Extreme heat is becoming a “new normal” for many areas of the world. Since the summer of 2023, for example, Earth has seen some of the hottest days in modern history. Extreme heat is now a regular headline:
How Extreme Heat Affects Workers and the Economy (New York Times)
The heat index reached 152 degrees in the Middle East — nearly at the limit for human survival (The Washington Post)
As heat records fall, how hot is too hot for the human body? (The Conversation)
We are living through Earth’s hottest month on record, scientists say (The Washington Post)
Like many critical issues, extreme temperatures (heat or cold) have wide-ranging ripple effects beyond the direct impacts on animals (including humans) and plants. Places and people that are fortunate enough to escape the worst of the heat or cold may still contend with economic (higher prices, lost productivity, and more) and demographic impacts (including climate migrants).
What does research say about the impacts of extreme heat?
**created July 2023**
Featured articles:
*Demoury, C., Aerts, R., Vandeninden, B., Bert, V. S., & De Clercq, E.,M. (2022). Impact of Short-Term Exposure to Extreme Temperatures on Mortality: A Multi-City Study in Belgium. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3763.
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*Grigorieva, E., & Lukyanets, A. (2021). Combined Effect of Hot Weather and Outdoor Air Pollution on Respiratory Health: Literature Review. Atmosphere, 12(6), 790.
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*Guo, Y., Gasparrini, A., Armstrong, B. G., Tawatsupa, B., Tobias, A., Lavigne, E., Coelho,Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio, Pan, X., Kim, H., Hashizume, M., Honda, Y., Guo, Y. L., Wu, C., Zanobetti, A., Schwartz, J. D., Bell, M. L., Scortichini, M., Michelozzi, P., Punnasiri, K., . . . Tong, S. (2017). Heat Wave and Mortality: A Multicountry, Multicommunity Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(8), 087006.
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*Ratter-Rieck, J., Roden, M., & Herder, C. (2023). Diabetes and climate change: current evidence and implications for people with diabetes, clinicians and policy stakeholders. Diabetologia, 66(6), 1003-1015.
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*da Silva, I., Hei Wikuats, C. F., Hashimoto, E. M., & Martins, L. D. (2022). Effects of Environmental and Socioeconomic Inequalities on Health Outcomes: A Multi-Region Time-Series Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16521.
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