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Palmeiro-Silva YK, Lescano AG, Flores EC, Astorga E Y, Rojas L, Chavez MG, Mora-Rivera W, Hartinger SM. Identifying gaps on health impacts, exposures, and vulnerabilities to climate change on human health and wellbeing in South America: a scoping review. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2023; 26:100580. [PMID: 37876675 PMCID: PMC10593580 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100580] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
There is an important gap in regional information on climate change and health, limiting the development of science-based climate policies in South American countries. This study aims to identify the main gaps in the existing scientific literature on the impacts, exposure, and vulnerabilities of climate change on population health. A scoping review was performed guided by four sub-questions focused on the impacts of climate change on physical and mental health, exposure and vulnerability factors of population to climate hazards. The main findings showed that physical impacts mainly included infectious diseases, while mental health impacts included trauma, depression, and anxiety. Evidence on population exposure to climate hazards is limited, and social determinants of health and individual factors were identified as vulnerability factors. Overall, evidence on the intersection between climate change and health is limited in South America and has been generated in silos, with limited transdisciplinary research. More formal and systematic information should be generated to inform public policy. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasna K. Palmeiro-Silva
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centro de Políticas Públicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andres G. Lescano
- Clima, Latin American Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Elaine C. Flores
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- The Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yamileth Astorga E
- Escuela de Tecnologías en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Luciana Rojas
- Clima, Latin American Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Mario G. Chavez
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Sociedad Científica de San Fernando, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Wendel Mora-Rivera
- InterAmerican Center for Global Health (CISG), Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Enfermería, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Stella M. Hartinger
- Clima, Latin American Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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2
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Libonati R, Geirinhas JL, Silva PS, Monteiro Dos Santos D, Rodrigues JA, Russo A, Peres LF, Narcizo L, Gomes MER, Rodrigues AP, DaCamara CC, Pereira JMC, Trigo RM. Drought-heatwave nexus in Brazil and related impacts on health and fires: A comprehensive review. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1517:44-62. [PMID: 36052446 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is drastically altering the frequency, duration, and severity of compound drought-heatwave (CDHW) episodes, which present a new challenge in environmental and socioeconomic sectors. These threats are of particular importance in low-income regions with growing populations, fragile infrastructure, and threatened ecosystems. This review synthesizes emerging progress in the understanding of CDHW patterns in Brazil while providing insights about the impacts on fire occurrence and public health. Evidence is mounting that heatwaves are becoming increasingly linked with droughts in northeastern and southeastern Brazil, the Amazonia, and the Pantanal. In those regions, recent studies have begun to build a better understanding of the physical mechanisms behind CDHW events, such as the soil moisture-atmosphere coupling, promoted by exceptional atmospheric blocking conditions. Results hint at a synergy between CDHW events and high fire activity in the country over the last decades, with the most recent example being the catastrophic 2020 fires in the Pantanal. Moreover, we show that HWs were responsible for increasing mortality and preterm births during record-breaking droughts in southeastern Brazil. This work paves the way for a more in-depth understanding on CDHW events and their impacts, which is crucial to enhance the adaptive capacity of different Brazilian sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Libonati
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L Geirinhas
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S Silva
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Julia A Rodrigues
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Russo
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Leonardo F Peres
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiza Narcizo
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monique E R Gomes
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andreza P Rodrigues
- Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos C DaCamara
- Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Miguel C Pereira
- Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,TERRA Associate Laboratory, Tapada da Ajuda, Portugal
| | - Ricardo M Trigo
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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3
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Salvador C, Vicedo‐Cabrera AM, Libonati R, Russo A, Garcia BN, Belem LBC, Gimeno L, Nieto R. Effects of Drought on Mortality in Macro Urban Areas of Brazil Between 2000 and 2019. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2021GH000534. [PMID: 35280229 PMCID: PMC8902811 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A significant fraction of Brazil's population has been exposed to drought in recent years, a situation that is expected to worsen in frequency and intensity due to climate change. This constitutes a current key environmental health concern, especially in densely urban areas such as several big cities and suburbs. For the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the short-term drought effects on weekly non-external, circulatory, and respiratory mortality was conducted in 13 major Brazilian macro-urban areas across 2000-2019. We applied quasi-Poisson regression models adjusted by temperature to explore the association between drought (defined by the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index) and the different mortality causes by location, sex, and age groups. We next conducted multivariate meta-analytical models separated by cause and population groups to pool individual estimates. Impact measures were expressed as the attributable fractions among the exposed population, from the relative risks (RRs). Overall, a positive association between drought exposure and mortality was evidenced in the total population, with RRs varying from 1.003 [95% CI: 0.999-1.007] to 1.010 [0.996-1.025] for non-external mortality related to moderate and extreme drought conditions, from 1.002 [0.997-1.007] to 1.008 [0.991-1.026] for circulatory mortality, and from 1.004 [0.995-1.013] to 1.013 [0.983-1.044] for respiratory mortality. Females, children, and the elderly population were the most affected groups, for whom a robust positive association was found. The study also revealed high heterogeneity between locations. We suggest that policies and action plans should pay special attention to vulnerable populations to promote efficient measures to reduce vulnerability and risks associated with droughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Salvador
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - A. M. Vicedo‐Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - R. Libonati
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
- Instituto Dom Luíz (IDL)Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - A. Russo
- Instituto Dom Luíz (IDL)Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - B. N. Garcia
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - L. B. C. Belem
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - L. Gimeno
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
| | - R. Nieto
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
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4
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Menezes JA, Madureira AP, dos Santos RB, Duval IDB, Regoto P, Margonari C, Barata MMDL, Confalonieri U. Analyzing Spatial Patterns of Health Vulnerability to Drought in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126262. [PMID: 34207877 PMCID: PMC8296049 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Health determinants might play an important role in shaping the impacts related to long-term disasters such as droughts. Understanding their distribution in populated dry regions may help to map vulnerabilities and set coping strategies for current and future threats to human health. The aim of the study was to identify the most vulnerable municipalities of the Brazilian semiarid region when it comes to the relationship between drought, health, and their determinants using a multidimensional index. From a place-based framework, epidemiological, socio-economic, rural, and health infrastructure data were obtained for 1135 municipalities in the Brazilian semiarid region. An exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce 32 variables to four independent factors and compute a Health Vulnerability Index. The health vulnerability was modulated by social determinants, rural characteristics, and access to water in this semiarid region. There was a clear distinction between municipalities with the highest human welfare and economic development and those municipalities with the worst living conditions and health status. Spatial patterns showed a cluster of the most vulnerable municipalities in the western, eastern, and northeastern portions of the semiarid region. The spatial visualization of the associated vulnerabilities supports decision making on health promotion policies that should focus on reducing social inequality. In addition, policymakers are presented with a simple tool to identify populations or areas with the worst socioeconomic and health conditions, which can facilitate the targeting of actions and resources on a more equitable basis. Further, the results contribute to the understanding of social determinants that may be related to medium- and long-term health outcomes in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Alves Menezes
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ana Paula Madureira
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, The Federal University of São João del-Rei, Praça Dom Helvécio, 74, Fábricas, 36301-160 São João del-Rei, MG, Brazil;
| | - Rhavena Barbosa dos Santos
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Isabela de Brito Duval
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Pedro Regoto
- Postgraduate Program of Meteorology, National Institute for Space Research, Rodovia Presidente Dutra Km 39, 12630-000 Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carina Margonari
- Leishmaniasis Study Group René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;
| | - Martha Macêdo de Lima Barata
- Postgraduate Program of Public Health and Environment, National School of Public Health–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Ulisses Confalonieri
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
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