User:Tyrannoderp/sandbox

Wiki-Project Mid-way Assignment:

2. Health effects (Annie)

-In this section, I will explain the impacts of heat stress on human health:

Hansen et. al. conducted a study to identify if heat waves had an effect on individuals with poor mental health. Using health outcome data from 1993-2006 from the Australian city of Adelaide, the authors looked at hospital admissions and mortalities related to mental health to see if heat waves had an effect. The results showed that above 26.7 °C, there was positive association between the surrounding temperature and hospital admissions for individuals with mental health disorders. The authors concluded that extreme heat can pose a risk to individuals with poor mental health.

In Madrid, a study was conducted to determine the effects of heat waves on the elderly. Diaz et. al. collected mortality data from the Madrid Regional Inland Revenue Authority. Heat waves were quantified using daily maximum temperature, daily minimum temperature, and relative humidity. The results from the study showed that mortality can increase up to 28.4% for every degree the temperature rises above 36.5 °C.

Studies have also shown that heat stress can impact cognitive performance. A review by Hancock and Vasmatzidis identified two trends regarding this phenomenon.The first trend was that, depending on the task performed, heat affects performance differentially. The second trend was that a relationship could be established between deep core temperature and the effects of heat stress.

In addition, it is important to note that individuals face different levels of vulnerability to heat stress depending on different factors. Harlan et. al. investigated heat-related health inequalities and ran a simulation model to estimate a human thermal comfort index (HTCI) using information collected from eight neighborhoods in Phoenix, USA. The index was used to quantify heat-related health impacts. The results showed that those who were an ethnic minority and of a lower SES were more likely to have a greater exposure to heat stress. The authors concluded that people living in warmer neighborhoods were more vulnerable to heat exposure as they had less resources to cope with issues that arose.

Topics I am still considering:

Workplace heat stress, health and productivity -- an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change.

Heat Stress and Public Health: A Critical Review

Assignment 3:

Disproportionate health impacts from urban heat islands have been well studied. One such study showed that individuals face different levels of vulnerability to heat stress depending on different factors. Harlan et. al. investigated heat-related health inequalities and ran a simulation model to estimate a human thermal comfort index (HTCI) using information collected from eight neighborhoods in Phoenix, USA. The index was used to quantify heat-related health impacts. The results showed that those who were an ethnic minority and of a lower socioeconomic status were more likely to have a greater exposure to heat stress. The authors concluded that people living in warmer neighborhoods were more vulnerable to heat exposure as they had less resources to cope with issues that arose.

Another study conducted by Hansen et. al. identified that heat waves had an effect on individuals with poor mental health. Using health outcome data from 1993-2006 from the Australian city of Adelaide, the authors looked at hospital admissions and mortalities related to mental health to see if heat waves had an effect. The results showed that for temperatures above 26.7 °C, there was positive association between the surrounding temperature and hospital admissions for individuals with mental health disorders. The authors concluded that extreme heat can pose a risk to individuals with poor mental health. Studies have also shown that heat stress can impact cognitive performance. A review by Hancock and Vasmatzidis identified two trends regarding this phenomenon. The first trend was that, depending on the task performed, heat affects performance differentially. The second trend was that a relationship could be established between the effects of heat stress and deep core temperature.

Age can also play in a role in how an individual is impacted by urban heat islands. In Madrid, a study was conducted to determine the effects of heat waves on the elderly. Diaz et. al. collected mortality data from the Madrid Regional Inland Revenue Authority. Heat waves were quantified using daily maximum temperature, daily minimum temperature, and relative humidity. The results from the study showed that mortality in elderly can increase up to 28.4% for every degree the temperature rises above 36.5 °C.

As the above studies have shown, the health impacts of urban heat islands can be unevenly distributed based on a variety of factors (age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, etc.). The uneven distribution can be seen by some as an environmental justice issue.

Comment from Annie: The last two sentences, I wanted to talk more about it being an environmental justice issue but I was worried it might be considered too biased and not neutral. It might also get addressed by Stephen (not sure what his wiki pseudonym is) when he talks about who gets impacted by urban heat islands.