves. Understanding the effects of extreme events on health is a central issue for developing climate policies focused on the population's health. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effects of heat waves on mortality in the Brazilian Amazon, examining effect modification according to various heat wave definitions, population subgroups, and causes of death. METHODS We included all 32 Amazonian municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The study period was from 2000 to 2018. We obtained mortality data from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Public Healthcare System, and meteorological data were derived from the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset. Heat waves were defined according to their intensity (90th; 92.5th; 95th; 97.5th and 99th temperature percentiles) and duration (≥2, ≥3, and ≥4 days). In each city, we used a time-stratified case-crossover study to estimate the effects of each heat wave definition on mortality, according to population subgroup and cause of death. The lagged effects of heat waves were estimated using conditional Poisson regression combined with distributed lag non-linear models. Models were adjusted for specific humidity and public holidays. Risk ratios were pooled for the Brazilian Amazon using a univariate random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS The pooled relative risks (RR) for mortality from total non-external causes varied between 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01-1.06), for the less stringent heat wave definition, and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04-1.33) for the more stringent definition. The mortality risk rose as the heat wave intensity increased, although the increase from 2 to 3, and 3-4 days was small. Although not statistically different, our results suggest a higher mortality risk for the elderly, this was also higher for women than men, and for cardiovascular causes than for non-external or respiratory ones. CONCLUSIONS Heat waves were associated with a higher risk of mortality from non-external causes and cardiovascular diseases. Heat wave intensity played a more important role than duration in determining this risk. Suggestive evidence indicated that the elderly and women were more vulnerable to the effects of heat waves on mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maurício Nascimento Moura
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Geosciences Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | - Glauber Cirino
- Geosciences Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- Postgraduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Mato Grosso State University, Cáceres, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cole R, Hajat S, Murage P, Heaviside C, Macintyre H, Davies M, Wilkinson P. The contribution of demographic changes to future heat-related health burdens under climate change scenarios. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107836. [PMID: 36822002 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change will have a detrimental impact on global health, including the direct impact of higher ambient temperatures. Existing projections of heat-related health outcomes in a changing climate often consider increasing ambient temperatures alone. Population growth and structure has been identified as a key source of uncertainty in future projections. Age acts as a modifier of heat risk, with heat-risk generally increasing in older age-groups. In many countries the population is ageing as lower birth rates and increasing life expectancy alter the population structure. Preparing for an older population, in particular in the context of a warmer climate should therefore be a priority in public health research and policy. We assess the level of inclusion of population growth and demographic changes in research projecting exposure to heat and heat-related health outcomes. To assess the level of inclusion of population changes in the literature, keyword searches of two databases were implemented, followed by reference and citation scans to identify any missed papers. Relevant papers, those including a projection of the heat health burden under climate change, were then checked for inclusion of population scenarios. Where sensitivity to population change was studied the impact of this on projections was extracted. Our analysis suggests that projecting the heat health burden is a growing area of research, however, some areas remain understudied including Africa and the Middle East and morbidity is rarely explored with most studies focusing on mortality. Of the studies pairing projections of population and climate, specifically SSPs and RCPs, many used pairing considered to be unfeasible. We find that not including any projected changes in population or demographics leads to underestimation of health burdens of on average 64 %. Inclusion of population changes increased the heat health burden across all but two studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Cole
- Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peninah Murage
- Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Heaviside
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett Faculty of Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Macintyre
- Climate Change and Health Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Chilton, United Kingdom; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Davies
- UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett Faculty of Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Magnano San Lio R, Favara G, Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Agodi A. How Antimicrobial Resistance Is Linked to Climate Change: An Overview of Two Intertwined Global Challenges. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20031681. [PMID: 36767043 PMCID: PMC9914631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 186.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change (CC) are two of the top health emergencies, and can be considered as two interlinked public health priorities. The complex commonalities between AMR and CC should be deeply investigated in a One Health perspective. Here, we provided an overview of the current knowledge about the relationship between AMR and CC. Overall, the studies included pointed out the need for applying a systemic approach to planetary health. Firstly, CC increasingly brings humans and animals into contact, leading to outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases with pandemic potential. Although it is well-established that antimicrobial use in human, animal and environmental sectors is one of the main drivers of AMR, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the current scenario, by influencing the use of antibiotics, personal protective equipment, and biocides. This also results in higher concentrations of contaminants (e.g., microplastics) in natural water bodies, which cannot be completely removed from wastewater treatment plants, and which could sustain the AMR spread. Our overview underlined the lack of studies on the direct relationship between AMR and CC, and encouraged further research to investigate the multiple aspects involved, and its effect on human health.
Collapse
|
11
|
Oka K, Honda Y, Hui Phung VL, Hijioka Y. Potential effect of heat adaptation on association between number of heatstroke patients transported by ambulance and wet bulb globe temperature in Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114666. [PMID: 36328225 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114666] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzed the association between heatstroke incidence and daily maximum wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) for all 47 prefectures in Japan by age group and severity using time-series analysis, controlling for confounders, such as seasonality and long-term trends. With the obtained association, the relative risk between the reference WBGT (defined as the value at which heatstroke starts to increase) and the daily maximum WBGT at 30 °C (RRwbgt30) of each prefecture were calculated. For the heatstroke data, the daily number of heatstroke patients transported by ambulance at the prefecture level, provided by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, was utilized. The analysis was conducted for age groups of 7-17 y, 18-64 y, and ≥65 y, and for severity of Deceased, Severe, Moderate (combined as DSM), and Mild. The analysis period was set from May 1 to September 30, 2015-2019. Finally, the correlation between RRwbgt30 and the average daily maximum WBGT during the analysis period (aveWBGTms) of each prefecture was analyzed to examine the regionality of heatstroke incidence. The result showed that RRwbgt30 is negatively correlated with aveWBGTms for the age group 18-64 y and ≥65 y (except for the age group 7-17 y) and for severity. The natural logarithm of the RRwbgt30 of all 47 prefectures ranged from 2.0 to 8.2 for the age group 7-17 y, 1.1 to 4.0 for the age group 18-64 y, 1.8 to 6.0 for the age group ≥65 y, and 1.0 to 3.6 for DSM, and 0.9 to 4.0 for Mild. This regionality can be attributed to the effects of heat adaptation, where people in hotter regions are accustomed to implementing measures against hot environments and are more heat acclimatized than people in cooler regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazutaka Oka
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Yasushi Honda
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Vera Ling Hui Phung
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Hijioka
- Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Psistaki K, Dokas IM, Paschalidou AK. The Impact of Ambient Temperature on Cardiorespiratory Mortality in Northern Greece. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:555. [PMID: 36612877 PMCID: PMC9819162 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It is well-established that exposure to non-optimum temperatures adversely affects public health, with the negative impact varying with latitude, as well as various climatic and population characteristics. This work aims to assess the relationship between ambient temperature and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, in Northern Greece. For this, a standard time-series over-dispersed Poisson regression was fit, along with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), using a maximum lag of 21 days, to capture the non-linear and delayed temperature-related effects. A U-shaped relationship was found between temperature and cardiorespiratory mortality for the overall population and various subgroups and the minimum mortality temperature was observed around the 65th percentile of the temperature distribution. Exposure to extremely high temperatures was found to put the highest risk of cardiorespiratory mortality in all cases, except for females which were found to be more sensitive to extreme cold. It is remarkable that the highest burden of temperature-related mortality was attributed to moderate temperatures and primarily to moderate cold. The elderly were found to be particularly susceptible to both cold and hot thermal stress. These results provide new evidence on the health response of the population to low and high temperatures and could be useful to local authorities and policy-makers for developing interventions and prevention strategies for reducing the adverse impact of ambient temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Psistaki
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, Greece
| | - Ioannis M. Dokas
- Department of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
| | - Anastasia K. Paschalidou
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200 Orestiada, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sy I, Cissé B, Ndao B, Touré M, Diouf AA, Sarr MA, Ndiaye O, Ndiaye Y, Badiane D, Lalou R, Janicot S, Ndione JA. Heat waves and health risks in the northern part of Senegal: analysing the distribution of temperature-related diseases and associated risk factors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:83365-83377. [PMID: 35763140 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21205-x] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Sahelian zone of Senegal experienced heat waves in the previous decades, such as 2013, 2016 and 2018 that were characterised by temperatures exceeding 45°C for up to 3 successive days. The health impacts of these heat waves are not yet analysed in Senegal although their negative effects have been shown in many countries. This study analyses the health impacts of observed extreme temperatures in the Sahelian zone of the country, focusing on morbidity and mortality by combining data from station observation, climate model projections, and household survey to investigate heat wave detection, occurrence of climate-sensitive diseases and risk factors for exposure. To do this, a set of climatic (temperatures) and health (morbidity, mortality) data were collected for the months of April, May and June from 2009 to 2019. These data have been completed with 1246 households' surveys on risk factor exposure. Statistical methods were used to carry out univariate and bivariate analyses while cartographic techniques allowed mapping of the main climatic and health indicators. The results show an increase in temperatures compared to seasonal normal for the 1971-2000 reference period with threshold exceedances of the 90th percentiles (42°C) for the maxima and (27°C) the minima and higher temperatures during the months of May and June. From health perspective, it was noted an increase in cases of consultation in health facilities as well as a rise in declared morbidity by households especially in the departments of Kanel (17.7%), Ranérou (16.1 %), Matam (13.7%) and Bakel (13.7%). The heat waves of May 2013 were also associated with cases of death with a reported mortality (observed by medical staff) of 12.4% unequally distributed according to the departments with a higher number of deaths in Matam (25, 2%) and in Bakel (23.5%) than in Podor (8.4%) and Kanel (0.8%). The morbidity and mortality distribution according to gender shows that women (57%) were more affected than men (43%). These health risks have been associated with a number of factors including age, access to drinkable water, type of fuel, type of housing and construction materials, existence of fan and an air conditioner, and health history.The heat wave recurrence has led to a frequency in certain diseases sensitive to rising temperatures, which is increasingly a public health issue in the Sahelian zone of Senegal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahima Sy
- Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Dakar, Fann, Senegal.
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal.
| | - Birane Cissé
- Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Dakar, Fann, Senegal
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Babacar Ndao
- Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Dakar, Fann, Senegal
| | - Mory Touré
- Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | | | - Ousmane Ndiaye
- Agence National de l'Aviation Civile et de la Meteorologie (ANACIM), Dakar, Senegal
| | - Youssoupha Ndiaye
- Direction de la Planification, de la Recherche et des Statistiques (DPRS), Ministère de la Santé et de l'Action Sociale (MSAS), Dakar, Senegal
| | - Daouda Badiane
- Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Richard Lalou
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris, France
| | - Serge Janicot
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang P, Tong HW, Lee TC, Goggins WB. Projecting future temperature-related mortality using annual time series data: An example from Hong Kong. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113351. [PMID: 35490827 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113351] [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: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies projecting future temperature-related mortality under climate change have mostly used short-term temperature-mortality associations based on daily time series data. The present study aimed to project mortality under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) in 21st century in Hong Kong by using analysis of annual data during 1976-2018. METHODS We employed a degree-days approach, calculating the sum of daily degrees above or below certain temperature threshold within a relevant historical year. The yearly age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were regressed on annual hot and cold degree-days in quasi-Poisson generalized additive models to assess the exposure-response function that was subsequently used to calculate future changes in ASMR. The projection was performed without and with certain human adaptation assumed. RESULTS ASMRs were projected to have net increases under RCPs 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5, with increased mortality attributable to excess hot days exceeding decreases attributable to excess cold days. The average net changes under RCP8.5 was estimated to be 0.12%, 12.44%, 38.99%, and 89.25% during 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s, respectively. Higher projected ASMRs were estimated for those aged over 75 years and for cardiovascular deaths. When human adaptation was considered, slope reduction alone under RCP4.5 and 6.0 and all adaptation assumptions under RCP8.5 might still not offset its corresponding adverse impact. CONCLUSIONS The projected decreases in cold-related mortality do not compensate for projected increases in heat-related mortality in Hong Kong. Better public adaptations strategies are warranted for coping with the adverse health impacts of climate change on a local scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pin Wang
- Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | | | | | - William B Goggins
- Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Massazza A, Teyton A, Charlson F, Benmarhnia T, Augustinavicius JL. Quantitative methods for climate change and mental health research: current trends and future directions. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e613-e627. [PMID: 35809589 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The quantitative literature on climate change and mental health is growing rapidly. However, the methodological quality of the evidence is heterogeneous, and there is scope for methodological improvement and innovation. The first section of this Personal View provides a snapshot of current methodological trends and issues in the quantitative literature on climate change and mental health, drawing on literature collected through a previous scoping review. The second part of this Personal View outlines opportunities for methodological innovation concerning the assessment of the relationship between climate change and mental health. We then highlight possible methodological innovations in intervention research and in the measurement of climate change and mental health-related variables. This section draws upon methods from public mental health, environmental epidemiology, and other fields. The objective is not to provide a detailed description of different methodological techniques, but rather to highlight opportunities to use diverse methods, collaborate across disciplines, and inspire methodological innovation. The reader will be referred to practical guidance on different methods when available. We hope this Personal View will constitute a roadmap and launching pad for methodological innovation for researchers interested in investigating a rapidly growing area of research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Anaïs Teyton
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Fiona Charlson
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Review of Residential Air Conditioning Systems Operating under High Ambient Temperatures. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15082880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This article provides an overview of residential vapor-compression air conditioners operating under high ambient temperatures (HAT). For the purpose of this article, a minimum temperature criterion, 40 °C and above, was developed to evaluate studies that were conducted at HAT. Several HAT organizations and projects were launched with the purpose of assessing the performance of low-GWP (GWP = global warming potential) refrigerants when operating under HAT and accelerating the transition to such refrigerants. Previous studies of air conditioner improvements (i.e., for condensers, evaporators, compressors, and refrigerants) were discussed under HAT conditions. This article also explores the challenges, the possible design modifications, and several limitations of air conditioners operating under HAT. Condenser improvements showed an 18 to 50% higher coefficient of performance (COP) and an 8 to 30% higher cooling capacity. Only one study was found for evaporator enhancement under HAT which improved the COP by ~7% and cooling capacity by ~10%. Experimental compressor improvements achieved 2 to 17 °C lower discharge temperature and up to 15% higher cooling capacity, whereas the COP ranged from −4% to +3% of the baseline values. Under HAT conditions, several A2L refrigerants exhibited an attractive performance compared to R-410A while none outperformed R-22 in terms of both cooling capacity and COP. Considering R-22 alternatives, all A1 refrigerants exhibited lower COP, A2L refrigerants achieved comparable COP, and A3 refrigerants reached higher COP.
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Climate change will continue to bring about unprecedented climate extremes in the future, and buildings and infrastructure will be exposed to such conditions. To ensure that new and existing buildings deliver satisfactory performance over their design lives, their performance under current and future projected climates needs to be assessed by undertaking building simulations. This study prepares climate data needed for building simulations for 564 locations by bias-correcting the Canadian Regional Climate Model version 4 (CanRCM4) large ensemble (LE) simulations with reference to observations. Technical validation results show that bias-correction effectively reduces the bias associated with CanRCM4-LE simulations in terms of their marginal distributions and the inter-relationship between climate variables. To ensure that the range of projected climate change impacts are encompassed within these data sets, and to furthermore provide building moisture and energy reference years, the reference year files were prepared from bias-corrected CanRCM4-LE simulations and are comprised of a typical meteorological year for building energy applications, a typical and extreme moisture reference year, a typical downscaled year, an extreme warm year, and an extreme cold year.
Collapse
|
18
|
Fronzek S, Honda Y, Ito A, Nunes JP, Pirttioja N, Räisänen J, Takahashi K, Terämä E, Yoshikawa M, Carter TR. Estimating impact likelihoods from probabilistic projections of climate and socio-economic change using impact response surfaces. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 2022; 38:None. [PMID: 36518178 PMCID: PMC9733490 DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2022.100466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Estimates of future climate change impacts using numerical impact models are commonly based on a limited selection of projections of climate and other key drivers. However, the availability of large ensembles of such projections offers an opportunity to estimate impact responses probabilistically. This study demonstrates an approach that combines model-based impact response surfaces (IRSs) with probabilistic projections of climate change and population to estimate the likelihood of exceeding pre-specified thresholds of impact. The changing likelihood of exceeding impact thresholds during the 21st century was estimated for selected indicators in three European case study regions (Iberian Peninsula, Scotland and Hungary), comparing simulations that incorporate adaptation to those without adaptation. The results showed high likelihoods of increases in heat-related human mortality and of yield decreases for some crops, whereas a decrease of NPP was estimated to be exceptionally unlikely. For a water reservoir in a Portuguese catchment, increased likelihoods of severe water scarce conditions were estimated for the current rice cultivation. Switching from rice to other crops with lower irrigation demand changes production risks, allowing for expansion of the irrigated areas but introducing a stronger sensitivity to changes in rainfall. The IRS-based risk assessment shown in this paper is of relevance for policy making by addressing the relative sensitivity of impacts to key climate and socio-economic drivers, and the urgency for action expressed as a time series of the likelihood of crossing critical impact thresholds. It also examines options to respond by incorporating alternative adaptation actions in the analysis framework, which may be useful for exploring the types, choice and timing of adaptation responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasushi Honda
- The University of Tsukuba, Japan
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ito
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
| | - João Pedro Nunes
- CE3C: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jouni Räisänen
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Emma Terämä
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Finland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wynn PC, Warriach HM, Iqbal H, McGill DM. The future of smallholder farming in developing countries in the face of climate change: a perspective with a focus on Pakistan. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an20496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The fragile balance in the world’s carbon equilibrium through the discovery of cheap carbon-based fuels in the nineteenth century has led to mass industrialisation and an explosion in the world human population, including that of Pakistan. Farmers worldwide will need to adapt their production systems to accommodate global warming and increased climate extremes resulting from these man-made environmental changes. The focus will need to be on smallholder farmers who generate 53% of the world’s food but who are least equipped to accommodate climate change. The most major limitation will be fresh water supply, no more exemplified than in Pakistan as Himalayan snowfall decreases and peak snow melt comes earlier in spring, limiting irrigation water for summer C4 crops such as corn, millet, sorghum and sugarcane. These are destined to replace the traditional C3 crops of wheat and rice, which will not be as suited to climate change conditions resulting from a projected mean 2°C rise in ambient temperature. Smallholder farmers will need to access superior-quality seed for crop cultivars for both human food and animal forage bred to withstand climatic change. Quantitative genetic selection programs for tropically adapted livestock must be implemented with a major focus on Pakistan’s Nili Ravi and Kundhi buffalo, together with Sahiwal cattle servicing the milk consumption needs of Pakistan’s burgeoning population of 211 million. The quality of forage available for livestock emanating largely from crop residues needs to be improved to meet the country’s greenhouse-gas production targets in line with international expectation. The challenge remains for governments to sustain marketing chains that allow them to be profitable when operating in an increasingly hostile environment. The conservation of soil fertility through increased carbon sequestration will be an important imperative. It is likely that females will play a more important role in directing adaptation in these communities. Successful adjustment will be dependent on effective extension programs working with all sectors of the community including males, females and children from all walks of life in both rural and urban environments. Failure to do so will lead to rapid increases in climate refugee numbers, which the world can ill-afford.
Collapse
|
20
|
Sun Z, Wang Q, Chen C, Yang Y, Yan M, Du H, Chen K, Ji JS, Li T. Projection of Temperature-Related Excess Mortality by Integrating Population Adaptability Under Changing Climate - China, 2050s and 2080s. China CDC Wkly 2021; 3:697-701. [PMID: 34594971 PMCID: PMC8422175 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2021.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
What is already known about this topic? An increasing number of studies have projected temperature-related mortality, but few consider the change of population's adaptability to future temperature and mortality burden from cold and heat effects. What is added by this report? This study offers a comprehensive characterization of human adaptability and excess mortality burden of temperature across various regions of China. What are the implications for public health practice? The temperature-related excess mortality was projected to increase in the 2050s and decrease in the 2080s. Heat adaptability was projected to increase in the future, but along with the rising temperatures, the heat-related excess mortality continuously rose, except for the low-speed rising scenario. Although the excess mortality of cold was projected to decrease in the nearer future, it might not keep declining in the long run, due to the decreasing cold-adaptability, which deserves more attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Sun
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Institute of Environment and Health, Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China
| | - Qing Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Meilin Yan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Du
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - John S Ji
- Environmental Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tiantian Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kouis P, Psistaki K, Giallouros G, Michanikou A, Kakkoura MG, Stylianou KS, Papatheodorou SI, Paschalidou AΚ. Heat-related mortality under climate change and the impact of adaptation through air conditioning: A case study from Thessaloniki, Greece. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111285. [PMID: 34015294 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111285] [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: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase heat-related mortality across the world. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) studies are used to quantify the impact of higher temperatures, taking into account the effect of population adaptation. Although air-conditioning (AC) is one of the main drivers of technological adaptation to heat, the health impacts associated with AC-induced air pollution have not been examined in detail. This study uses the city of Thessaloniki, Greece as a case study and aims to estimate the future heat-related mortality, the residential cooling demand, and the adaptation trade-off between averted heat-related and increased air pollution cardiorespiratory mortality. Using temperature and population projections under different Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CIMP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios (SSPs), a HIA model was developed for the future heat and air pollution cardiorespiratory mortality. Counterfactual scenarios of either black carbon (BC) or natural gas (NG) being the fuel source for electricity generation were included in the HIA. The results indicate that the heat-related cardiorespiratory mortality in Thessaloniki will increase and the excess of annual heat-related deaths in 2080-2099 will range from 2.4 (95% CI: 0.0-20.9) under SSP1-2.6 to 433.7 (95% CI: 66.9-1070) under SSP5-8.5. Population adaptation will attenuate the heat-related mortality, although the latter may be counterbalanced by the higher air pollution-related mortality due to increased AC, especially under moderate SSP scenarios and coal-fired power plants. Future studies examining the health effects of warmer temperatures need to account for the impact of both adaptation and increased penetration and use of AC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyriaki Psistaki
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece.
| | - George Giallouros
- Department of Public and Business Administration, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | | | - Maria G Kakkoura
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus; Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit CTSU, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Katerina S Stylianou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | | | - Anastasia Κ Paschalidou
- Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Rocque RJ, Beaudoin C, Ndjaboue R, Cameron L, Poirier-Bergeron L, Poulin-Rheault RA, Fallon C, Tricco AC, Witteman HO. Health effects of climate change: an overview of systematic reviews. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e046333. [PMID: 34108165 PMCID: PMC8191619 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 308] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to develop a systematic synthesis of systematic reviews of health impacts of climate change, by synthesising studies' characteristics, climate impacts, health outcomes and key findings. DESIGN We conducted an overview of systematic reviews of health impacts of climate change. We registered our review in PROSPERO (CRD42019145972). No ethical approval was required since we used secondary data. Additional data are not available. DATA SOURCES On 22 June 2019, we searched Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We included systematic reviews that explored at least one health impact of climate change. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS We organised systematic reviews according to their key characteristics, including geographical regions, year of publication and authors' affiliations. We mapped the climate effects and health outcomes being studied and synthesised major findings. We used a modified version of A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) to assess the quality of studies. RESULTS We included 94 systematic reviews. Most were published after 2015 and approximately one-fifth contained meta-analyses. Reviews synthesised evidence about five categories of climate impacts; the two most common were meteorological and extreme weather events. Reviews covered 10 health outcome categories; the 3 most common were (1) infectious diseases, (2) mortality and (3) respiratory, cardiovascular or neurological outcomes. Most reviews suggested a deleterious impact of climate change on multiple adverse health outcomes, although the majority also called for more research. CONCLUSIONS Most systematic reviews suggest that climate change is associated with worse human health. This study provides a comprehensive higher order summary of research on health impacts of climate change. Study limitations include possible missed relevant reviews, no meta-meta-analyses, and no assessment of overlap. Future research could explore the potential explanations between these associations to propose adaptation and mitigation strategies and could include broader sociopsychological health impacts of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhea J Rocque
- Prairie Climate Centre, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Ruth Ndjaboue
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- VITAM Research Centre for Sustainable Health, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Laura Cameron
- Prairie Climate Centre, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | | | - Catherine Fallon
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHUQ Research Centre, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Andrea C Tricco
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Holly O Witteman
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- VITAM Research Centre for Sustainable Health, Quebec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lay CR, Sarofim MC, Vodonos Zilberg A, Mills DM, Jones RW, Schwartz J, Kinney PL. City-level vulnerability to temperature-related mortality in the USA and future projections: a geographically clustered meta-regression. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e338-e346. [PMID: 34022145 PMCID: PMC9422466 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00058-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme heat exposure can lead to premature death. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events, resulting in many additional heat-related deaths globally, as well as changing the nature of extreme cold events. At the same time, vulnerability to extreme heat has decreased over time, probably due to a combination of physiological, behavioural, infrastructural, and technological adaptations. We aimed to account for these changes in vulnerability and avoid overstated projections for temperature-related mortality. We used the historical observed decrease in vulnerability to improve future mortality estimates. METHODS We used historical mortality and temperature data from 208 US cities to quantify how observed changes in vulnerability from 1973 to 2013 affected projections of temperature-related mortality under various climate scenarios. We used geographically structured meta-regression to characterise the relationship between temperature and mortality for these urban populations over the specified time period. We then used the fitted relationships to project mortality under future climate conditions. FINDINGS Between Oct 26, 2018, and March 9, 2020, we established that differences in vulnerability to temperature were geographically structured. Vulnerability decreased over time in most areas. US mortalities projected from a 2°C increase in mean temperature decreased by more than 97% when using 2003-13 data compared with 1973-82 data. However, these benefits declined with increasing temperatures, with a 6°C increase showing only an 84% decline in projected mortality based on 2003-13 data. INTERPRETATION Even after accounting for adaptation, the projected effects of climate change on premature mortality constitute a substantial public health risk. Our work suggests large increases in temperature will require additional mitigation to avoid excess mortality from heat events, even in areas with high air conditioning coverage in place. FUNDING The US Environmental Protection Agency and Abt Associates.
Collapse
|
24
|
Hatakeyama K, Ota J, Takahashi Y, Kawamitsu S, Seposo X. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on heatstroke-related ambulance dispatch in the 47 prefectures of Japan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:145176. [PMID: 33736302 PMCID: PMC9752559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought a huge impact in daily life and has prompted people to take preventive measures. In the summertime, however, the Japanese government has cautioned that some COVID-19 pandemic conditions may affect the risk to heatstroke. This study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic setting affected heatstroke-related ambulance dispatches (HSAD). Daily HSAD data and relevant weather parameters from June to September from 2016 to 2020 of 47 prefectures in Japan were obtained from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) database. A binary variable representing COVID-19 impact was created, whereby years 2016 to 2019 were coded as 0, while 2020 as 1. We employed a two-stage analysis in elucidating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HSAD. Firstly, we regressed HSAD with the COVID-19 binary variable after adjusting for relevant covariates to obtain prefecture-specific effect estimates. Prefecture-specific estimates were subsequently pooled via random effects meta-analysis in generating the pooled estimate. Pooled Relative Risk (RR) of HSAD during the COVID-19 pandemic was 0.78 (95% Confidential Interval [CI], 0.75-0.82). We found an overall statistically significant decrease in HSAD risk during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Specifically, the decrease in the risk of HSAD may be linked to the COVID-19 precautionary measures such as stay-home request and availability of alternative consultation services, which may have decreased the direct exposure of the population to extreme heat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koya Hatakeyama
- International Health Development Course, Department of Global Health, Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Junko Ota
- International Health Development Course, Department of Global Health, Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Takahashi
- International Health Development Course, Department of Global Health, Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Saki Kawamitsu
- International Health Development Course, Department of Global Health, Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Xerxes Seposo
- Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Yang J, Zhou M, Ren Z, Li M, Wang B, Liu DL, Ou CQ, Yin P, Sun J, Tong S, Wang H, Zhang C, Wang J, Guo Y, Liu Q. Projecting heat-related excess mortality under climate change scenarios in China. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1039. [PMID: 33589602 PMCID: PMC7884743 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21305-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have reported a variety of health consequences of climate change. However, the vulnerability of individuals and cities to climate change remains to be evaluated. We project the excess cause-, age-, region-, and education-specific mortality attributable to future high temperatures in 161 Chinese districts/counties using 28 global climate models (GCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs). To assess the influence of population ageing on the projection of future heat-related mortality, we further project the age-specific effect estimates under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Heat-related excess mortality is projected to increase from 1.9% (95% eCI: 0.2-3.3%) in the 2010s to 2.4% (0.4-4.1%) in the 2030 s and 5.5% (0.5-9.9%) in the 2090 s under RCP8.5, with corresponding relative changes of 0.5% (0.0-1.2%) and 3.6% (-0.5-7.5%). The projected slopes are steeper in southern, eastern, central and northern China. People with cardiorespiratory diseases, females, the elderly and those with low educational attainment could be more affected. Population ageing amplifies future heat-related excess deaths 2.3- to 5.8-fold under different SSPs, particularly for the northeast region. Our findings can help guide public health responses to ameliorate the risk of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China ,Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Guangzhou, China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548JNU-QUT Joint Laboratory for Air Quality Science and Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Maigeng Zhou
- grid.508400.9National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhoupeng Ren
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System (LREIS), Institute of Geographic Sciences and Nature Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengmeng Li
- grid.488530.20000 0004 1803 6191State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Prevention Center, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Boguang Wang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China ,Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Guangzhou, China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548JNU-QUT Joint Laboratory for Air Quality Science and Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - De Li Liu
- grid.1680.f0000 0004 0559 5189NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Chun-Quan Ou
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Biostatistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yin
- grid.508400.9National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jimin Sun
- grid.198530.60000 0000 8803 2373State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Shilu Tong
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XSchool of Public Health and Institute of Environment and Population Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China ,grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hao Wang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China ,Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Guangzhou, China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548JNU-QUT Joint Laboratory for Air Quality Science and Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunlin Zhang
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China ,Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Guangzhou, China ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548JNU-QUT Joint Laboratory for Air Quality Science and Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System (LREIS), Institute of Geographic Sciences and Nature Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuming Guo
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Qiyong Liu
- grid.198530.60000 0000 8803 2373State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Qian W, Chang HH. Projecting Health Impacts of Future Temperature: A Comparison of Quantile-Mapping Bias-Correction Methods. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041992. [PMID: 33670819 PMCID: PMC7922393 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Health impact assessments of future environmental exposures are routinely conducted to quantify population burdens associated with the changing climate. It is well-recognized that simulations from climate models need to be bias-corrected against observations to estimate future exposures. Quantile mapping (QM) is a technique that has gained popularity in climate science because of its focus on bias-correcting the entire exposure distribution. Even though improved bias-correction at the extreme tails of exposure may be particularly important for estimating health burdens, the application of QM in health impact projection has been limited. In this paper we describe and apply five QM methods to estimate excess emergency department (ED) visits due to projected changes in warm-season minimum temperature in Atlanta, USA. We utilized temperature projections from an ensemble of regional climate models in the North American-Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (NA-CORDEX). Across QM methods, we estimated consistent increase in ED visits across climate model ensemble under RCP 8.5 during the period 2050 to 2099. We found that QM methods can significantly reduce between-model variation in health impact projections (50-70% decreases in between-model standard deviation). Particularly, the quantile delta mapping approach had the largest reduction and is recommended also because of its ability to preserve model-projected absolute temporal changes in quantiles.
Collapse
|
27
|
Harper SL, Cunsolo A, Babujee A, Coggins S, Aguilar MD, Wright CJ. Climate change and health in North America: literature review protocol. Syst Rev 2021; 10:3. [PMID: 33390178 PMCID: PMC7780400 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01543-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change is a defining issue and grand challenge for the health sector in North America. Synthesizing evidence on climate change impacts, climate-health adaptation, and climate-health mitigation is crucial for health practitioners and decision-makers to effectively understand, prepare for, and respond to climate change impacts on human health. This protocol paper outlines our process to systematically conduct a literature review to investigate the climate-health evidence base in North America. METHODS A search string will be used to search CINAHL®, Web of Science™, Scopus®, Embase® via Ovid, and MEDLINE® via Ovid aggregator databases. Articles will be screened using inclusion/exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. First, the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be applied to article titles and abstracts, and then to the full articles. Included articles will be analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. DISCUSSION This protocol describes review methods that will be used to systematically and transparently create a database of articles published in academic journals that examine climate-health in North America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherilee L Harper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, ECHA, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- School of Arctic & Subarctic Studies, Labrador Institute of Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, Stn B, PO Box 490, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, A0P 1E0, Canada
| | - Amreen Babujee
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, ECHA, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Shaugn Coggins
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, ECHA, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Mauricio Domínguez Aguilar
- Unidad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Calle 61 x 66 # 525. Col. Centro, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Carlee J Wright
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, ECHA, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gu S, Zhang L, Sun S, Wang X, Lu B, Han H, Yang J, Wang A. Projections of temperature-related cause-specific mortality under climate change scenarios in a coastal city of China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105889. [PMID: 32619913 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have been conducted to project temperature-related mortality under climate change scenarios. However, most of the previous evidence has been limited to the total or non-accidental mortality, resulting in insufficient knowledge on the influence of climate change on different types of disease. OBJECTIVES We aimed to project future temperature impact on mortality from 16 causes under multiple climate change models in a coastal city of China. METHODS We first estimated the baseline exposure-response relationships between daily average temperature and cause-specific mortality during 2009-2018. Then, we acquired downscaled future temperature projections from 28 general circulation models (GCMs) under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Finally, we combined these exposure-response associations with projected temperature to estimate the change in the temperature-related death burden in different future decades in comparison to the 2010 s, assuming no demographic changes and population acclimatization. RESULTS We found a consistently decreasing trend in cold-related mortality but a steep rise in heat-related mortality among 16 causes under climate change scenarios. Compared with the 2010 s, the net change in the fraction of total mortality attributable to temperature are projected to -0.54% (95% eCI: -1.69% to 0.71%) and -0.38% (95% eCI: -2.73% to 2.12%) at the end of the 21st century under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. However, the magnitude of future cold and heat effects varied by different causes of death. A net reduction of future temperature-related death burden was observed among 10 out of 15 causes, with estimates ranging from -5.02% (95% eCI: -17.42% to 2.50%) in mental disorders to -1.01% (95% eCI: -5.56% to 3.28%) in chronic lower respiratory disease. Conversely, the rest diseases are projected to experience a potential net increase of temperature-related death burden, with estimates ranging from 0.44% (95% eCI: -4.40% to 6.02%) in ischemic heart disease and 4.80% (95% eCI: -0.04% to 9.84%) in external causes. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that the mortality burden of climate change varied greatly by the mortality categories. Further investigations are warranted to comprehensively understand the impacts of climate change on different types of disease across various regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Gu
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, China.
| | - Liang Zhang
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, China.
| | - Shiqiang Sun
- Ningbo Meteorological Bureau, Ningbo 315000, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Beibei Lu
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, China.
| | - Hangtao Han
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, China.
| | - Jun Yang
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510000, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Guangzhou 511443, China.
| | - Aihong Wang
- Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Chen K, Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Dubrow R. Projections of Ambient Temperature- and Air Pollution-Related Mortality Burden Under Combined Climate Change and Population Aging Scenarios: a Review. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:243-255. [PMID: 32542573 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00281-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Climate change will affect mortality associated with both ambient temperature and air pollution. Because older adults have elevated vulnerability to both non-optimal ambient temperature (heat and cold) and air pollution, population aging can amplify future population vulnerability to these stressors through increasing the number of vulnerable older adults. We aimed to review recent evidence on projections of temperature- or air pollution-related mortality burden (i.e., number of deaths) under combined climate change and population aging scenarios, with a focus on evaluating the role of population aging in assessing these health impacts of climate change. We included studies published between 2014 and 2019 with age-specific population projections. RECENT FINDINGS We reviewed 16 temperature projection studies and 15 air pollution projection studies. Nine of the temperature studies and four of the air pollution studies took population aging into account by performing age-stratified analyses that utilized age-specific relationships between temperature or air pollution exposures and mortality (i.e., age-specific exposure-response functions (ERFs)). Population aging amplifies the projected mortality burden of temperature and air pollution under a warming climate. Compared with a constant population scenario, population aging scenarios lead to less reduction or even increases in cold-related mortality burden, resulting in substantial net increases in future overall (heat and cold) temperature-related mortality burden. There is strong evidence suggesting that to accurately assess the future temperature- and air pollution-related mortality burden of climate change, investigators need to account for the amplifying effect of population aging. Thus, all future studies should incorporate age-specific population size projections and age-specific ERFs into their analyses. These studies would benefit from refinement of age-specific ERF estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA. .,Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA.
| | - Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, 43 Mittelstrasse, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, 4 Hochschulstrasse, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert Dubrow
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA.,Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme events, resulting in social and economic challenges. I examined recent past (1971–2000), current and near future (2010–2039), and future (2040–2069) fire and heat hazard combined with population growth by different regions and residential densities (i.e., exurban low and high densities, suburban, and urban low and high densities). Regional values for extreme fire weather days varied greatly. Temperature and number of extreme fire weather days increased over time for all residential density categories, with the greatest increases in the exurban low-density category. The urban high-density category was about 0.8 to 1 °C cooler than the urban low-density category. The areas of the urban and suburban density categories increased relative to the exurban low-density category. Holding climate change constant at 1970–2000 resulted in a temperature increase of 0.4 to 0.8 °C by 2060, indicating future population increases in warmer areas. Overall, U.S. residents will experience greater exposure to fire hazard and heat over time due to climate change, and compound risk emerges because fire weather and heat are coupled and have effects across sectors. Movement to urban centers will help offset exposure to fire but not heat, because urban areas are heat islands; however, urban high-density areas had lower base temperatures, likely due to city locations along coastlines. This analysis provides a timely look at potential trends in fire and heat risk by residential density classes due to the expansion and migration of US populations.
Collapse
|
31
|
Royé D, Íñiguez C, Tobías A. Comparison of temperature-mortality associations using observed weather station and reanalysis data in 52 Spanish cities. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109237. [PMID: 32058146 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies use temperature observation data from weather stations near the analyzed region or city as the reference point for the exposure-response association. Climatic reanalysis data sets have already been used for climate studies, but are not yet used routinely in environmental epidemiology. METHODS We compared the mortality-temperature association using weather station temperature and ERA-5 reanalysis data for the 52 provincial capital cities in Spain, using time-series regression with distributed lag non-linear models. RESULTS The shape of temperature distribution is very close between the weather station and ERA-5 reanalysis data (correlation from 0.90 to 0.99). The overall cumulative exposure-response curves are very similar in their shape and risks estimates for cold and heat effects, although risk estimates for ERA-5 were slightly lower than for weather station temperature. CONCLUSIONS Reanalysis data allow the estimation of the health effects of temperature, even in areas located far from weather stations or without any available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Royé
- Department of Geography, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Carmen Íñiguez
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Statistics and Computational Research, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Aurelio Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Folkerts MA, Bröde P, Botzen WJW, Martinius ML, Gerrett N, Harmsen CN, Daanen HAM. Long Term Adaptation to Heat Stress: Shifts in the Minimum Mortality Temperature in the Netherlands. Front Physiol 2020; 11:225. [PMID: 32256386 PMCID: PMC7093592 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
It is essentially unknown how humans adapt or will adapt to heat stress caused by climate change over a long-term interval. A possible indicator of adaptation may be the minimum mortality temperature (MMT), which is defined as the mean daily temperature at which the lowest mortality occurs. Another possible indicator may be the heat sensitivity, i.e., the percentage change in mortality per 1°C above the MMT threshold, or heat attributable fraction (AF), i.e., the percentage relative excess mortality above MMT. We estimated MMT and heat sensitivity/AF over a period of 23 years for older adults (≥65 years) in the Netherlands using three commonly used methods. These methods are segmented Poisson regression (SEG), constrained segmented distributed lag models (CSDL), and distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM). The mean ambient temperature increased by 0.03°C/year over the 23 year period. The calculated mean MMT over the 23-year period differed considerably between methods [16.4 ± 1.2°C (SE) (SEG), 18.9 ± 0.5°C (CSDL), and 15.3 ± 0.4°C DLNM]. MMT increased during the observed period according to CSDL (0.11 ± 0.05°C/year) and DLNM (0.15 ± 0.02°C/year), but not with SEG. The heat sensitivity, however, decreased for the latter method (0.06%/°C/year) and did not change for CSDL. Heat AF was calculated for the DLNM method and decreased with 0.07%/year. Based on these results we conclude that the susceptibility of humans to heat decreases over time, regardless which method was used, because human adaptation is shown by either an increase in MMT (CSDL and DLNM) or a decrease in heat sensitivity for unchanged MMT (SEG). Future studies should focus on what factors (e.g., physiological, behavioral, technological, or infrastructural adaptations) influence human adaptation the most, so it can be promoted through adaptation policies. Furthermore, future studies should keep in mind that the employed method influences the calculated MMT, which hampers comparability between studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mireille A Folkerts
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter Bröde
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - W J Wouter Botzen
- Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mike L Martinius
- Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nicola Gerrett
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Hein A M Daanen
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Hurtado-Díaz M, Cruz JC, Texcalac-Sangrador JL, Félix-Arellano EE, Gutiérrez-Ávila I, Briseño-Pérez AA, Saavedra-Lara N, Tobías A, Riojas-Rodríguez H. Short-term effects of ambient temperature on non-external and cardiovascular mortality among older adults of metropolitan areas of Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2019; 63:1641-1650. [PMID: 31407098 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01778-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Multi-city studies assessing the association between acute exposure to temperature and mortality in Latin American are limited. To analyze the short-term effect of changes in temperature (increase and decrease) on daily non-external and cardiovascular mortality from 1998 to 2014, in people 65 years old and over living in 10 metropolitan areas of Mexico. Analyses were performed through Poisson regression models with distributed lag non-linear models. Statistical comparison of minimum mortality temperature (MMT) and city-specific cutoffs of 24-h temperature mean values (5th/95th and 1st/99th percentiles) were used to obtain the mortality relative Risk (RR) for cold/hot and extreme cold/extreme hot, respectively, for the same day and lags of 0-3, 0-7, and 0-21 days. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the estimates (RRpooled). Significant non-linear associations of temperature-mortality relation were found in U or inverted J shape. The best predictors of mortality associations with cold and heat were daily temperatures at lag 0-7 and lag 0-3, respectively. RRpooled of non-external causes was 6.3% (95%CI 2.7, 10.0) for cold and 10.2% (95%CI 4.4, 16.2) for hot temperatures. The RRpooled for cardiovascular mortality was 7.1% (95%CI 0.01, 14.7) for cold and 7.1% (95%CI 0.6, 14.0) for hot temperatures. Results suggest that, starting from the MMT, the changes in temperature are associated with an increased risk of non-external and specific causes of mortality in elderly people. Generally, heat effects on non-external and specific causes of mortality occur immediately, while cold effects occur within a few days and last longer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magali Hurtado-Díaz
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Julio C Cruz
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - José L Texcalac-Sangrador
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Eunice E Félix-Arellano
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Iván Gutiérrez-Ávila
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Arely A Briseño-Pérez
- Fielding School of Public Health, Center for Health Sciences, University of California, 650 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA
| | - Nenetzen Saavedra-Lara
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Aurelio Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) - Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
- National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Reliable estimates of future health impacts due to climate change are needed to inform and contribute to the design of efficient adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, projecting health burdens associated to specific environmental stressors is a challenging task because of the complex risk patterns and inherent uncertainty of future climate scenarios. These assessments involve multidisciplinary knowledge, requiring expertise in epidemiology, statistics, and climate science, among other subjects. Here, we present a methodologic framework to estimate future health impacts under climate change scenarios based on a defined set of assumptions and advanced statistical techniques developed in time-series analysis in environmental epidemiology. The proposed methodology is illustrated through a step-by-step hands-on tutorial structured in well-defined sections that cover the main methodological steps and essential elements. Each section provides a thorough description of each step, along with a discussion on available analytical options and the rationale on the choices made in the proposed framework. The illustration is complemented with a practical example of study using real-world data and a series of R scripts included as Supplementary Digital Content; http://links.lww.com/EDE/B504, which facilitates its replication and extension on other environmental stressors, outcomes, study settings, and projection scenarios. Users should critically assess the potential modeling alternatives and modify the framework and R code to adapt them to their research on health impact projections.
Collapse
|
35
|
Climate Data to Undertake Hygrothermal and Whole Building Simulations Under Projected Climate Change Influences for 11 Canadian Cities. DATA 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/data4020072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Buildings and homes in Canada will be exposed to unprecedented climatic conditions in the future as a consequence of global climate change. To improve the climate resiliency of existing and new buildings, it is important to evaluate their performance over current and projected future climates. Hygrothermal and whole building simulation models, which are important tools for assessing performance, require continuous climate records at high temporal frequencies of a wide range of climate variables for input into the kinds of models that relate to solar radiation, cloud-cover, wind, humidity, rainfall, temperature, and snow-cover. In this study, climate data that can be used to assess the performance of building envelopes under current and projected future climates, concurrent with 2 °C and 3.5 °C increases in global temperatures, are generated for 11 major Canadian cities. The datasets capture the internal variability of the climate as they are comprised of 15 realizations of the future climate generated by dynamically downscaling future projections from the CanESM2 global climate model and thereafter bias-corrected with reference to observations. An assessment of the bias-corrected projections suggests, as a consequence of global warming, future increases in the temperatures and precipitation, and decreases in the snow-cover and wind-speed for all cities.
Collapse
|
36
|
Anderson GB, Barnes EA, Bell ML, Dominici F. The Future of Climate Epidemiology: Opportunities for Advancing Health Research in the Context of Climate Change. Am J Epidemiol 2019; 188:866-872. [PMID: 30877291 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwz034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the coming decades, climate change is expected to dramatically affect communities worldwide, altering the patterns of many ambient exposures and disasters, including extreme temperatures, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and floods. These exposures, in turn, can affect risks for a variety of human diseases and health outcomes. Climate epidemiology plays an important role in informing policy related to climate change and its threats to public health. Climate epidemiology leverages deep, integrated collaborations between epidemiologists and climate scientists to understand the current and potential future impacts of climate-related exposures on human health. A variety of recent and ongoing developments in climate science are creating new avenues for epidemiologic contributions. Here, we discuss the contributions of climate epidemiology and describe some key current research directions, including research to better characterize uncertainty in climate health projections. We end by outlining 3 developing areas of climate science that are creating opportunities for high-impact epidemiologic advances in the near future: 1) climate attribution studies, 2) subseasonal to seasonal forecasts, and 3) decadal predictions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Brooke Anderson
- Department of Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Elizabeth A Barnes
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Francesca Dominici
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Rodrigues M, Santana P, Rocha A. Bootstrap approach to validate the performance of models for predicting mortality risk temperature in Portuguese Metropolitan Areas. Environ Health 2019; 18:25. [PMID: 30922390 PMCID: PMC6440075 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0462-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been increasing interest in assessing the impacts of extreme temperatures on mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. This is further relevant for future climate scenarios where marked changes in climate are expected. This paper presents a solid method do identify the relationship between extreme temperatures and mortality risk by using as predictors simulated temperature data for cold and hot conditions in two urban areas in Portugal. METHODS Based on the mortality and meteorological data from Porto Metropolitan Area (PMA) and Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was implemented to estimate the temperature effects on mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. The performance of the models was validated via bootstrapping approaching by creating resamples with replacement from the validating data. Bootstrapping was also used to identify the best candidate model and to evaluate the sensitivity of the spline functions to the exposure-lag-response relationship. RESULTS It is found that the model is able to reproduce the temperature-related mortality risk for two metropolitan areas. Temperature previously simulated by climate models is useful and even better than observed temperature. Although, the biases in predictions in both metropolitan areas are low, mortality risk predictions in PMA are more accurate than in LMA. Using parametric bootstrapping, we found that the overall cumulative association estimated under different bi-dimensional exposure-lag-response relationship are relatively stable, especially for the model selected by Quasi-Akaike Information Criteria (QAIC). Exposure to summer temperature conditions is best related to mortality risk. The association between winter temperature and mortality risk is somewhat less strong. CONCLUSIONS The use of QAIC to choose from several candidate models provides valid predictions and reduced the uncertainty in the estimated relative risk for circulatory disease mortality. Our findings can be applied to better understand the characteristics and facilitate the prevention of circulatory disease mortality in Porto and Lisbon Metropolitan Areas, namely if we consider the actual context of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Rodrigues
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning, Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Paula Santana
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning, Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alfredo Rocha
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Morefield PE, Fann N, Grambsch A, Raich W, Weaver CP. Heat-Related Health Impacts under Scenarios of Climate and Population Change. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E2438. [PMID: 30388822 PMCID: PMC6266381 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent assessments have found that a warming climate, with associated increases in extreme heat events, could profoundly affect human health. This paper describes a new modeling and analysis framework, built around the Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-Community Edition (BenMAP), for estimating heat-related mortality as a function of changes in key factors that determine the health impacts of extreme heat. This new framework has the flexibility to integrate these factors within health risk assessments, and to sample across the uncertainties in them, to provide a more comprehensive picture of total health risk from climate-driven increases in extreme heat. We illustrate the framework's potential with an updated set of projected heat-related mortality estimates for the United States. These projections combine downscaled Coupled Modeling Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) climate model simulations for Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)4.5 and RCP8.5, using the new Locating and Selecting Scenarios Online (LASSO) tool to select the most relevant downscaled climate realizations for the study, with new population projections from EPA's Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios (ICLUS) project. Results suggest that future changes in climate could cause approximately from 3000 to more than 16,000 heat-related deaths nationally on an annual basis. This work demonstrates that uncertainties associated with both future population and future climate strongly influence projected heat-related mortality. This framework can be used to systematically evaluate the sensitivity of projected future heat-related mortality to the key driving factors and major sources of methodological uncertainty inherent in such calculations, improving the scientific foundations of risk-based assessments of climate change and human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip E Morefield
- Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
| | - Neal Fann
- Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards, US Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Anne Grambsch
- Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
| | - William Raich
- Industrial Economics, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02140, USA.
| | - Christopher P Weaver
- Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Temporal Trends in Heat-Related Mortality: Implications for Future Projections. ATMOSPHERE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos9100409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
High temperatures have large impacts on premature mortality risks across the world, and there is concern that warming temperatures associated with climate change, and in particular larger-than-expected increases in the proportion of days with extremely high temperatures, may lead to increasing mortality risks. Comparisons of heat-related mortality exposure-response functions across different cities show that the effects of heat on mortality risk vary by latitude, with more pronounced heat effects in more northerly climates. Evidence has also emerged in recent years of trends over time in heat-related mortality, suggesting that in many locations, the risk per unit increase in temperature has been declining. Here, I review the emerging literature on these trends, and draw conclusions for studies that seek to project future impacts of heat on mortality. I also make reference to the more general heat-mortality literature, including studies comparing effects across locations. I conclude that climate change projection studies will need to take into account trends over time (and possibly space) in the exposure response function for heat-related mortality. Several potential methods are discussed.
Collapse
|
40
|
Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Guo Y, Sera F, Huber V, Schleussner CF, Mitchell D, Tong S, Coelho MDSZS, Saldiva PHN, Lavigne E, Correa PM, Ortega NV, Kan H, Osorio S, Kyselý J, Urban A, Jaakkola JJK, Ryti NRI, Pascal M, Goodman PG, Zeka A, Michelozzi P, Scortichini M, Hashizume M, Honda Y, Hurtado-Diaz M, Cruz J, Seposo X, Kim H, Tobias A, Íñiguez C, Forsberg B, Åström DO, Ragettli MS, Röösli M, Guo YL, Wu CF, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Bell ML, Dang TN, Do Van D, Heaviside C, Vardoulakis S, Hajat S, Haines A, Armstrong B, Ebi KL, Gasparrini A. Temperature-related mortality impacts under and beyond Paris Agreement climate change scenarios. CLIMATIC CHANGE 2018; 150:391-402. [PMID: 30405277 PMCID: PMC6217994 DOI: 10.1007/s10584-018-2274-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The Paris Agreement binds all nations to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change, with the commitment to Bhold warming well below 2 °C in global mean temperature (GMT), relative to pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 °C". The 1.5 °C limit constitutes an ambitious goal for which greater evidence on its benefits for health would help guide policy and potentially increase the motivation for action. Here we contribute to this gap with an assessment on the potential health benefits, in terms of reductions in temperature-related mortality, derived from the compliance to the agreed temperature targets, compared to more extreme warming scenarios. We performed a multi-region analysis in 451 locations in 23 countries with different climate zones, and evaluated changes in heat and cold-related mortality under scenarios consistent with the Paris Agreement targets (1.5 and 2 °C) and more extreme GMT increases (3 and 4 °C), and under the assumption of no changes in demographic distribution and vulnerability. Our results suggest that limiting warming below 2 °C could prevent large increases in temperature-related mortality in most regions worldwide. The comparison between 1.5 and 2 °C is more complex and characterized by higher uncertainty, with geographical differences that indicate potential benefits limited to areas located in warmer climates, where direct climate change impacts will be more discernible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Francesco Sera
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Veronika Huber
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Climate Analytics, Ritterstraße 3, 10969 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dann Mitchell
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS UK
| | - Shilu Tong
- School of Public Health and Institute of Environment and Human Health, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei, 81 230032 China
- Shanghai Children’s Medical Centre, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, 1678 Dongfang Rd, Shanghai, 200127 China
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 Australia
| | | | - Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva
- Institute of Advanced Studies, University of São Paulo, Rua Praça do Relógio, 109, Building K, 5th floor, Cidade Universitária, ZC, São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-970 Brazil
| | - Eric Lavigne
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, K1G 5Z3 Canada
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Patricia Matus Correa
- Department of Public Health, Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Alvaro del Portillo 12, 455 Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas Valdes Ortega
- Department of Public Health, Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Alvaro del Portillo 12, 455 Santiago, Chile
| | - Haidong Kan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi xue yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Samuel Osorio
- Department of Environmental Health, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo, São Paulo 03178-200 Brazil
| | - Jan Kyselý
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bocni, 1401 14131 Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka, 129 16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Urban
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bocni, 1401 14131 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jouni J. K. Jaakkola
- Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5B, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Niilo R. I. Ryti
- Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5B, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Mathilde Pascal
- Santé Publique France, French National Public Health Agency, 12 rue du Val d’Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice, France
| | - Patrick G. Goodman
- School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street 2, Dublin, D08 X622 Ireland
| | - Ariana Zeka
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Kingston Ln, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH UK
| | - Paola Michelozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 112 00147 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Scortichini
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 112 00147 Rome, Italy
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Yasushi Honda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8574 Japan
| | - Magali Hurtado-Diaz
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Julio Cruz
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Xerxes Seposo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoudai Katsura Campus, Nishikyou Ward, Kyoto, 615-8540 Japan
- Department of Global Ecology, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan
| | - Ho Kim
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1Gwanak-ro Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Íñiguez
- Department of Statistics and Computational Research, Environmental Health Joint Research Unit FISABIO-UV-UJI CIBERESP, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Bertil Forsberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Daniel Oudin Åström
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Martina S. Ragettli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine, and Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University (NTU) and NTU Hospital, 1 Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-fu Wu
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, 35053 Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Antonella Zanobetti
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Michelle L. Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Tran Ngoc Dang
- Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh city, 217 Hồng Bàng, Phường 11, Quận 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 254 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Thạc Gián, Q. Thanh Khê, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Dung Do Van
- Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh city, 217 Hồng Bàng, Phường 11, Quận 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Clare Heaviside
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
- Chemical and Environmental Effects, Centre for Radiation, Chemical & Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Didcot Oxon, Chilton, London, OX11 0RQ UK
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP UK
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Andy Haines
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Ben Armstrong
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Kristie L. Ebi
- Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Antonio Gasparrini
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Future Predictions of Rainfall and Temperature Using GCM and ANN for Arid Regions: A Case Study for the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10091260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Future predictions of rainfall patterns in water-scarce regions are highly important for effective water resource management. Global circulation models (GCMs) are commonly used to make such predictions, but these models are highly complex and expensive. Furthermore, their results are associated with uncertainties and variations for different GCMs for various greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Data-driven models including artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive neuro fuzzy inference systems (ANFISs) can be used to predict long-term future changes in rainfall and temperature, which is a challenging task and has limitations including the impact of greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Therefore, in this research, results from various GCMs and data-driven models were investigated to study the changes in temperature and rainfall of the Qassim region in Saudi Arabia. Thirty years of monthly climatic data were used for trend analysis using Mann–Kendall test and simulating the changes in temperature and rainfall using three GCMs (namely, HADCM3, INCM3, and MPEH5) for the A1B, A2, and B1 emissions scenarios as well as two data-driven models (ANN: feed-forward-multilayer, perceptron and ANFIS) without the impact of any emissions scenario. The results of the GCM were downscaled for the Qassim region using the Long Ashton Research Station’s Weather Generator 5.5. The coefficient of determination (R2) and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) were used to compare the performance of the models. Results showed that the ANNs could outperform the ANFIS for predicting long-term future temperature and rainfall with acceptable accuracy. All nine GCM predictions (three models with three emissions scenarios) differed significantly from one another. Overall, the future predictions showed that the temperatures of the Qassim region will increase with a specified pattern from 2011 to 2099, whereas the changes in rainfall will differ over various spans of the future.
Collapse
|
42
|
Li G, Li Y, Tian L, Guo Q, Pan X. Future temperature-related years of life lost projections for cardiovascular disease in Tianjin, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 630:943-950. [PMID: 29499549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that temperatures is associated with cardiovascular mortality, however, few studies have explored the effects of temperature on years of life lost (YLL) from cardiovascular mortality in China under future global warming scenarios. Therefore, there is an urgent need to obtain projections of YLL from cardiovascular diseases. Here we applied nineteen global-scale climate models (GCMs) and three Representative Concentration Pathway emission scenarios (RCPs) in the 2050s and 2070s for temperature-related YLL projection in Tianjin, China. We found the relationships between daily maximum temperatures with YLL from cardiovascular mortality were basically U-shaped. We observed increasing net annual YLL across a range of multiple models under different climate scenarios, suggesting that increasing heat-related YLL from cardiovascular mortality could offset decreasing cold-related YLL from cardiovascular mortality. The largest temperature-related YLL from cardiovascular mortality were observed under the RCP8.5 scenario and increased more rapidly in the 2070s versus the 2050s. Monthly analyses of percent changes in YLL from cardiovascular mortality showed that the largest percent increases occurred from May to September. If warm adaptation occurs, only the adverse effects under RCP2.6 could be fully offset in both 2050 and 2070. Our exploration provided further evidence for the potential health impacts of global warming and highlighted that government should develop environmental policies for future health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoxing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yixue Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qun Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaochuan Pan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Li Y, Ren T, Kinney PL, Joyner A, Zhang W. Projecting future climate change impacts on heat-related mortality in large urban areas in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 163:171-185. [PMID: 29448153 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is anticipated to raise overall temperatures and has the potential to increase future mortality attributable to heat. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to heat because of high concentrations of susceptible people. As the world's largest developing country, China has experienced noticeable changes in climate, partially evidenced by frequent occurrence of extreme heat in urban areas, which could expose millions of residents to summer heat stress that may result in increased health risk, including mortality. While there is a growing literature on future impacts of extreme temperatures on public health, projecting changes in future health outcomes associated with climate warming remains challenging and underexplored, particularly in developing countries. This is an exploratory study aimed at projecting future heat-related mortality risk in major urban areas in China. We focus on the 51 largest Chinese cities that include about one third of the total population in China, and project the potential changes in heat-related mortality based on 19 different global-scale climate models and three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). City-specific risk estimates for high temperature and all-cause mortality were used to estimate annual heat-related mortality over two future twenty-year time periods. We estimated that for the 20-year period in Mid-21st century (2041-2060) relative to 1970-2000, incidence of excess heat-related mortality in the 51 cities to be approximately 37,800 (95% CI: 31,300-43,500), 31,700 (95% CI: 26,200-36,600) and 25,800 (95% CI: 21,300-29,800) deaths per year under RCP8.5, RCP4.5 and RCP2.6, respectively. Slowing climate change through the most stringent emission control scenario RCP2.6, relative to RCP8.5, was estimated to avoid 12,900 (95% CI: 10,800-14,800) deaths per year in the 51 cities in the 2050s, and 35,100 (95% CI: 29,200-40,100) deaths per year in the 2070s. The highest mortality risk is primarily in cities located in the North, East and Central regions of China. Population adaptation to heat is likely to reduce excess heat mortality, but the extent of adaptation is still unclear. Future heat mortality risk attributable to exposure to elevated warm season temperature is likely to be considerable in China's urban centers, with substantial geographic variations. Climate mitigation and heat risk management are needed to reduce such risk and produce substantial public health benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Ting Ren
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Andrew Joyner
- Department of Geosciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China.
| |
Collapse
|