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Kunda JJ, Gosling SN, Foody GM. The effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:1015-1033. [PMID: 38526600 PMCID: PMC11108931 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02650-4] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
This review examines high-quality research evidence that synthesises the effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa. Web of Science (WoS) was used to identify research articles on the effects extreme heat, humidity, Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), apparent temperature, wind, Heat Index, Humidex, Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), heatwave, high temperature and hot climate on human health, human comfort, heat stress, heat rashes, and heat-related morbidity and mortality. A total of 5, 735 articles were initially identified, which were reduced to 100 based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review discovered that temperatures up to 60°C have been recorded in the region and that extreme heat has many adverse effects on human health, such as worsening mental health in low-income adults, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage, and adverse effects on well-being and safety, psychological behaviour, efficiency, and social comfort of outdoor workers who spend long hours performing manual labour. Extreme heat raises the risk of death from heat-related disease, necessitating preventative measures such as adaptation methods to mitigate the adverse effects on vulnerable populations during hot weather. This study highlights the social inequalities in heat exposure and adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Jonah Kunda
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Simon N Gosling
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Giles M Foody
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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Zupunski L, Street R, Ostroumova E, Winde F, Sachs S, Geipel G, Nkosi V, Bouaoun L, Haman T, Schüz J, Mathee A. Environmental exposure to uranium in a population living in close proximity to gold mine tailings in South Africa. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2023; 77:127141. [PMID: 36857995 PMCID: PMC10030373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gold mining activities in South Africa resulted in contamination of residential environment with uranium-rich wastes from mine tailings. Health of the people living around the mine tailings could be affected by uranium exposure due to its hazardous chemotoxic and radiological properties. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess i) uranium (U) concentrations in individual hair samples of children and adults living in close proximity to mine tailings in Northeast- Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa, and ii) the association between U concentrations in hair and various factors, including zone of residence, socio-demographic and housing characteristics. Sampling sites were divided into three zones based on the distance between a dwelling and a cluster of mine tailings (zone 1: <= 500 m, zone 2: 2-3 km away, zone 3: 4-5 km away). U concentrations in hair samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. To test the association between U concentrations and selected factors we used robust regression models with log-transformed U concentrations. RESULTS Among 128 subjects with available U measurements, 63 (49%) were children (ages 7-15 years) of which 38 were girls, the remaining 65 (51%) were adult females. Mean (median) U concentration in hair samples was 143 (92) µg/kg. In the mutually adjusted analyses, only an inverse association between age and U concentration in hair remained statistically significant, with geometric mean in children being 2.1 times higher compared to adults (P < 0.001). There was no evidence of an association between zones and U concentration (P = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS There was little evidence of association between U concentration in hair and distance from the mine tailings within the 5 km range, but overall concentrations were elevated compared to general population samples in other parts of the world. Children had statistically significantly higher geometric mean of uranium concentration in hair compared to adults. The results are important for improvement of mining waste policies and implementation of health monitoring and protective measures in populations at risk. ARTICLE CATEGORY Research Article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljubica Zupunski
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, WHO, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, CEDEX 08, Lyon 69372, France
| | - Renée Street
- South African Medical Research Council, Environment and Health Research Unit, Health Clinic Building, University of Johannesburg, 55 Beit Street, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Evgenia Ostroumova
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, WHO, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, CEDEX 08, Lyon 69372, France
| | - Frank Winde
- North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, Research Unit Environmental Science and Management, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North-West University, P.O. Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa; Wismut GmbH, Engineering and Radiation Protection, Jagdschänkenstraße 29, Chemnitz 09117, Germany
| | - Susanne Sachs
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden 01328, Germany
| | - Gerhard Geipel
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, Dresden 01328, Germany
| | - Vusumuzi Nkosi
- South African Medical Research Council, Environment and Health Research Unit, Health Clinic Building, University of Johannesburg, 55 Beit Street, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Liacine Bouaoun
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, WHO, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, CEDEX 08, Lyon 69372, France
| | - Tanya Haman
- South African Medical Research Council, Environment and Health Research Unit, Health Clinic Building, University of Johannesburg, 55 Beit Street, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, WHO, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, CEDEX 08, Lyon 69372, France
| | - Angela Mathee
- South African Medical Research Council, Environment and Health Research Unit, Health Clinic Building, University of Johannesburg, 55 Beit Street, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Health Clinic Building, 55 Beit Street, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
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